Acts 13 and 14 Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey

 ACTS 13 AND 14

PAUL AND BARNABAS' FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY

Confession time! When I was in my teens, some 40+ years ago we had an elder in our church who organised the weekly Youth Fellowship. One of his teaching programmes was on Paul's three missionary journeys. To be honest I found them quite boring! And sad to say I don't actually remember much about the content!  When I came to Acts 13 and 14 I realised that this was Paul's first missionary journey with Barnabas. That elder had a wonderful series of full blown maps showing each of Paul's missionary journeys - something similar to what is in our bibles but it was massive in size and took up quite a large part of the wall in our church.  For some people geography is their strong point but for me it definitely wasn't then nor is now but I searched the internet and found a very good map and here it is ...

The story in chapter 13 picks up with the church in Antioch (from chapter 11 verse 26). We are told in the opening verse of chapter 13 that there were "certain prophets and teachers" or leaders within this church. They are named:

Barnabas

Simeon that was called Niger

Lucius of Cyrene

Manaen which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch 

Saul

All of these men were from different parts of the world - Africa, Cyprus, Judea, Samaria and Asia Minor. Some are Jews and some are Gentiles. There is a Levite, a Pharisee and one of Herod's closest associate. Each of them had talents and abilities being used to strengthen and help this little church grow - we are told "they ministered and fasted". As they did that the Holy Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul specifically for "a work whereunto I have called them." Then we read that the church also sent them out - a divine and a human sending. But this means that the church would now lose 2 of its most valuable leaders. It was a huge commitment to this church because they would have to support them financially as well as personally, emotionally and physically.

But what was the plan? How did they proceed? Well they decided to go to Barnabas' home - Cyprus. There was a strategy in accomplishing the plan to spread the gospel further afield. They land in Salamis (verse 5) and immediately they follow a tactic repeated continually throughout these journeys - "the preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews." They were not alone in their work - John also was with them. Notice that in this coastal port of Salamis there was more than one synagogue so obviously there were many Jews living here.

Paul, Barnabas and John travelled the whole length of the island of Cyprus until they came to the capital city of Paphos. It is here that they meant a false prophet, a Jew with the name Bar-Jesus or Elymas. This man had obviously some influence and was  able to provide some sort of false divine knowledge. His name means "son of Joshua" or "son of salvation." Perhaps his father was called Joshua. Or maybe he is using this name to make himself more popular and have credibility for his powers and influence. 

We also read of the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus who is described as a "prudent man".  He called for Barnabas and Saul with one purpose - "desired to hear the word of God." He was interested in God's word but Elymas tried his best to ensure that he did not hear nor believe what he heard.

Paul rebukes Elymas and tells him straight that he is a "child of the devil". He tells him that he has been spiritually blind but would not become physically blind. He experiences the judgment of God while Sergius Paulus experiences the salvation of God - "then the deputy when he saw what was done, believed being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord."

As I read these verses I thought of the impact of that profession of faith. I am sure there were Jews and possibly Gentiles who trusted God as a result of Paul and Barnabas' ministry in the synagogues they visited but this man was a man of position in the island. I wonder what people said when they heard of his salvation? As a result of his testimony many of the Gentiles and possibly the senior government of the land would take note. It would have given more credibility to Paul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas travel on to Perga in Pamphylia and came to Antioch in Pisidia. There were 16 cities named Antioch in the ancient world and each one was distinguished by the province in which they were in.

On the Sabbath day Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue. After the reading of the law the rulers of the synagogue invited Paul and Barnabas to speak to the people gathered. 

In verses 17 to 41 we have the sermon that Paul gave in the synagogue that day. It is a history lesson for the Jews present that day. Paul traces 2000 years of history of God's outworking of his salvation plans for this people. 

Paul starts with how God chose the Israelites and led them out of Egypt. He brought them through the wilderness for 40 years until they came in to the land of Canaan. For 450 judges rules the land until Samuel, then God came them a king who ruled for 40 years. After Saul, David was made king and it was from his family line that the Lord brought forth Jesus the Saviour. Paul told them of John the Baptist and his message of repentance but he pointed to a greater one than himself who was coming after him to provide salvation - Jesus. Jesus made salvation possible through his death and resurrection. But the Jews rejected him.

Throughout his sermon Paul refers to the Old Testament prophecies found in Psalms and Isaiah which speak clearly of the resurrection, exaltation and proclamation of God's king. Paul was showing that God had promised David a son who would be King to reign over all his people forever and that was fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is alive and offers all the benefits of being a citizen of his kingdom when people come and put their trust in him (verses 38 and 39).

Our debt for sin has been paid in full and Jesus' righteousness has been credited to our account.

Paul knew that not everyone listening to him would receive his message. He warned them what it would mean to reject the offer of salvation using the prophet Habakkuk. In doing this he is warning his listeners that they would receive the same judgment if they rejected his message (verses 40 and 41).

When the Jews had left the synagogue the Gentiles approached Paul and Barnabas asking them to come back the following week so they could hear more. In verse 43 we read that "many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas." Paul and Barnabas "persuaded them to continue in the grace of God."

On the following Sabbath there was a large gathering in the synagogue who wanted to hear God's word. But the Jews were so filled with jealousy and they contradicted and blasphemed Paul and Barnabas' message. 

So often when God's word is proclaimed there are various responses to it and we can see this here in these verses. Some people believe and claim the message for themselves while others openly reject it. In this case the Jews did not want the Gentiles to receive God's word and Paul had to quickly show that the prophets had already foretold this - verse 47 (see Isaiah 49 verse 6). The salvation of God would extend to the ends of the earth one day.

Look at the response of the Gentiles - "And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad, and glorified the word fo the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

The Jews were even angrier and they "stirred up the devout and honourable women and the chief men of the city." They sent Paul and Barnabas away. Paul and Barnabas realised that there would be those who responded by rejecting and so shook the dust of their feet as they departed.

Nancy Guthrie in her book "Saved" reminds us at this point that it is not up to our human efforts to persuade people to be saved. The work of salvation is all of God. We can only do our part and let God work in people's lives. But our part is so very important and we should not miss any opportunity given to us to present the gospel. Not everyone will be involved in a pulpit ministry but sometimes God uses the quiet day-to-day witness of individuals to convince and convict people of their sin and need of Christ. What a challenge to my heart - am I making the most of what has been given to me today?

Paul and Barnabas move on to Iconium and again enter into the Jewish synagogue. This time they are in Galatia, a Roman province. On this occasion "the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against the brethren." But Paul and Barnabas did not give up and move on. They remained "speaking boldly in the Lord". Not only did they have boldness but persistence and determination. They performed miracles of physical healing in this city. "But the multitude of the city was divided and part held with the Jews and part with the apostles." There was an attempt to stone Paul and Barnabas, so great was the opposition. 

Paul and Barnabas became aware of the plan to stone them so fled to Lystra and Derbe and continued to preach the gospel (chapter 14 verse 7).

In Lystra they came upon a man who was crippled, he had never walked from the day he had been born. When this man heard Paul speak believed he could be healed. Paul told him to stand up on his feet and "he leaped and walked." The people of Lystra reacted quite differently to this miracle. They actually were very confused.

The Lyconians are familiar with a story told by the Roman poet Ovid. In this story, the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes assume human form and visit a town where one couple shows them hospitality while many in the town fail to show them the same. The couple are richly rewarded while terrible judgment falls on those who did not.

When the crowds witnessed this healing they assumed that Paul and Barnabas were Zeus and Hermes and they wanted to make sure appropriate hospitality was extended to them so they would be rewarded and not judged. Paul and Barnabas were horrified. Paul refers them to creation - verses 15 to 17. Paul shows them that God created the world and gave them all the good things to enjoy but they cannot save them. He tells to turn from these things they believe in to trust in God. He alone would save them from a life of meaninglessness and false worship. 

Just as they were speaking Jews came from Antioch and Iconium arrive and start stoning Paul. Paul was so very badly injured, they thought he was dead. But Paul got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas move on to Derbe. When they preached the gospel and taught them Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem back through the cities they had previously travelled in.

Why did they go back the way they came? Paul and Barnabas were on a mission - to establish churches and strengthen the believers. They wanted to encourage them and prepare them for the difficulties that lay ahead. No doubt these people heard what had happened to Paul and Barnabas and they needed reassurance that they were alright. Paul prayed with each believer and committed them to the Lord (verse 23).

When they arrived home to Jerusalem they shared all their experiences with the church believers. It had been a year since they had set off and I am sure the believers wondered what had happened. They "rehearsed all that God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."

Being part of God's work is hard work! But it is genuine work. There will be good days and bad, days when people accept Christ and grow in their faith but there will also be rejection and sometimes even persecution. But God is at work even in the small things. Yes there will be division, even among God's people but remember God will bring such joy when we see people coming to faith in Christ.

Taken from Saved by Nancy Guthrie