Paul Goes to Antioch - Acts 18:22

The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul, “came to Ephesus, and left” those with him “there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not. But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, “went down to Antioch” where we read:

And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

The verse reads, “And when he had landed at Caesarea, ...”: Luke began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “he had landed at Caesarea” or “Paul arrived in the city of Caesarea whose name means severed and was known as Caesarea of Palestine which was built near the Mediterranean by Herod the Great on the site of Strabo's Tower, between Joppa and Dora. It was provided with a magnificent harbor and had conferred upon it the name of Caesarea, in honor of Augustus. It was the residence of Roman procurators, and the majority of its inhabitants were Greeks”. Luke shared how “Paul” arrived in “Caesarea” after sailing away from “Ephesus”.

The verse continues, “... and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.” Luke added the words, “and gone up” or “and ascended”, “and saluted the church” which means “and joyfully welcomed, greeted and wished well the assembly of Christian fellow believers who gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “he went down to Antioch” or “Paul descended to Antioch whose name means driven against and was the capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.C. and named in honor of his father, Antiochus”. Luke shared how “Paul” ascended to the “assembly of Christians” in “Caesarea” to greet them and afterward “descended” to the city of “Antioch”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the journey of “Paul” while he was returning to “Jerusalem” for the “feast”. He stopped along the way in “Caesarea” to greet the Christians there, and he returned to “Antioch of Syria” where he was launched on his missionary journeys. In other words, “Paul” was being led by the Heavenly Father, and his direction was under the mighty hand of God. Anyone who yields themselves to God's Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins, inherit everlasting life and be directed by God's Holy Spirit every day of their lives. Let all who study these travels of “Paul” understand God's desire to lead them as well.

Next time Luke shares how Paul, “went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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