The Beloved Gaius

from Google Images

The Elder addressed his letter to a man named Gaius, whom he says is beloved (3John 1:1). The New Covenant text points to three men by that name, and John’s third epistle may point to a fourth, for Gaius was a common name among those living in the first century AD; it was even the name of one of the Caesars. The first Gaius mentioned is found in Acts 19:29, where he, together with Aristarchus, both of Macedonia, were seized by a fanatical mob, demonstrating for the goddess, Dianna of Asia. They were appointed to go with Paul on his final journey to Jerusalem. The second Gaius mentioned was also a man appointed to accompany Paul to Jerusalem, but he was a man from Derbe in Galatia. Still, a third man by this name is mentioned as a man Paul baptized in Corinth (1Corinthians 1:14), who was probably the same Gaius mentioned in Paul’s letter to Rome 16:23, as he was the host of those with Paul, whose letter to Rome was written from Corinth.

 

Prevented by the Spirit?

As often as I read Acts 16:6, I have wondered just how the Holy Spirit stopped Paul and company from preaching in the province of Asia. Then when they decided to evangelize the province of Bithynia along the Black Sea (verse-7), the Spirit of Jesus again prevented their preaching efforts there. Why and how was this done?

 

When Did Paul Return to Jerusalem?

from Google Images

I have yet one more thing to address concerning Paul in Damascus before I go on to discuss his stay in Jerusalem. How long was Saul (Paul) away from Jerusalem? Paul says in Galatians 1:17-18 that he didn’t return to Jerusalem for about 3 years after leaving there to arrest believers at Damascus. Yet, some critics seem to believe that Luke contradicts Paul making it seem like he returns to Jerusalem almost immediately after his conversion. Is this true?

 

Closed Doors and the Guidance of the Spirit

After Paul was satisfied that his work in the Galatian churches was complete for the time being, he decided to go into the province of Asia. This is the province where we find the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3. However, Paul and company were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel there (Acts 16:6). Why? We don’t know. Certainly it was the will of God that the cities within the province hear the Gospel, for Paul brought the Gospel to them later, on his third missionary journey, and even introduced Ephesus to the Gospel as he returned from his 2^nd missionary journey on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 18:19-21). They were also prevented from traveling north into Bithynia to preach. Later Peter would write his first epistle to Christians in this province (1Peter 1:1), so the Spirit was not denying these people should have the Gospel preached to them, but he closed the door to them at this particular time.