What kind of cities did Paul visit on his missionary journeys?
Paul entered largely pagan, idolatrous cities across the Roman Empire, including Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. Their inhabitants knew nothing of the God of creation and were morally corrupt, though some Jewish communities also existed there. He preached Christ crucified among them.
Les explains that Paul faced insurmountable odds when he went into absolutely strange territory among pagan Gentiles and the little Jewish communities in those cities. The Jews never evangelized or took their knowledge out to the pagan Gentiles. When Paul came into cities like Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth, every one of those places were abject pagan idolaters who knew nothing of the God of creation. They were not even very good people; they were rotten morally. Les notes how morally corrupt most cities in the Roman Empire were, yet Paul walked in with no pleasant appearance and nothing physically going for him, and all he did was preach Christ crucified. Those people turned from their idols and became believers, so staunch in faith that they were willing to be martyred by the hundreds. Les sees the same power of God when the Gospel is preached today.
Which pagan cities did Paul take the Gospel to?
Paul took the Gospel to pagan cities including Antioch in Galatia, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. These were abject pagan idolaters who knew nothing of the God of creation. He preached Christ crucified among them, and many turned from their idols and believed.
What were the cities where Paul preached like spiritually and morally?
The cities where Paul preached, including Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth, were abject pagan idolaters who knew nothing of the God of creation. They were morally rotten and extremely corrupt, part of a Roman Empire whose moral corruption was unbelievable.