Steps of the Apostle Paul
DAY 1 – Depart USA
DAY 2 – ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL
Upon arrival in Istanbul you will be met by your guide, after which you will transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 – ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL
This morning start your adventure by visiting some of the most interesting historic and biblical sights in the world. The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and has been a center of civilizations and world religions. We’ll walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which was the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years. Built by Justinian (532-537 A.D.), the church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. We will also visit the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets, Hippodrome Square, and the Spice Bazaar. In the afternoon fly to Denizli for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 – CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR
Travel south to learn about the Christians of Laodicea. Laodicea was one of the Seven Churches (Rev. 3: 14-22) and was chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3: 15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3: 20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . . “. Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets. In nearby Hierapolis, see the vast graveyards, theater, and hot springs, which make the area famous. Drive to the Aegean coast for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 – PAUL’S MINISTRY IN EPHESUS
Visit Ephesus where Paul lived for nearly 3 years on his 3rd journey. He wrote three of his Corinthian letters from Ephesus and portions of his letter to the Philippians and Galatians. Here we will explore this important city in Paul’s ministry. We will also visit the Ephesus Museum. Tradition also tells us that John, the Beloved Disciple, moved with his Johannine Community to Ephesus. Ephesus is the place of the writing of the Gospel of John. We will visit the Basilica of St. John before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 – CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR: (Acts 19: 10; Rev. 1:11; 2: 12-17)
In Pergamum, the first Christians were executed by Rome. This was the most favored of the Seven Churches and Christianity came here very early. You will see the Temple of Zeus, and the Temple of Athena, the fabled Acropolis, and the Royal Gate. Here parchment was developed, replacing papyrus, and it is also one of the foremost healing centers of the ancient world. We will travel a short distance to Troas, where Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Greece). Continue to Canakkale, the narrowest point of the Dardanelles for the evening.
DAY 7 – PAUL’S MINISTRY IN MACEDONIA
Travel to the Greek border for your transfer to Greece. We will see the beautiful port of Kavalla, (Biblical Neapolis, Acts 16:11) where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. We will see the Aqueduct and tour the city before continuing on to the impressive ruins of Philippi (Acts 16: 12-40). Here Paul preached his first sermon and baptized the first Christians in Europe. In Philippi, Paul and Silas “went outside the gate to the riverside, where they supposed there was a place of prayer.” One of the women who heard them speak, “a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God,” who was converted and baptized “with her household.” The woman’s name was Lydia. The conversion of Lydia represented the establishment of the first Christian church in Europe.
DAY 8 – PAUL’S MINISTRY IN MACEDONIA, CONTINUED TRIP: (Acts 17: 1-9)
This morning drive to Thessaloniki. In Thessaloniki we will visit the Archeological Museum, St. George Church, the Galerious Arch, Jason’s house, and the Basilica of St. Sophia and St. Demetrius. In the afternoon we see Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, and the famous steps of Paul in Biblical Berea (Acts 17 11-14) in the New Testament.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 9 – METEORA
Visit the rock forest of Meteora in western Thessaly and ponder the rough terrain in which the apostle Paul walked during his missionary journey. See famous Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on summits of soaring, sheer-sided grey rock pinnacles of varied and spectacular shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in cliff-side caves, then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Visit one of these monasteries. Overnight in the Meteora area.
DAY 10 – DELPHI
Travel to scenic Delphi, the religious center of the ancient Greek world, considered by early Greeks to be the center of the world and marked by the conical stone, called the omphalos, or navel. Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre and the Temple of Apollo where the oracle performed his or her prophetic rituals. With innumerable pagan ruins surrounding your walk, capture a glimpse of the challenge the apostle Paul incurred in preaching the Gospel of Christ in Macedonia. Visit the Museum where you will view many ancient treasures, the chief of which is the 5th century bronzed Charioteer, complete with even eye-lashes.
Overnight in Athens.
DAY 11 – ATHENS
Today we will sightsee in Athens. We will visit the Agora where St. Paul preached and where Socrates taught and was forced to drink the deadly hemlock. We will climb the Acropolis, and visit the Areopagus (Mars Hill) where St. Paul was brought before the council and delivered his great sermon about the “unknown god” in Acts 17. We will see the ancient town, the Acropolis, and the Parthenon. We will visit the theater of Dionysus, the Temple of the Wingless Victory, and other sights, which reflect the golden age of Greece. Late afternoon is on your own to shop and walk about.
Overnight in Athens.
DAY 12 – CORINTH
Today we travel to ancient Corinth. We will spend a full day among the antiquities of this important Pauline city. Paul spent 18 months here on his first visit and wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians and on a later visit wrote his letter to the Romans. We will visit the site of the Synagogue, the Agora, and the Bema. We will then climb the Acrocorinth to visit the ancient site of the temple of Aphrodite (Greek goddess of love). Nearby you will discover the Diolkos, an ancient roadway that served as an overland route for goods and even ships. The Diolkos eliminated the long and dangerous route around the peninsula and, in the process, made Corinth a very wealthy city.
Overnight in Athens.
DAY 13 – RETURN
Return to USA to reflect on all God has taught us or start your Rome Extension.