Paul's Companions and Associates Quiz

Answer:

Paul's first missionary journey is described in Acts chapter 13 and says he is accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark. John Mark is described as the nephew, or cousin, of Barnabas and is widely accepted to be Mark the Evangelist, author of the Gospel bearing that name. This journey took them from Antioch, the city in Syria, via Cyprus to Pamphylia, Phrygia and other places in Asia Minor, now modern day Turkey, making many Christian converts on the way. They also met much hostility from Jews in particular, including Paul being stoned and left for dead, and eventually returned to Antioch.

The second journey is covered in Acts 15, with Paul suggesting to Barnabas that they revisit some of the places from their first journey. The pair have a falling out over John Mark in particular, and separate, with Barnabas and John Mark returning to Cyprus while Paul travels overland with Silas as his companion. Silas is also known as Silvanus, even in Paul's own letters, and is a church leader with a Greek and Jewish background.

During the second missionary journey, Paul and Silas meet Timothy, who is destined to become Paul's most trusted and faithful companion. Timothy is the recipient of two letters (epistles) from Paul as described in the New Testament Books 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, and his name is mentioned in several other Epistles. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, are also mentioned and praised for their faith by Paul. It is also during this second journey that Paul meets Luke, who travels with him. Luke is widely accepted to be the evangelist who wrote the Gospel bearing his name and the fifth book of the New Testament, called the Acts of the Apostles. Paul, Luke, Silas and Timothy go together to Macedonia and Paul and Silas are treated poorly in Philippi, being beaten and imprisoned there. Paul then goes to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy to continue their work in Berea.

Acts 18 explains that Paul, Silas and Timothy are reunited in Corinth where Paul lives in the home of Aquila and his wife, Priscilla - they are tent makers, and Paul works with them at this trade. Paul eventually leaves Corinth, with Aquila and Priscilla, travelling to Ephesus. He leaves them there as he needs to get back to Jerusalem to report on his mission. From Jerusalem he returns to Antioch.

Paul's third journey is covered later in Acts 18, when Paul and Timothy go to Ephesus via Galatia and Phrygia. Having given encouragement to the churches there, they stay with Aquila and Priscilla again, spending three years in Ephesus. Having revisited Corinth, Paul heads to Jerusalem and it is during this journey, covered in Acts 20, that Aristarchus, Gaius and Tychicus are named as accompanying him. During the period of this mission, Paul spends time writing letters of support and encouragement to the various churches - these appear in the New Testament as Epistles under the names of the various places and people he has visited.

Titus is mentioned a few times, and has his own book in the New Testament. He is a companion to Paul and Barnabas on their travels from Antioch to Jerusalem, is described as spending time in Corinth and is left in Crete by Paul to work with the church there. He is believed to have been imprisoned in Rome with Paul. The final time his name appears in the Bible tells us that he is going to Dalmatia, now part of Croatia, to spread the Word there.

The final two names listed of those associated with Paul are Onesimus, a runaway slave, and Philemon, his owner. Philemon also has his own book and is a man with whom Paul stayed. Onesimus had escaped his slavery, travelling to Rome and meeting Paul there. Paul converts him and sends him back to Philemon with a letter requesting his friend to deal kindly with him.

The other names listed are associated with Peter the disciple. Andrew is his brother and fellow disciple and apostle while Malchus is the man who had his ear cut (and restored by Jesus) in the Garden of Gethsemane - Peter is said to have been responsible for this. Cornelius is the centurion who converted to Christianity after visiting Peter. Simon Magus, by contrast, is a sorcerer mentioned in Acts who comes into conflict with Peter - he is the person whose name gives us the word simony. Ananias, and his wife Sapphira, are the couple who are struck dead by lying about the proceeds of the sale of their land. Peter is the man who deals with them on Earth while the Holy Spirit causes their deaths.