| | | | | | | MAP KEY |
| | | |  | Location where Missionary Journey Begins |  | Apostle Paul's First Missionary Journey | | ALL CAPITALS | Country, Roman Province, Island or Body of Water name | | |
| | | | Late Spring 44 A.D. to Fall 46 A.D.
Paul and Barnabas become apostles then start their first missionary journey. In the late Spring of 44 A.D. Paul and Barnabas are ordained by the brethren as apostles (Acts 13:1-3). From Antioch Paul, Barnabas and John (surnamed Mark) begin Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:4-52, 14:1-25). They travel to Seleucia then sail to Salamis, the principle city and seaport of the island of Cyprus. Cyprus is where Barnabas was born and raised (Acts 4:36). In Salamis they preach the gospel in several synagogues. Paul and company then cross the island by foot and arrive at Paphos. | | | Who founded
Antioch and Seleucia? | | | | Antioch and Seleucia were founded by Seleucus, one of Alexander the Great's four generals who helped him conquer most of the known world.
In 311 B.C., twelve years after Alexander's death, Seleucus took control over the eastern part of the empire which included Babylon and Syria. Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and empire which lasted until 63 B.C. | | | | | | | While in Paphos the island's Roman governor requests Barnabas and Paul meet with him so that he can personally hear the word of God. Accompanying the governor to the meeting is a sorcerer and false prophet known as Elymas the magician. Elymas resists the gospel and tries to prevent the governor from accepting the truth of God (Acts 13:6-8). Paul perceives Elymas' intentions, intently looks at him, then . . . : “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.'” (Acts 13:9-11, NKJV throughout)
Elymas immediately goes blind and is unable to see for a period of time. The governor, astonished at what he sees, believes the gospel (Acts 13:11-12). | When did SAUL
become PAUL? | | | | Acts 13:9 is the last time Saul is mentioned in the New Testament and the first place where Saul is called Paul. | | | | | | | | Mark abruptly leaves Paul and BarnabasPaul, Barnabas and Mark soon board a ship and sail to Perga. Mark then abruptly leaves the group and returns to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). The issue of Mark suddenly abandoning the first missionary journey will be the catalyst for Paul and Barnabas' separation before Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41). Paul and Barnabas leave Perga and journey to Antioch in Pisidia (also called Pisidian Antioch, to distinguish it from the Antioch located in Syria). Paul and Barnabas thrown out of one city and flee from another!In Antioch Paul and Barnabas attend a local synagogue where Paul preaches a powerful message (Acts 13:16-41). After the Jews leave the synagogue the Gentiles (proselytes) in the audience ask Paul to speak the next sabbath day. Then, after the synagogue had been dismissed, many Jews and proselytes follow Paul and Barnabas in order to hear more about the gospel. On the next sabbath almost the entire city comes to hear the word of God. (Acts 13:42-44). Some Jews, however, envious of the large crowd drawn by Paul, begin to speak against the gospel. Their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah means that Paul and Barnabas will now primarily preach only to Gentiles (Acts 13:45-47). As the word of the Lord spreads through the entire region some Jews begin a campaign to convince important men and women of the city to be against Paul and Barnabas. Persecution soon sets in and culminates with both men expelled from the area. Arriving in Iconium Paul speaks at a local synagogue. His preaching convinces many Jews and Greeks to become believers. Jews who do not believe in what Paul teaches, however, stir others up against the gospel. Although signs and wonders are performed to confirm what is preached the city is divided as to whether Paul and Barnabas are true servants of God. In a short time some Jewish leaders, along with other Jews and Gentiles, conspire to have the two apostles stoned to death. After the threat against their lives is discovered Paul and Barnabas flee the city to Lystra (Acts 14:1-6). Were Paul and Barnabas worshipped like Greek gods? | | | | | Second century A.D. statue of the god Jupiter, restored as the Greek god Zeus around 1686 A.D. |
| In Lystra Paul meets a man born crippled and never able to walk. He perceives, after the man hears his message, that he has the faith to be healed. When Paul commands the crippled man to stand he miraculously leaps up and is able to walk (Acts 14:6-10)! The response to such a miracle was immediate and unexpected: "Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, 'THE GODS HAVE COME DOWN TO US IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN!' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes." (Acts 14:11-13)
Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes in amazement! They are BARELY able to keep the crowd from offering sacrifices to them like they were Greek gods (Acts 14:14-18)! |
| Statue of the Greek god Hermes (Roman name Mercury) binding his sandals. |
| | Who is Zeus
and Hermes? | | | | Zeus and Hermes are two of the twelve mythological Greek gods known as the Twelve Olympians. In Athens, the cult of the Twelve Olympians can be traced back to the 6th century B.C.
Zeus ( Roman name: Jupiter) was considered the king of the gods and the ruler of Mount Olympus. Hermes, whose Roman name is Mercury, was the god of travel, messengers and language (to name just a few). He was believed to be the messenger of the gods. | | | | | | | | | Was Paul STONED TO DEATH by those who wanted to WORSHIP him?In a short time Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium arrive in Lystra and succeed in turning people against Paul and Barnabas. Paul is soon STONED and has his dead body dragged out of the city. Some believers find Paul's body and as they stand around it Paul comes back to life! Amazingly, Paul re-enters the city. The next day he and Barnabas travel to Derbe (Acts 14:19-20). Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel in Derbe, then retrace their steps through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch in order to strengthen the brethren. From Pisidian Antioch they travel to Perga and then to Attalia, where they catch a ship to sail back to where their missionary journey started (Acts 14:21-26). | | | | Fall 46 A.D. to Late Summer 49 A.D.
Apostle Paul and Barnabas live in Antioch Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch for almost three years - from the Fall of 46 A.D. to the late summer of 49 A.D. (Acts 14:26-28). | | | | | |
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