Paul's First Missionary Journey

Mission finished (12:25). “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.” Their ministry was the relief gift for believers in Judea (11:29-30). A mixed team (13:1). The leaders were Barnabas from Cyprus, Simeon “who was called Niger,” Lucius “of Cyrene” in North Africa, Manaen “who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch,” and Saul from Tarsus. Herod the tetrarch was Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee in Jesus’ day. The gospel had made one church out of very different men. Ministering to the Lord (13:2). “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said.” Their first work was worship, not planning. Aphorizo. “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” The Greek aphorizo (say: ah-for-ID-zoh) means to mark off by a boundary, to set apart for a purpose. Paul later called himself “separated to the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). The Spirit speaks. The Holy Spirit says “to Me” and “I have called them.” He is not a force but a Person, and He is God, who calls and sends. Hands laid on (13:3). “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” The church did not make them missionaries. It recognized God’s call and stood with them, and verse 4 says they were “sent out by the Holy Spirit.” A pattern. Many Christians see 13:1-3 as a pattern for commissioning missionaries today: a worshiping, praying church recognizes those the Spirit has called, lays hands on them and sends them. Application. God’s call usually comes to people who are already serving where they are. Be faithful now, and stay open to wherever He may send you.

Cyprus (13:4-5). “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” They began in Salamis, preaching “in the synagogues of the Jews,” with John as “their assistant.” The proconsul (13:7). Cyprus was a Roman province ruled by a proconsul. Sergius Paulus was “an intelligent man” who “called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.” Bar-Jesus (13:6, 8). Bar means son of, and Jesus was a common name then, the Greek form of Joshua. This man was “a certain sorcerer, a false prophet,” also called Elymas. He “withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.” Filled with the Spirit (13:9-10). “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him.” Paul called him an “enemy of all righteousness” and asked, “will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” To pervert is to twist what is straight into something crooked. The hand of the Lord (13:11). “And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” Paul did not do this by his own power. The Lord acted, and the blindness had an end. Paul knew blindness. Paul himself had been blind for three days after meeting Jesus, and others “led him by the hand” (Acts 9:8). Now Elymas “went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.” The teaching (13:12). “Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” What amazed him most was the teaching, not only the miracle. Application. Opposition to the gospel is real, but it cannot win. Keep pointing people to the teaching of the Lord.

Perga (13:13). “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.” The synagogue (13:14-15). The service included “the reading of the Law and the Prophets.” Visiting teachers could be invited to speak, so the rulers asked for “any word of exhortation for the people.” Exhortation is encouraging speech that urges people to act. History with a goal (13:17-22). Paul walked through Israel’s story: the fathers chosen, the people brought out of Egypt “with an uplifted arm,” the judges, King Saul and then David, “a man after My own heart.” The Son of David (13:23). “From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus.” God had promised David, “I will set up your seed after you” (2 Samuel 7:12). Rejected and raised (13:27-30). The rulers in Jerusalem “did not know Him,” yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the prophets read every Sabbath. Then “they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb” (13:29). “But God raised Him from the dead” (13:30). Epangelia (13:32-33). “And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.” The Greek epangelia (say: ep-an-geh-LEE-ah) means a promise, a pledge announced ahead of time. The resurrection is God keeping His word, and with it comes “the sure mercies of David” (13:34). Diaphthora (13:34-37). Corruption translates diaphthora (say: dee-af-thor-AH), the decay of a body in the grave. David “fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.” Psalm 16:10 had spoken of God’s Holy One, who would not decay. Forgiveness and freedom (13:38-39). “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.” Everyone who believes “is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” A warning (13:40-41). Paul closed with words from the prophets: “Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish!” The good news calls for an answer. Application. Read the whole Bible as one story with Jesus at the center. God has kept His word; trust the Savior He raised.

The next Sabbath (13:42-43). “The Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” Many “Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Proselytes were Gentiles who had fully joined the Jewish faith. A crowd and a reaction (13:44-45). “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy.” The messengers were Jews, and many Jews believed. The problem was envy and unbelief in some hearts, not a whole people. Boldness (13:46). “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first.” God had promised salvation through Israel, so the message came there first: “for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). By rejecting it, some judged themselves “unworthy of everlasting life.” A light (13:47). Paul and Barnabas said the Lord had commanded them: “I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” God’s plan had always included every nation. Believing (13:48). “Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” God was at work, and the Gentiles heard, rejoiced and trusted Him. Salvation is God’s work, and it is received by believing. Spread (13:49). “And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.” Dust (13:50-51). Opponents stirred up “the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city,” and Paul and Barnabas were expelled. Shaking off the dust was a sign that the messengers had done their part and the hearers were responsible for their answer. Joy (13:52). “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” The new believers lost their teachers but not their joy, because the Spirit stayed with them. Application. Expect both welcome and opposition when you share Jesus. Neither one changes the message, and neither one can take the Spirit’s joy from you.