Paul's Ministry in Antioch (jan 18, 46 – mar 20, 46)

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Acts 11:19 - 3012:25; Galatians 2:1-14

While Paul is in Tarsus, the Antioch church grows immensely, so the church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas to Antioch to oversee the church there. However, the church is too large for Barnabas alone, so he heads off to Tarsus to find Paul.

While in Antioch, Paul helps Barnabas in his ministry, teaching and converting many to become Christians, particularly among the Gentiles, among them is a man named Titus. The members likely grow concerned as questions begin developing over whether Gentile converts must adopt Jewish practices in order to become Christians.

Around the same time, a severe famine strikes Judea, such that the church in Jerusalem begins to suffer. After a year of ministry in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas, along with Titus, are sent off with provisions to Jerusalem to help the congregation there.

While in Jerusalem, Paul meets with the elders of the church in Jerusalem to 1) bring their gift from Antioch, and 2) speak to the apostles privately about how to deal with Greek converts to Christianity. Paul, greatly displeased with Peter, James, and John - "who seemed to be pillars" for maintaining distinctions between Jew and Gentile converts, while also demanding that Gentile converts adopt Jewish customs. Using Titus to support his case, Paul argues that there cannot be any distinction between Jew and Gentile believers, and that they do not need to be circumcised in order to be saved. Eventually, Paul's ministry is accepted by the Jerusalem elders, though Peter (and Barnabas?) has his reservations still. After a short period in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by Barnabas' cousin John Mark, return to Antioch to continue overseeing the church there.

While in Antioch, Peter comes to visit, still not committed to Paul's ministry to the Gentiles. Paul publicly calls out Peter (and Barnabas?), reminding him that the gospel is both for the Jews and to the Gentiles. Eventually, Peter (and Barnabas) is convinced and returns to Jerusalem.

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