In The Footsteps of Paul

In the Footsteps of Paul: Day 9, Monday, March 2

Perga and Myra

After morning prayers we drove to the excavations at Perga, the wealthy ancient seaport on the Mediterranean. Paul had arrived in Perga from Cyprus to launch his 1st Missionary Journey on the Anatolian mainland. Two intriguing questions emerge from his brief stay in Perga. The first is, why did he leave the heavily populated coastline and set off immediately on an arduous 150 mile trek through the dangerous Taurus Mountains for Antioch in Pisidia? The second is, why did Mark leave the mission in Perga, and return to Jerusalem? The teaching, set in the ruins of the 12,000 seat stadium, provided possible answers to both questions.

Why did Paul leave Perga so quickly? Two possible reasons include: First, he had converted the Roman Consul on Cyprus, Sergius Paulus, to faith in Jesus. Sergius' family was in Antioch of Pisidia, and Paul may have had a letter of recommendation to the top rank of society there. Second, Paul wrote of having a "malady" that brought him to Antioch (Galatians 4:13). That illness, perhaps the "thorn in his flesh," was likely malaria. The higher altitude and cooler weather in Antioch of Pisidia would have led to an easier recovery.

Why did Mark so abruptly abandon the mission? There are three possibilities. First, when they set off, Mark's cousin Barnabas was the leader of the mission; however, on Cyprus, Paul took command. Perhaps Mark was upset by the change in leadership and didn't want to follow Paul. Second, perhaps Mark had signed up for a Cyprus-only journey and was afraid of crossing through the bandit ridden Taurus Mountains. Third, perhaps as a Jew from Jerusalem, Mark disagreed with Paul's determination to share the Gospel with Gentiles and opted to abandon the mission. The disagreement was so severe it caused Paul to reject Barnabas' suggestion that Mark join them on the 2nd missionary journey, which caused Paul and Barnabas to part company. Whatever the cause, Mark and Paul eventually reconciled, and Mark became quite helpful to Paul again (2 Timothy 4:11). There's a clear lesson here that fractured relationships are redeemable in Christian ministry.

After the teaching, we explored the wonders of the excavated Roman city, Perga.

Looking toward the Agora (marketplace).

A view through the Roman gate with the Taurus Mountains in the background.

The frigidarium in the Roman baths.

Carving on a fallen marble capital.

We had a relaxed and splendid lunch, after which we took a long drive westward along the Mediterranean coast toward Myra. This coastline may be one of the most beautiful in the world, rivaling the French Riviera and the Hawaiian Islands. Seeing high mountains plunging directly into the turquoise waters, as we wrapped around bay, after bay, after bay. We have all been astonished at the awesome physical beauty and prosperity of Turkey.

The blue Mediterranean.

Myra, also a busy port in the ancient world, was visited by Paul twice: once when returning to Jerusalem after his 3rd Missionary Journey, and a second time when he was being taken as a prisoner to Rome to stand trial for sedition in the Imperial Court. But Myra is most famous as being the home to the early 4th century bishop, St. Nicholas, patron saint of both Russia and Greece. The Church of St. Nicholas in Myra, small and under renovation, had an elegant and simple holiness. We were startled to find wonderful frescos on the walls and domes. The teaching focused on who Nicholas really was: a champion of Trinitarian orthodoxy at the Council of Nicaea in 325AD; a bold man of consummate physical courage who more than once plunged into the sea to rescue drowning sailors; a gentle pastor, who nurtured young married couples in faith and fidelity; a caring priest, who redeemed three sisters from prostitution with a payment of three bags of gold; a loving Christian, who each year at Christmas provided a present for every child in Myra--to the good children he gave an orange, and to the naughty he gave a lump of coal. In response, a grateful Church named him the patron saint of not just two nations, but also of sailors, young married couples, pawnbrokers (their symbol represents the three bags of gold), and most notably of children at Christmas. The teaching in the nave of the church covered these points, enjoyed even by a friendly wandering dog.