Article November 21, 2011 Issue

My journey in Paul's footsteps

By Maike Byrd

I had no idea what to expect as I embarked on a two-week tour of Greece with 23 other travelers in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul on his first journey to Europe. Most of us came somewhat prepared, having studied the chapters in the book of Acts in the Bible that tell about Paul’s experiences (see Acts, chaps. 16–20). But all of us left with deep impressions of the ancient times and much greater appreciation for Paul, the missionary, and the author of at least seven books of the Bible. I knew I would never read the New Testament accounts of Paul’s travels and his letters to the early Christians in the same way again. The Bible stories came alive to us. Those were real people in real places dealing with real issues 2,000 years ago that we can still relate to and learn from today!

The Apostle Paul is unarguably one of the most fascinating characters in the Bible. For me, his dramatic transformation from a fanatic persecutor of Christians to an avid servant of God and follower of Jesus Christ (see Acts 9:1–22) is at once awe-inspiring and encouraging. Without Paul, Christianity would not have spread so quickly and widely throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Yet despite much success, his path was not without struggles and setbacks. But for him there was no turning back. As he humbly says of the difficulties that he knew lay ahead: “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). 

Our tour began where Paul’s ministry in Europe began, in Macedonia, the northern province of Greece. As our bus zoomed along the modern European highway, we were following in part the famous Via Egnatia, a Roman road that led from Dyrrachium (today’s Durrës in Albania) past Thessalonica and Philippi to the Hellespont (today’s Dardanelles). Paul would have walked on this road as he followed Spirit’s call to come to Macedonia and “help us” (see Acts 16:9). 

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November 21, 2011
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