Doug’s Coffee Break

Paul arrives in Jerusalem and shares the incredible work God has done among the Gentiles. But rumors among Jewish believers threaten to spark division. Guided by James and the elders, Paul takes part in a public act of purification—showing that the gospel unites rather than divides.

In Caesarea, Paul meets Philip the evangelist and hears a dramatic prophecy from Agabus: imprisonment awaits him in Jerusalem. Despite heartfelt pleas from his friends, Paul presses on—determined to fulfill his mission of unity between Jew and Gentile in Christ.

Paul’s journey to Jerusalem takes him to Tyre, where believers, sensing the danger ahead, plead with him not to continue. After a week of fellowship and prayer, they kneel together on the shore for a heartfelt farewell—a reminder of the love and unity that mark the early church.

Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders is heartfelt and urgent. He warns of coming dangers, charges them to guard the flock, and leaves them with a legacy of selfless service and dependence on God’s grace. The tearful goodbye at Miletus captures the heart of a shepherd finishing his race.

In Miletus, Paul delivers a powerful farewell to the Ephesian elders. He recalls years of faithful ministry, shares his Spirit-driven resolve to face danger in Jerusalem, and urges them to remain steadfast in the gospel of grace. It’s a moment of deep emotion, courage, and eternal perspective.

Paul hurries toward Jerusalem, charting a careful course through the Aegean. By walking to Assos, sailing past Ephesus, and meeting the Ephesian elders in Miletus instead, he balances urgency with pastoral care—pressing forward on mission while making time for heartfelt farewells.

In Troas, an all-night gathering with Paul turns dramatic when young Eutychus falls to his death from a window—only to be restored to life. This episode gives a rare glimpse into early Christian worship, Sunday gatherings, and the miraculous power that confirmed the gospel in the apostolic church.

As Paul moves through Macedonia and Greece, he writes 2 Corinthians and Romans, navigates assassination plots, and oversees a collection for the Jerusalem church. Luke’s brief account expands into a journey of danger, strategy, and gospel advancement, stretching as far as the edge of the Roman world.

A powerful city official steps in to end the riot in Ephesus, defending Paul’s companions and warning of Roman consequences. His calm logic and political savvy dissolve the chaos, sparing the city and the church. Even in the eye of a civic storm, the gospel moves forward—Paul writes, visits, and builds.

In the massive theater of Ephesus, a gospel-fueled riot erupts as Paul’s preaching threatens local idols—literally and economically. Gaius and Aristarchus are swept up in the chaos, while Paul is held back by friends, both Christian and official. For two hours, the city shouts in defense of Artemis, revealing how deeply culture and commerce were tied to worship.