Day 02 - Southern Coast: Aspendos, Perga

After another delicious kahvalti (Turkish breakfast) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, we drove about 10 miles east of Antalya to the ruins of Perga. Founded in 1209 BC as a Lydian settlement, it later became a Greek city in Pamphylia, and eventually part of the Roman Empire. Under the Romans from the first and third century A.D., the town became a prosperous city with a magnificent stadium and theater. Our guide Ozan pointed out that the Romans used stadiums and theaters to promote their propaganda and to “control what the people believed.” As Pastor Marty observed, “The more things change, the more they stay the same!”

The reason we visited Perga today is because according to Acts 13: 13-14 and Acts 14:25, Paul (aka Saul) and his traveling companion Barnabas visited the city of Perga twice. They made their first visit for missionary duty and preaching and from there they traveled by ship to the city of Attalia (now called Antalya), which is where we woke up this morning!

Marty’s teaching today was a lesson on forgiveness and he taught it at the most appropriate place, the Perga Gymnasium (note: the gymnasium is not where folks in Perga went to work out, but where they went to be taught).

Using the example of Paul, Barnabas and Mark and their apparent dispute and parting of ways, Marty challenged us to think about whether there is somebody in our lives we need to forgive. As he noted, there are some people in your life that you’re going to have problems with, and as followers of Jesus we are required to forgive, but he advises, “forgive slowly.” If you forgive slowly, he says, you’ll have a better chance to rebuild the relationship and reconcile as Paul and Mark ultimately did.

After a morning of strolling the ancient ruins of Perga, we stopped for lunch and then started our three hour drive over the Tauros Mountains heading to Isparta, our final destination for the day.

On our way, we made one more stop to see the incredible Aspendos Theater, an enormous structure that could seat nearly 15,000 people in its heyday. A few brave Anthemites actually walked up to the top of the stadium. I’m told that walking down those 50 rows of seats was pretty scary!