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Paul’s First Missionary Journey. Acts 13:1-14:28.
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Paul’s First Missionary Journey Acts 13:1-14:28 Paul's first journey as a Christian missionary began when members of the congregation at Antioch selected Paul and Barnabas to take the gospel to new places. Setting out from Antioch, they sailed to Cyprus, then ventured to regions that lie in what today is Turkey.
Antioch Acts 13:1-3 Christians at Antioch made a concerted effort to spread the gospel locally among non-Jews. With prayer and the laying on of hands, some from the Antioch congregation also sent Paul and Barnabas to spread the gospel in other places. They first went to Cyprus, which was Barnabas' home region. Context: The congregation at Antioch was among the most important in the early church. According to Acts 11:20, it was at Antioch that Christians made the first major efforts to extend the gospel to non-Jews. Paul was part of that effort.
The city of Antioch in Syria was created de novo in 300 BCE by Seleucus I, the founder of the Seleucid dynasty, which last 247 years; Seleucus named the city after his father, Antiochus. Antioch was situated on the Orontes River, which flowed into the Mediterranean Sea. It continued as the capital city of the Seleucid empire until it was captured by the Tigranes, king of Armenia, in 83 BCE, when all of Syria came into possession through military conquest. Fourteen years later, the Roman general Pompey defeated Tigranes, so that the city came into Roman possession in 65 BCE. After Pompey's military conquests in the east, the Seleucid empire ceased to exist; Antioch became the captial city of the newly-formed Roman province of Syria Antioch was the third most important city in the Roman empire, after Rome and Alexandria. Christianity came to the city with the arrival of Christians fleeing persecution in Jerusalem; these early missionaries told the "good news," not only to Jews but also genitles (Acts 11:19-21); it was in Antioch that Christians were first called "Christians" (Christianoi) (Acts 11:26).
Cyprus:Salamis Acts 13:4-5 Paul, Barnabas, and a Christian named John Mark sailed from Antioch to the Cyprus. They landed at Salamis on the island's eastern coast and spoke the word of God at various places, including synagogues Context: Cyprus is a large island in the eastern Mediterranean that came under Roman control in the first century B.C. Salamis was one of the island's major cities. Cyprus had a significant Jewish population in Paul's time. Jews from Cyrus, who joined the Christian community in Antioch, were instrumental in extending the gospel to non-Jews there. Paul's companion Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus who became a Christian in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36). After a dispute with Paul, Barnabas and John Mark would later return to Cyprus while Paul went to Asia Minor (Acts 15:39).
Cyprus: Pamphos Acts 13:6-12 Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark traveled across Cyprus to the city of Paphos. They received a favorable reception from the Roman administrator there, but met resistance from a Jewish magician named Bar-Jesus or Elymas. In response, Paul inflicted him with temporary blindness. Context: Paphos was one of the larger cities on Cyprus. Situated on the island's western end, it was the Roman administrative center for Cyprus. Among the deities worshiped at Paphos was Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.
Perga Acts 13:13 Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark sailed north from Cyprus and landed in Pamphylia. They stopped briefly at Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. Because of this, Paul considered him unreliable and would later refuse to work with him (Acts 15:38) Context: Perga a city in the region of Pamphylia in southern Asia Minor. It had impressive gates, towers, aqueducts, and public buildings. A stadium and theater contributed to regional cultural life. A gymnasium, adorned with statues, was dedicated to the emperor Claudius.
Antioch in Pisidia Acts 13:13-52 Leaving Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch in Pisidia. Paul gave a sermon in the synagogue there, presenting Jesus in light of Israel's history. Some were favorable to the message but others resisted it and the apostles departed. Context: Antioch in Pisidia is a city in what today is west central Turkey. (It is not to be confused with Antioch in Syria, the city from which Paul set out.) The emperor Augustus made Antioch in Pisidia a Roman colony in 25 B.C. The city was adorned with buildings devoted to the imperial cult. Some of these remains are shown above. By the middle of the first century A.D., several members of the imperial household had served as magistrates here. Like many cities in Asia, Antioch in Pisidia had a Jewish synagogue. Those who gathered included Jews and others, who revered the God of Israel, but who were apparently not full converts to Judaism (Acts 13:16).
Iconium Acts 14:1-7 The apostles went east to the town of Iconium. Although some were open to the message others showed hostility. People attempted to stone them. Context: Iconium was an important city in the Roman province of Galatia, in what today is Turkey. Located along one of the major routes connecting the eastern Roman provinces with Asia Minor to the west, Iconium was a prosperous community. Wealth came from trade and agriculture.
Lystra Acts 14:8-23 At Lystra, Paul healed a man with crippled feet. People thought Paul and Barnabas were the gods Zeus and Hermes. They brought oxen and garlands to offer a sacrifice, but Paul prevented it. Later, people turned against Paul. They stoned him and dragged him out of the city. Context: Sacrifices of oxen were common in Greek religious practice. Shown here is a sacrificial procession from an Asian sculpture. Zeus was the supreme god among the Greeks. Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Since Paul did the talking, the people identified Paul with Hermes and Barnabas with the more distant figure of Zeus. On Paul's second journey he returned to Lystra where he met Timothy, who became a valued associate.
Zeus Zeus was the highest of the gods in the Greek pantheon. He is shown here receiving a crown.
Hermes Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Since Paul did the talking, the people identified Paul with Hermes and Barnabas with the more distant figure of Zeus.
Derbe Acts 14:20-21 Paul and Barnabas left Lystra for the town of Derbe where their message found a favorable reception. Afterward, they retraced their steps to the coast. Context: Derbe was a town in south-central Asia Minor. Paul's message was favorably received in Derbe during his first journey. He would visit Derbe on his second journey (16:1) and probably again during his third journey through Galatia (Acts 18:23). During the third journey, Paul was accompanied by several people from Greece to Asia. Among them was Gaius, who was from Derbe (Acts 20:4).
Attalia Acts 14:25-26 As Paul and Barnabas completed the initial phase of their work in Asia, they returned to Perga near the coast. They boarded a ship at the nearby port of Attalia, which took them back to Antioch in Syria and then to Jerusalem for one of the church's most important assemblies Context: Attalia was the chief port of the region of Pamphylia. It was founded by a king of Pergamum, the city that dominated western Asia Minor before the Roman conquests. The city had towers and defensive walls. Its its harbor could be closed with a chain.
Jerusalem Council Acts 15:1-29 Increased number of non-Jews accepted the Christian faith. This raised questions about the need for Christians to observe Jewish law. At a meeting in Jerusalem, it was agreed that gentile Christians did not need need to be circumcised. Context: The council determined that non-Jewish converts to Christianity did not need to become circumcised, but the status of other Jewish practices remained unclear. Acts 15:20 says that gentile Christians were to refrain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, and from certain types of non-kosher meats. Although Acts 15 implies that Paul knew of the decree and told other about it, Acts 21:25 suggests that Paul learned of this decree only later. Paul did refrain from idolatry, but did not feel constrained to keep kosher.
