We have already discussed how that Barnabas had been sent to Antioch to pastor and teach the church there after many people had received the Holy Ghost and had brought in Saul to help. Throughout this teaching, God raised up mighty men who were prophets and preachers. Counting Barnabas and Saul, these mighty men of Antioch numbered five: Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul. Lucius of Cyrene was one of the original men who went to Antioch and preached the Gospel. Simeon was a black man (Niger means black) who was also used in the ministerial leadership of the church. The Early Apostolic church was NOT divided along cultural or racial lines. Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Romans, Blacks and Whites, all worshipped together. Manaen is an interesting character to study. He was the "foster brother" of Herod. In those days, rulers had mothers assigned to nurse their children and be a "nanny" to them. Manaen's mother was a "nursing nanny" to Herod and so Manaen had been raised with Herod and was like a brother to him. Jewish History teaches us that Manaen was a gifted prophet and had even prophesied to Herod as a child that he would one day be king. Somewhere, this powerful and influential man had received truth and was a mighty leader in the church of Antioch!

As these men prayed and fasted for the direction that God wanted their ministries to go, God spoke to them and told them to separate Barnabas and Saul to do a special work!

The men fasted and prayed some more and then laid their hands on them and sent them on a missionary journey. Notice how that the men were careful to fast and pray in order to make sure that they were able to discern God's will for their lives and actions. Even today, fasting and prayer will help us carefully follow a path in life that is pleasing to God. Jesus had laid His hands upon people to help them focus their faith to receive something from God at that moment. He had taught His disciples to follow the same practice in praying for people to receive healing and the Holy Ghost. Here the men laid their hands upon Saul and Barnabas to help them focus their faith to receive a special anointing for the missionary work that they were about to undertake.

This is known as Paul's First Missionary Journey because it was the first of four mission trips in Paul's life. In those days, travel was by ships or walking so Saul and Barnabas traveled from Antioch to the sea port of Seleucia. From there they took a ship to the island of Cyprus and docked at the city of Salamis. They immediately began to preach about Jesus in the Jewish synagogues throughout the area. We also learn from verse 5 that Saul and Barnabas had a traveling companion, the young John Mark. This is the same man who eventually write the Gospel of Mark. At this time, he was probably in his late teens or early 20s and had come along to help them with the small everyday tasks so that they might more effectively preach the Gospel.

The island of Cyprus is about 138 miles long. Leaving the seaport of Salamis, they began to travel throughout the island and finally made it to the other end at the port city of Paphos. The city of Paphos was the most sinful city on the island and there was a large temple to the idol Venus there. While preaching, Saul and Barnabas met a sorcerer named "Bar-Jesus" which simply means "the son of Joshua." This sorcerer had considerable influence with the Roman ruler of the island who was named Sergius Paulus. When the sorcerer mentioned the preaching and powerful acts of Barnabas and Saul, no doubt trying to turn the ruler against them, Sergius asked to hear what they were preaching for himself. Barnabas and Saul came before Sergius and began to preach to him the power and story of Jesus Christ. When the sorcerer realized that the ruler was listening with an open heart to the Word of God, he began to violently come against the men of God probably through trying to cast a spell or some other sorcery.

The Holy Ghost came over Saul and he pronounced that the sorcerer would be blind for a time. Immediately after Saul made this pronouncement, the sorcerer became blind and began to ask for someone to lead him out so that he could leave! Sergius seeing the powerful hand of God upon the sorcerer and hearing the Word of God, believed and was converted to the "doctrine of the Lord." Even though it does not specifically say, obviously Sergius repented of his sins, was baptized in the name of Jesus, and received the Holy Ghost. God had saved the Roman leader of the entire island.

It is interesting to note that when the sorcerer was struck blind is the first time that we here of Saul and being called "Paul" and the last time that he is actually referred to as "Saul." The name "Saul" means "asking or questioning." The name "Paul" means "powerful and mighty" in Hebrew and "small of stature" in Latin. Because of this we can know that Paul was probably a short man in height. But I believe that there was more than just his physical appearance to the name change. Up to this point, Saul had been asking and questioning God if he would really be able to perform and fulfill the prophecies about him being a light to kings and the Gentiles. After the Holy Spirit came upon him and the sorcerer was blinded and the Gentile ruler converted, I believe that Paul found a new boldness and a greater confidence that God was going to use him mightily. Despite being short in stature, He went from "questioning" to "powerful and mighty." Indeed, Paul became more bold in presenting the Gospel from this point in his ministry. Today, we need to have a spiritual name change from "asking if God can really use me?" to being "powerful and mighty in the works of the Spirit." That change comes from allowing the Holy Ghost to use in telling others about Jesus. God uses soul winning to change Christians into powerful tools for His kingdom. Christians who never try to win anyone to God or teach them a Bible Study never receive the boldness that God can actually use them!

From this point on in the Book of Acts, Paul's name is always mentioned ahead of Barnabas and other companions. I believe that this signifies the change in the level of Paul's anointing that had resulted from the events on the island. Let us never forget that without Barnabas seeing the hand of God upon the then named Saul's life and traveling to Tarsus to find him, that Paul's ministry would have never reached this point. Because of that Barnabas was just as important to the kingdom of God even though Paul became more famous. We can see this principle in God's Word many times. Andrew answered the call of God first and then brought Peter to Jesus. Without Andrew there would have never been a Peter. We must never judge God's will by recognition received or by the motives of being famous. God may never call us to the mission field but choose to use us to reach the greatest missionary that will ever live. If that is God's will, so be it!

Traveling by ship again, the three men sailed to the main land of Asia and landed up a river in the city of Perga. Here we find that John Mark decided to leave them and travel back to Jerusalem. Scriptures are not clear as to why John Mark decided to leave. Perhaps, he was homesick or frightened by the perils of traveling in a foreign country. Perhaps he desired to spend time with Peter. More likely there was rift or argument that formed between him and Paul. Whatever the reason of John Mark's leaving, from this point on in the journey Paul and Barnabas were alone.

There were two towns named Antioch. This was a different city than their home town. This Antioch was a city deep within the continent of Asia. When they arrived they attended the service at the synagogue on the Sabbath day. In those days, anyone could read from the scriptures and then expound on what they meant to them. For some reason, the leader of the synagogue asked if these new men had anything that they would like to say! Paul, of course, took advantage of the situation and began to preach to them about how that Jesus was the Messiah. His message is found in Acts 13:17-41.

Paul's preaching so astounded the Jewish believers that when they went home and to work the following week, the Gentiles heard them talking about it and asked if they could hear the preaching and teaching of Paul and Barnabas the following sabbath! Also many Jewish people began to follow Paul and Barnabas throughout the week and were converted to Christianity!

The big day came a week later and "almost the whole city" came to hear the Word of God. When some of the Jewish leaders saw the large crowds that Paul and Barnabas had drawn, they became jealous and began to try to contradict Paul's teaching and disrupt the service!

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold." There was definitely a difference in Paul now from the man who had fled to his home town so that he would not be persecuted by the Jews! Paul told the Jewish people, that "if you do not want the truth, then we will preach to the Gentiles!" Paul then began to tell them about the prophecy that God had given him about being "a light to the Gentiles." This infuriated the Jewish people but caused the Gentiles to rejoice and obey the Word of God! The Word of God is truly a "two edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). The same preaching that caused the Gentiles to rejoice and repent, caused the Jewish leaders to burn with envy and hatred. The difference is that the Gentiles responded with faith! The "Word of the Lord was published" throughout the entire area. Revival had come to the Asian Gentiles!

The Jewish leaders used their considerable influence with the leaders of the city to come against the work of Paul and Barnabas. They forcefully "threw them out" of the city. Paul and Barnabas followed the advice of Jesus (see Matthew 10:14-15) and "shook off the dust of their feet" signifying that they would not let a little resistance stop them from doing the work of God. The point of this is that we should not allow a little resistance stop us from doing the work of God and cause us to lose sight of the those who are receiving the truth! Sometimes, we have to "shake the dust off our feet" and move on to those who will receive truth.

Traveling East to the town of Iconium the disciples were "filled with joy" as they thought about all of the Gentiles who had received the Word of the Lord and responded to the Gospel message. Paul and Barnabas were excited to see how many people would receive it in the next town! They were focused on those who had received the Word and not discouraged by those who rejected it!

Paul and Barnabas followed the same course of action that they had followed in Antioch. They went to the Jewish synagogue and after they had taught, many Jews and Gentile believed their message. Again, some Jews began to try to stand up against their preaching, but the message was so well received by others that Paul and Barnabas stayed a "long time" in the city preaching and teaching and performing "signs and wonders." Because they did not allow a little persecution and opposition hinder them, they saw God perform a mighty work in the city! How many times in our lives have we NOT seen God move because we allowed persecution or opposition to hinder our ministries! We must NOT allow trouble to deter us from our true purpose: to win others for Christ!

Finally, though, the persecution arose to the point that their enemies tried to stone Paul and Barnabas. They moved on southward to the city of Lystra and then to Derbe. The wording indicates that they traveled around this region and did not stay in only one city at a time. In a new region, they began to preach the gospel once more!

One day while ministering in Lystra, a crippled man who had never walked heard Paul's message of the power in the name of Jesus. The man probably had something similar to what is known today as "club feet." Paul looked at the man and realizing that the man had faith in what he was preaching, suddenly called out to him "Stand upright on thy feet." When the man tried to obey, he found that God had miraculously healed him and he could leap and walk! God will always respond to true faith in His Word!

When the Gentiles saw this notable miracle, they began to say in their native language (not Greek which is probably the language in which Paul was preaching) that "the gods are come down to us." Because they did not speak the local dialect, Paul and Barnabas did not realize what was happening at first and simply continued to minister. The people decided that Barnabas was Jupiter and that Paul must Mercurius because he was the one doing the chief speaking and as the disciples looked up, the priest of Jupiter was called upon and the people began to prepare to offer sacrifice to their pagan gods!

When Paul and Barnabas realized what was happening, they began to tear their clothes which signified that they were not pleased with the proceedings and began to preach to them that they were not gods but had come to tell them about the one, true, living God!

Paul and Barnabas managed to persuade the people not to sacrifice and worship them but shortly after this incident, their enemies from Antioch and Iconium found them and began to stir up the people. Taking Paul outside the city, they began to stone him, and as the stones pounded him into unconsciousness, they left him thinking that he was dead. But even though his enemies hated him, God was not finished with the man named Paul!

God touched Paul and gave him the strength to rise up and walk away from the stones! Notice Paul’s spunk and boldness: he “came into the city!” The next day they traveled to Derbe to preach and after they had established believers in that city, they traveled back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch! Can you imagine the surprise of the enemies of Paul to think that they had killed him and suddenly find him back preaching the Word of God!? Paul, the one who had before so persecuted the church, was not going to allow pain and suffering keep him from fulfilling his call!

Paul’s return boosted the faith and confidence of the disciple in those cities! Paul began to preach to them that they must “continue in the faith,” and that we must through much tribulation enter into serving God! Even today, this is still true! We must not allow persecution and opposition to deter us from pleasing God and coming to the truth! If the Early Church had to endure and press through hardships to live for God, then we must expect trials and persecution also, yet we must never allow it to cause us to “give up” or stop reaching others for Him!

Paul and Barnabas then chose leaders for the new churches and organized everything so that the church would be able to survive when they departed. After praying and fasting for God’s will for the congregations, they began to travel back to their home church of Antioch. Despite the persecution, God had raised up churches in Asia!

Feeling like that they had accomplished all that God wanted them to do, Paul and Barnabas felt like it was time to return to Antioch. Indeed it was God’s will for them to return home as we will see in the next lesson that God needed them there for a specific purpose. They returned to Perga and preached a short while and then traveled across the river to the nearby seaport of Attalia. Here they boarded a ship bound for Seleucia and then traveled back to their home town of Antioch.

Returning to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas rehearsed everything that they had experienced on their first missionary journey and how that God had filled many Gentiles with the Holy Ghost. God had a purpose for them coming back to tell of these conversions because of the growing controversy in Jerusalem of whether or not Gentiles could be saved without becoming Jewish! The first missionary journey probably took place in the entire year of A.D. 48 and the first part of A.D. 49. We do not hear anything of Paul and Barnabas until the end of A.D. 49 at the Jerusalem Council. They probably spent the year teaching and further evangelizing the area around Antioch.

Paul and Barnabas had stepped out in faith in response to the Holy Ghost direction and had completed their first missionary journey! They experienced persecution, evil sorcerers, stoning, and exile but because they endured churches were established throughout Asia! God was definitely using Paul as a “light to the Gentiles.”