Day 01 - Antalya, Sia

Our first day in Antalya, Turkey, began with a group meeting in the park adjacent to our hotel. Our guide, Ozan, began discussing the area of Antalya and its significance to the history of Turkey. We moved to the port area and discussed the probability of Paul and his journey into the port. The port, a cove nestled on the Mediterranean Sea, is a picturesque quiet comfortable entry to Antalya.  

Paul and Barnabas, zealous for the Lord, sent by the Holy Spirit, spent their days traveling and teaching throughout the area.  

Later, we visited a museum completely filled with statues and sarcophagi that depicted the history of the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions of Anatolia. 

Following lunch, we drove to the city of Sia to walk a Roman road similar to and perhaps one of the roads Paul and the early church would have traveled while spreading and preaching the gospel. The hike on the Roman road was challenging as it has deteriorated over several years of earthquakes and lack of maintenance. Due to the erosion of the road, it took us 2 hours to hike 2 miles.  This helped us to understand the difficulties experienced by the early believers as they spread the good news.  

The time we spend hiking combined with the times we stop to read, discuss and ponder God’s word unveils the truly amazing faithfulness of the Christ followers who went before us.

 — by Steve Allen