Encounter life as it was known to ancient believers of Asia Minor, and view the ruins and landscapes that played a role in their day-to-day lives.
Walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in Turkey with both an expert guide and Jim Hamilton, Sam Emadi, and Alex Duke, trusted church leaders and hosts of the Bible Talk podcast, as you explore the depths of Scripture in the places that the Scripture speaks about.
James M. Hamilton Jr. is Professor of Biblical Theology at Southern Seminary and Senior Pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church at Victory Memorial, both in Louisville, KY, where he lives with his wife and their five children. In addition to his biblical theology, God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment, Jim has written Typology—Understanding the Bible's Promise-Shaped Patterns, and his most recent commentary is the two-volume work on Psalms in the EBTC series. With Alex Duke and Sam Emadi, Jim is part of the Bible Talk podcast team.
Sam Emadi serves as the Senior Pastor of Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church in Louisville KY where he lives with his wife Corrie Ann and four children. He is the author of From Prisoner to Prince: The Joseph Story in Biblical Theology as well as What Should I Do Now that I’m a Christian? And Who’s in Charge of the Church? Sam is also privileged and humbled to serve as part of the Bible Talk Podcast team.
Alex Duke (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the editorial manager for 9Marks and the director of training and sending at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
Fly to Istanbul (IST), where you'll be greeted by your guide.
Please note that at the conclusion of the tour guests will depart from a different city and airport than arrival.
Return flight should be arranged from Izmir (ADB) and not Istanbul (IST).
Begin your historic tour of Istanbul with a stroll around some of the key sites of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Start by visiting the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Consider the changes of the last millennia as you experience the majestic Blue Mosque, built to rival the Hagia Sophia, still a place of worship whose six minarets shine silver in the sun.
Continue your tour by visiting the famous Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Finish off your tour visiting the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar.
Spend the morning in İznik, where the first council of Nicea was held in A.D. 325 aimed at the defense of the deity of Jesus. Then, travel to Troas, an important port city through which Paul
both preached the Gospel (2 Cor. 2:12) and used on his missionary journeys (Acts 16:8,11; 20:5,6). Finish the day visiting Assos, another port that Paul used on his journeys, that also is a
location of a Temple to Athena.
Spend your morning in the ancient city of Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul’s School of Tyrannus unleashed the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Asia. After Ephesus, explore the history of Ottoman and modern Turkey by witnessing how their famous carpets are made. Finish the day with a visit to St. John’s Basilica and witness one of the world’s oldest baptismals.
Finish your tour exploring the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the
church at Ephesus at the end of his third journey (Acts 20). The site contains a large theater
where an important inscription refers to the Jews and “God-fearers” of the city.
Depart from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB).
Enrich your insight. Enjoy your tour.
