Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles
5 - The First Journey Begins
We continue to observe the life and work of the Apostle Paul, the one sent by God to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. We look this time at his first missionary journey as recorded in Acts chapter 13. We note right from the very beginning, Paul’s enthusiasm for the task before him. Neither distance nor circumstances, which were often very difficult, meant anything to this fine man of God. He is a very real example to all believers who would set out in service for their Saviour.
On this first journey Paul is accompanied by Barnabas and Barnabas’s nephew John Mark. Commended by the church in Antioch, they set sail from the port of Selucia to Cyprus, which was Barnabas’s native island. Landing at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God first in the Jewish synagogue which, as we have seen in a previous talk, was the pattern that Paul was to follow as he moved from place to place. Leaving Salamis they travelled east to west across the island to the city of Paphos. This city was the seat of the most degrading and immoral worship of Venus the pagan goddess of love. Old Paphos was founded by the Phoenicians, built close to a good harbour, but New Paphos was developed in Roman times and became the headquarters of the Roman proconsul.
When Paul and Barnabas reached the city, they undoubtedly again looked for a Jewish synagogue, however, Luke makes no mention of them finding one. Rather, he records, in Acts chapter 13 verse 6: “there they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus (known also as Elymas), who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus”. Luke describes the proconsul as “an intelligent man”. We are told that “he sent for Barnabas and Paul because he wanted to hear the word of God”, an indication perhaps that the two men had already been preaching in the city. But then we have the evidence of truly Satanic opposition to the gospel. Luke records, in verse 8, “but Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil, and an enemy of everything that is right. You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?” Then Paul pronounced a judgement from the Lord against this evil man, and Elymas was struck with blindness. Unable to see he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When Sergius Paulus saw this demonstration of the power of Paul’s Lord, he believed, being amazed at the teaching he had heard.
The lesson we can take from this incident is clear: false prophets have always sought to hinder the true servants of Christ, but he continues to protect his servants and their work for him. We see here, too, that despite the efforts of the enemy of souls, the word of God prevailed and the proconsul became a believer.
Soon after this, Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga in the region of Pamphylia, the coastal area of Asia Minor - part of Turkey today. It was here that Barnabas’s nephew, John Mark, left them and returned to Jerusalem. We are not told in Acts chapter 13 why this was, but his leaving was a cause for some sadness to both Paul and Barnabas. It is in chapter 15 verses 37 to 39 that we are told that Paul considered that John Mark had deserted them and not continued with them in the work.
From Perga they moved on to Antioch in the region of Pisidia - this was a different Antioch to the one from which they had originally set out. It was a good sized city with a large Jewish population. Following their custom Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. As was usual, the service consisted of prayers and the reading of the Scriptures followed by a word of exhortation or teaching. The synagogue leaders appear to have recognised Paul and Barnabas as perhaps being visiting Rabbis, and they invited them to bring a message of encouragement for the people. It was Paul who stood up to speak.
There follows, in Luke chapter 13 verses 16 to 41, Luke’s account of the first recorded sermon of the great Apostle, which he covers in some detail. It is a model presentation which came from one who was an able, well-versed student of the things of God and of the Old Testament Scriptures. Read this sermon through for yourself, and see a wonderful Scripture-based presentation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, he recounts the history of God’s dealings with his chosen people, the Israelites. He speaks about the time of the judges and of their first king, Saul. Then he centres on David, who is often referred to as their greatest king and of whom God said “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” What a commendation that was of any man; and what an example for us today who are followers of Christ.
Next, Paul moved on to consider the Lord Jesus. He said, concerning David, “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus as he promised.” He was saying to the assembled congregation of Jews and God-fearing Gentiles that this Jesus is God’s promised Messiah, the deliverer of his chosen people. He then speaks of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, this being at the very heart of the Christian good news.
Finally, he applies the message to his hearers - verse 38: “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the Law of Moses.” Here Paul sets the gospel of Christ in contrast to the law. The first can save; the second cannot. This was the message that Paul had been appointed to preach for the rest of his life.
There was an inevitable reaction to this fine sermon by Paul. As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
We will observe as we follow these missionary journeys that Paul prayed constantly for his hearers. He prayed that they might be converted; that they might continue in the faith; that they might be consistent in their living as Christians; and that they might communicate the gospel to others.
We who are followers of Christ today could do no better than to take this a blueprint for our own life and for our service for our dear master.