January 5 - Paul's First Missionary Journey

January 5 - Paul's First Missionary Journey

Have you ever looked at the maps in the back of your Bible and tried to comprehend how to relate Paul's missionary journeys with the correct scripture passage? Well, I have. It drives me to insanity sometimes. The maps are cool. I see lots of cities with arrows moving around them trying to help me define where he went and what he did. Then I become annoyed because it makes no more sense to me than it did when I accidentally landed on them while trying to get to the concordance.

I may not be much help to you here. If you want to track down the cities on the map and in the scriptures, good for you. Start with Acts 13-14 for this part of the adventure.

After Paul left Jerusalem under the protection of the disciples, he returned to Tarsus, his home. While he was there, the Good News of Jesus began spreading throughout the region. Acts 11:19-21 tells of some of the communities that were reached. One of these was Antioch. Acts 11:22 says that Barnabas headed to Antioch to find out what was happening. Well, he remember Saul and thought that this would be a good learning experience for him. So, he went to Tarsus, found him and brought him back to Antioch where they taught for a year. This is where the name 'Christians' was first used to describe disciples of Christ. (Acts 11:25-26)

Moving ahead to Acts 13, we find that the Holy Spirit moved within the people and called Barnabas and Saul out for missionary work. The disciples there fasted, prayed, and layed hands on them and sent them out on their journey. Those two men were commissioned by this amazing group of Christians to tell others about the Good News.

I love the first verse (Acts 13:1). In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manean and Saul. These men were important to the growth of this church! And for the growth of Christianity in the area. While two of them separated from the leadership to become missionaries, two others remained behind.

We see in Acts 13:5, that John joined them as their helper. This is John Mark, Barnabas' cousin, the author of the second Gospel.

They traveled to Cyprus and to Paphos, where they meet a sorceror and false prophet - Bar-Jesus. He tried to block their message and at this point, Saul began calling himself Paul and through the Holy Spirit called him out. He was blinded, which transformed the lives of many. (Acts 13:6-12) From Pahos, they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. John left to return to Jerusalem. They went on to Pisidian Antioch where Paul taught in the synagogue (Acts 13:16-41). After his message, they continued to meet with many (Acts 13:42-43) and in Acts 13:44 we are told that nearly the entire city gathered to hear to word of the Lord! Paul spoke to the Gentiles while the Jews spoke against him. They incited powerful women and leading men who stirred up persecution. Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet (Acts 13:51-52) and left filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

They went on to Iconium and immediately went to the Synagogue (Acts 14:1). Many believed, others refused to believe. Acts 14:4 says that the people of the city were divided. However, as we all know - the negative can far outweigh the positive and with a stoning on the horizon, they left for Lystra and Derbe (Acts 14:6-7).

Paul healed a cripple in Lystra and the people believed that he and Barnabas were gods come to earth (Acts 14:8-13). That totally freaked the two men out, so much so that they tore their clothes! (Acts 14:14)

They taught about the living God, yet the people wanted to sacrifice to them. And to top it off, Jews from Antioch and Iconium incited them to violence and they stoned Paul, leaving him for dead outside the city (Acts 14:18-19).

Disciples gathered around him, he got up, went back into the city, but left the next day with Barnabas for Derbe. Acts 14:21-28 tells us that they won many disciples there, and returned home, encouraging the groups of Christians and helping to appoint elders. Prayer and fasting surrounded all that they did in committing things to the Lord (Acts 14:23).

They returned to Antioch, reported on all that God had done through them. The first missionary journey was complete.