But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Diane and I have been traveling a lot these past three years since my retirement from full time ministry. Some of the travel has been for mission work in Tanzania. In fact, if you count hours in transit that might make up for 25% or more of our travels. Other trips, however, have been more for pleasure or family. Christmas in Germany with family, Mother’s Day in Florida with family, and travel with family to Florida all rank high on the list.
Paul was quite a traveler as well – although I don’t think any of his travels were for pleasure, or even family. The book of Acts highlights three missionary journeys of Paul as well as his trip to Rome which was a different sort of missionary journey. It was to be in chains, and would include storms at sea, shipwreck, and a final voyage toward Rome. Once there he taught and wrote under house arrest.
I mention all this because of Luke’s recap of Paul’s travels from Assos to Miletus as he was heading toward Jerusalem. But Luke isn’t offering a travelogue with all these stopping points. He’s offering a missiologue. There is a bigger story here than hard-to-pronounce name places. The bigger story is that God is moving Paul from place to place as he spreads the gospel message. Paul is not just visiting. He’s teaching, sharing, proclaiming, and witnessing to the gospel of the grace of God.
This gospel is the good news of God’s redemption of a fallen and lost world through Jesus’ suffering and death. It’s the good news of this redemption’s gifts of life and salvation for all people. It’s the good news that God wants all people to be saved and will not wait idly by for people to come to him and seek his mercy. He sends people to tell the good news. He comes to them – not only in Jesus, which is essential and of primary importance – but also in Paul and others who bring this gospel of the grace of God to people where they are.
This gospel has come to you. That message of forgiveness, grace, salvation, and eternal hope has been brought to you and me. Those who brought it to us likely didn’t have to endure the hardships of Paul or travel miles to do so. It likely came to you by means of people who were right where you were. Maybe you and I are right where someone else is who needs to hear this gospel of the grace of God as well.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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