Paul’s Missionary Journeys in GREECE October 4 – 16, 2018 Led by Dr. Jeffrey A. D. Weima LED BY alk in the footsteps Dr. Jeffrey Weima is Professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, of Paul during the day where he has taught for the past 25 and learn more about years. He is a sought-after speaker, able to W communicate well the truths of the Bible in an interesting, contemporary, and practical the apostle at night! Travel by manner. Jeff is the author of numerous scholarly articles, academic essays, and motorcoach and cruise ship to sites book reviews. He has published five books, connected with Paul’s Second and including a recently completed major commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians. Jeff is an active member of several academic Third Missionary Journeys: Neapolis, societies and he lectures and teaches courses around the world, leads biblical study tours, conducts intensive preaching seminars Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, for pastors, and preaches widely in churches in both the USA and Canada. Jeff and his wife, Bernice, have been married for Thessaloníki, Berea, Athens, Corinth, 34 years. They have four children and five very cute grandchildren. This is Dr. Weima’s 29th time leading a biblical study tour. Cenchrea, and Ephesus. Dr. Jeffrey A. D. Weima (616) 328-3110 Also see other major sites of biblical, [email protected] archeological, and cultural interest www.jeffweima.com including Pátmos, Delphi, Metéora, TOUR COST Vergína and the islands of Mykonos, $4,495 per person from Chicago, based on double occupancy. Crete, and Santorini. Most evenings Round-trip van or bus transfers from West Michigan to Chicago feature a study session on O’Hare will be made available at an additional cost of $100 to $160 per person, provided there is sufficient interest. “Paul: His Life & His Letters.” Register online at Join host Jeff Weima, professor of New bookings.wittetravel.com Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary use booking code 100418WEIM or complete and return the printed registration form. and leading Pauline scholar, for this truly TOUR PACE RIGOROUS inspirational tour. EASY Tour Highlights • Air transportation roundtrip from Chicago to Greece • Land and sea transportation via deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach and by cruise ship • Hotel accommodations in standard first-class to superior first-class hotels and outside cabins during the cruise • Breakfast daily, three lunches, and nine dinners • Greek tour manager to accompany the group during the land portion of the tour • Sightseeing and admission fees in accordance with the itinerary, along with most shore excursions during the cruise • Use of personal headsets • All taxes including hotel, local government, port, and airport taxes, as well as gratuities to cruise personnel during the cruise • Extensive study materials October 2018 temporary “home” for the next same ancient Roman road the Sunday, October 7 two nights, and enjoy a night apostle took into the city. Here Thessaloníki, Véria Thursday, October 4 of well-deserved rest. at Philippi, Paul preached his (Berea), Vergína, Departure from the U.S. (B-in flight, D) first sermon in Europe (Acts Kalambaka Our adventure begins! Before 16:13-15) and baptized the Today we’ll follow the footsteps it is possible to follow in the Saturday, October 6 first Christian convert on the of Paul in Thessaloníki, named steps of the apostle Paul, we Kavála (Neapolis), continent. The Philippian church after Thessalonica, the sister must first travel to Greece. Philippi, Amphipolis, became one of Paul’s favorite of Alexander the Great. The Group members will converge Apollonia, Thessaloníki congregations and many years apostle spent a number in Chicago, where we’ll Our first full day in Greece later, while under house arrest of weeks here during his connect with our transatlantic begins with a scenic bus in Rome, he wrote them a Second Missionary Journey, flight. (D-in flight) drive, much of it along the letter (Philippians) expressing establishing a church (Acts Aegean Sea, to Kavála (ancient his gratitude for their faithful 17:1-9) to whom he would, Friday, October 5 Neapolis), the port city of support of his missionary a short time later, write two Arrive Thessaloníki Philippi, where Paul landed activity. Continue to Amphipolis letters (1 & 2 Thessalonians). After changing planes, we’ll by boat and thus first brought (Acts 17:1) to view the famous Visit the Roman Agora connect with our flight to the gospel to Europe. After Lion Monument that Paul Thessaloníki, the second exploring the picturesque Old would have seen as he traveled largest city in Greece and the Town of Kavála, we’ll travel into this city. Pass by Apollonia capital of Macedonia, where inland through the Macedonian (Acts 17:1) and return to our tour manager, Christiana, Plain to Philippi, named Thessaloníki. This evening we’ll Old city and fortress, Kavála will show us to the waiting after Philip II, the father of begin our one-hour evening Ruins of the Roman Forum of motorcoach. Welcome to Alexander the Great. We’ll study sessions on “Paul: His the Agora, Thessaloníki sunny and beautiful Greece! Life & His Letters.” (B) Lion Monument, Amphipolis follow the Via Egnatia, the Philippi We’ll check into the hotel, our Cover: Corinth (marketplace), where a mob was formed against Paul and an ensuing riot started in the city (Acts 17:5). Other impressive sights include the triumphal Arch of Galerius (AD 305-311), remnants of two beautiful Byzantine churches (Hagia Sophia and Saint Demetrius), the ancient ramparts of the city, and the White Tower—the symbol of the city. Following the Via Egnatia again, we’ll briefly visit Berea (modern Véria), the place whose Jewish citizens “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). After viewing the Bema—the spot where tradition has Paul teaching the Bereans—and the beautiful monument dedicated to the apostle, we’ll travel the short monasteries whose buildings good reason that Delphi is distance to Vergína (ancient were decorated with frescoes widely acknowledged as the Aigai), the original capital and icons by the great artists most beautiful ancient site in of the ancient Macedonian of the day. After touring one of Greece. Also visit the Delphi empire. Spectacular tombs and these historic and breathtaking Museum, whose collection funerary objects are housed monasteries, we’ll stop briefly includes the life-size bronze in an impressive modern at an icon workshop, where Charioteer of Delphi (470 museum onsite. One tomb we can witness the skill with BC), one of the prizes of the with a beautiful façade almost which these religious artifacts transitional period of Greek certainly contained the body of are made and where we have art. The museum also contains Philip II, the father of Alexander an opportunity to buy some an inscription concerning the the Great, who died in 338 BC. distinctively Greek souvenirs. governor Gallio (Acts 18:12), At the day’s end, we will reach End the day by enjoying the which plays a crucial role in Kalambaka, where we will have scenic drive to Delphi. (B, D) establishing the chronology a worship service and dinner at of Paul’s life and ministry. We the hotel. (B, D) Tuesday, October 9 reluctantly leave the peaceful Delphi, Athens splendor of Delphi, comforted Monday, October 8 that our next stop is Athens Metéora, Delphi Today we’ll visit Delphi, also at the Areopagus (“Mars identified in Greek tradition with its own extraordinary Hill”) where he addressed Today’s sites will take your as the center of the ancient sights and beauty. (B, D) city leaders (Acts 17:19-33). breath away! Here we find the world—the omphalos (“navel”) Then go up to the Acropolis, famous Cenobitic Monasteries of the earth. Located on the Wednesday, October 10 which towers over the city that are perched precariously slopes of Mount Parnassos Athens and houses the Parthenon, a on top of huge columns of in a landscape of unparalleled We have a full day for the building so masterfully created rock that rise up out of the beauty and majesty, Delphi magnificent sights in Athens, that it has been the subject ground, thereby giving them is the home of the Sanctuary which Paul visited during his of architectural study since the name Metéora, which of Apollo and the world- Second Missionary Journey its creation. This magnificent means “in the air.” It was in renowned “Delphic oracle.” (Acts 17:15-34). Before Doric temple was built to the 11th century that the first Other impressive ruins ascending the Acropolis, stop honor Athena, the goddess hermits sought refuge in the include the Temple of Athena, at the Agora (marketplace) and patroness of Athens. caves of Metéora, since the an athletic stadium seating of ancient Athens where Equally impressive buildings solitude and spectacular vistas 7,000 people, a gymnasium the apostle dialogued with on the Acropolis include the enhanced the mystic way of for physical training, various the Athenian citizens and Erechtheion with its Porch of life. Eventually the hermits stoas, and treasuries. It is with philosophers (Acts 17:17) and Maidens, the Temple of Athena began to group together in Metéora the apostle (Rom. 16:1). We’ll Parthenon, Athens also pass through Isthmia, Erechtheion with its Porch of Maidens which housed an impressive View from the Acropolis temple to Poseidon and the Photo courtesy Celestyal Cruises Isthmian Games. These games were celebrated biannually in Paul’s day and were second in importance only to the Olympic Games. Spend time visiting ancient Corinth, the place where Paul ministered for 1½ years (Acts 18:1-18) and would later write at least four letters, two of which have survived (1 & 2 Corinthians).