Paul's 1st Missionary Journey (25 marzo 46 anni – 29 dic 47 anni)

Descrizione:

Acts 13-14

Paul was accompanied by Barnabas (a.k.a Joseph) and his cousin John Mark (see Colossians 4:10). Their journey was funded by the church in Syrian Antioch. They began in Syrian Antioch and went down to Seleucia, the nearest port city. There they boarded a ship and sailed to the island of Cyprus, landing in Salamis.

In Salamis, they preached regularly to the Jews in the synagogue. They travelled throughout the whole island of Cyprus, converting many Gentiles to the faith, and eventually stopping in the city of Paphos. It is unclear if Titus joined Paul and accompanied him on the rest of his journey or if he travelled directly to Jerusalem and happened to meet Paul just before the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem.

In Paphos, the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, summoned them to hear them preach. But a certain magician named Elymas (a.k.a. 'Bar-Jesus') opposed Paul and Barnabas, trying to keep the proconsul from hearing the gospel and believing. Paul rebuked Elymas, and he was struck with blindness, and act which brought the proconsul to faith.

After the episode in Paphos, they boarded another ship headed to Perga in the region of Pamphylia. It is here where John Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas and goes to Jerusalem. Much speculation is given as to why John Mark left; whatever it was, it did not sit well with Paul as he did not want John Mark to accompany them on their second missionary journey (see Acts 15:36-40).

From here they went to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day, while in the synagogue, Paul and Barnabas are asked to offer words of encouragement to the Jews there. Paul preached and demonstrated that the Old Testament pointed to the crucified and risen Christ. One week later, they spoke in the synagogue again, proclaiming the gospel to them. They also began to bring the message to the Gentiles, just as God had commanded. The large crowd roused fits of jealousy from the Jewish leaders, who incited the officials to drive them out of the region of Pisidia and into Galatia.

They entered the city of Iconium, preaching the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. The city of Iconium was divided, some sided with the Paul and Barnabas while the rest sided with the Jewish leaders who opposed them. Those who opposed them conspired to kill them, but upon hearing of it, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra.

In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas healed a crippled man. Because of the miracle, the people worshipped them, referring to Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes (named after Greek gods). Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes, begging the people to stop worshipping them, but to little effect. Some Jews followed Paul and Barnabas from Antioch and Iconium, and incited a mob to drag Paul out and stone him, leaving him for dead. Paul got up and re-entered the city, and fled to Derbe with Barnabas.

In Derbe, Paul and Barnabas preached and led many to believe. They then headed back to Lystra and Iconium and Pisidian Antioch, encouraging the believers in those cities. They appointed elders in each of the churches in Galatia, and committed to them all who had believed the gospel message.

After a pit stop in Attalia, they sailed back to Syrian Antioch and reported to the church there all that God had done, and spoke about how God "had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles," thus concluding his first missionary journey.

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