Paul's First Missionary Journey 02

Summary

In this video, John presents an engaging overview of Paul's first missionary journey, highlighting key locations and events. The journey begins in Syrian Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas are set apart for their mission. They travel through Cyprus, encountering opposition and performing miracles. After moving on to cities in modern-day Turkey, they face resistance but continue to preach boldly. Despite challenges, including Paul being stoned and left for dead, they establish many new disciples. The journey concludes back in Antioch after approximately two years, covering significant ground and spreading the message of Christianity.

Takeaways

• 📍 Paul's first missionary journey started in the Syrian city of Antioch, where he and Barnabas were set aside for their mission by the Holy Spirit.
• 🗺️ The journey took place outside of the Holy Land, mainly around the Mediterranean Sea, particularly modern-day Turkey and the island of Cyprus.
• ⛪ Paul and Barnabas taught in Jewish synagogues, starting on the east side of Cyprus in the city of Salamis and working their way to Paphos on the west side.
• 👨‍⚖️ In Paphos, they met Sergius Paulus, the proconsul, who believed after witnessing Paul temporarily blind a magician named Elymas.
• 🚢 After leaving Cyprus, they sailed to Perga in modern-day Turkey, where John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem.
• 🕌 Paul and Barnabas visited another city called Antioch, located in Pisidia, where they shared the gospel in a synagogue, stirring interest and causing jealousy among Jewish leaders.
• 🏃‍♂️ They faced opposition and were driven out of Pisidian Antioch, so they moved on to Iconium, where their preaching caused division, and they had to flee again after learning of a plot to stone them.
• 💥 In Lystra, Paul healed a man crippled from birth, leading the locals to mistake Paul and Barnabas for Greek gods, with Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes.
• ⚖️ Jewish opponents from previous cities arrived in Lystra and convinced the locals to stone Paul, leaving him for dead, but he survived and continued his journey.
• 🔄 Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, revisiting the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch to encourage new disciples, appoint elders, and eventually return to Syrian Antioch.

Q & A

What is the significance of starting with a map of the Holy Land in Paul's first missionary journey?

Starting with a map of the Holy Land helps to provide a geographical context and foundational reference for readers. It allows them to visualize key biblical locations before focusing on Paul's journey beyond Israel.

Where does Paul's first missionary journey begin?

Paul's first missionary journey begins in the city of Antioch in Syria, as described in Acts 13, when the Holy Spirit set apart Paul and Barnabas for their mission.

What was the first major destination Paul and Barnabas visited after leaving Antioch?

After leaving Antioch, Paul and Barnabas traveled to the island of Cyprus, landing in the port city of Salamis on the eastern side of the island.

What was the outcome of Paul's encounter with the magician Elymas in Paphos?

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, made Elymas blind for a time when the magician tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. As a result, the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, believed in the message of Christ.

Why is the city of Antioch mentioned twice in Paul's missionary journey?

There are two cities named Antioch in this account: one is in Syria where the journey begins, and the other is in the region of Pisidia, where Paul and Barnabas preached in a synagogue during their mission.

Why did John Mark leave Paul and Barnabas during the journey?

John Mark left Paul and Barnabas when they reached the city of Perga in modern-day Turkey. The exact reason is not provided in the script, but it later becomes a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas.

What caused the Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch to oppose Paul and Barnabas?

The Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch became jealous when large crowds gathered to hear Paul and Barnabas preach. They spoke against them and eventually stirred up the city's leaders to drive them out.

What happened in the city of Lystra during Paul's journey?

In Lystra, Paul healed a man who had been crippled from birth. The people, mistaking Paul and Barnabas for Greek gods, tried to offer sacrifices to them. However, Paul and Barnabas redirected them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why did Paul and Barnabas leave Iconium, and where did they go next?

Paul and Barnabas left Iconium after learning of a plot to stone them. They fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe in the region of Lycaonia, where they continued to preach.

How did Paul's first missionary journey conclude?

Paul and Barnabas returned to Syrian Antioch, where their journey had begun, after revisiting the cities they had evangelized, encouraging new disciples, appointing elders, and preaching the Gospel.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Paul's First Missionary Journey Introduction

This paragraph introduces Paul's first missionary journey. The narrator, John, begins by explaining the geography of the Holy Land, mentioning important landmarks such as the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem. The focus then shifts to the broader Mediterranean region, particularly areas related to Paul's travels. Key locations include Cyprus, Israel, and Turkey. The audience is invited to imagine a simplified map as a tool for understanding the journey.

05:00

⛪ Paul and Barnabas Set Out on Their Mission

This section details how Paul and Barnabas were chosen by the Holy Spirit and sent on a mission after being prayed over in Antioch (Syria). They traveled from Antioch to the port city of Seleucia and then sailed to Cyprus, landing in Salamis. Their teachings in Jewish synagogues are mentioned, and John Mark assists them. They journey across Cyprus, eventually arriving in Paphos, where Paul confronts a magician, Elymas, who tries to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the faith. Paul, empowered by the Holy Spirit, temporarily blinds Elymas, leading to the proconsul's belief in God.

🛳️ Paul's Journey to Perga and Pisidian Antioch

Paul and Barnabas travel to Perga in modern-day Turkey after leaving Cyprus. John Mark departs for Jerusalem, which becomes a point of contention later. The two apostles then move to Pisidian Antioch, a different city from Antioch in Syria. In Pisidian Antioch, Paul preaches in the synagogue, explaining how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah. This message draws large crowds, but the Jewish leaders grow jealous, ultimately causing Paul and Barnabas to be driven out of the region.

🚶 Journey to Iconium and Lystra

After being forced out of Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas head to Iconium, where they preach in the synagogue. Their message finds success, but opposition also arises, dividing the city. After learning about a plot to stone them, they flee to Lystra and Derbe, where they continue their mission. A significant event occurs in Lystra when Paul heals a man crippled from birth. The people of Lystra, thinking Paul and Barnabas are gods, begin to worship them as Hermes and Zeus, prompting the apostles to preach against this misunderstanding.

⚡ Paul Faces Opposition and Continues Preaching

In this paragraph, opposition to Paul grows as Jews from previous cities, like Pisidian Antioch and Iconium, arrive in Lystra and stir up hostility. Paul is stoned and left for dead outside the city, but he survives. Paul and Barnabas then continue their mission in Derbe, making many disciples before retracing their steps through the cities they had previously visited. They encourage the new believers and appoint elders in each church. Finally, they return to Antioch (Syria), completing their journey after about two years on the road.

Keywords

💡Paul's First Missionary Journey

This refers to the first mission undertaken by Paul (also known as Saul) and Barnabas to spread the teachings of Christianity, as described in Acts 13 in the Bible. In the video, the journey starts in Antioch and covers various locations around the Mediterranean, where Paul preaches and converts people. The journey emphasizes the spread of Christianity outside of Israel, reaching new regions like Cyprus and modern-day Turkey.

💡Holy Land

The Holy Land is the region significant in the Bible, particularly for the life and ministry of Jesus. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of geographic orientation. The narrator describes it as the place around the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and Jerusalem, although the actual missionary journey of Paul takes place outside this area, in regions like Turkey and Cyprus.

💡Antioch

Antioch is a key city in Paul's missionary journey and appears twice in the video, once in Syria (where Paul and Barnabas begin their mission) and later in the region of Pisidia (modern-day Turkey), where they continue their preaching. Antioch represents an important center for early Christian teachings and the spread of Christianity.

💡Barnabas

Barnabas is Paul's companion on the missionary journey, a fellow preacher and Christian leader. Together, they travel through several cities spreading the message of Christianity. Barnabas plays a key role in encouraging and supporting Paul during their journey, and they encounter significant opposition as well as success in their mission.

💡Cyprus

Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea where Paul and Barnabas first stop during their missionary journey. The video highlights that they travel from the port of Salamis on the eastern side of Cyprus to Paphos on the western side, where they encounter a proconsul and a magician, demonstrating how Cyprus was a key stop in their spreading of the Gospel.

💡Proconsul Sergius Paulus

Sergius Paulus is the Roman proconsul (governor) on the island of Cyprus who listens to Paul and Barnabas' teachings. He becomes an important figure in the narrative because he believes in the Gospel after witnessing Paul's miracle of blinding the magician Elymas. His conversion represents how even Roman officials were influenced by Paul's preaching.

💡Elymas the Magician

Elymas, also known as Bar-Jesus, is a magician who opposes Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journey in Paphos, Cyprus. He tries to prevent the proconsul from converting to Christianity. In response, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, makes Elymas temporarily blind, showcasing the power of God and helping convert the proconsul.

💡Iconium

Iconium is a city in the region of Lycaonia (modern-day Turkey) where Paul and Barnabas preach after facing opposition in Pisidian Antioch. The video explains that in Iconium, many people believe in their message, but they also face division and threats of being stoned. This shows how Paul's mission was met with both success and strong opposition.

💡Lystra

Lystra is another city in Lycaonia where Paul performs a miracle by healing a man who had been crippled since birth. This miracle leads the local people to mistakenly believe that Paul and Barnabas are Greek gods (Hermes and Zeus), reflecting the mixture of religious beliefs in the region. However, Paul and Barnabas continue preaching the Gospel and correcting the people's misunderstanding.

💡Stoning of Paul

Paul is stoned by an angry crowd in Lystra after Jews from other cities convince the people to turn against him. They drag him out of the city and leave him for dead, but Paul survives and continues his journey, demonstrating his resilience and commitment to spreading Christianity. This event highlights the dangers and hostility that early Christian missionaries faced.

Highlights

Introduction to Paul's first missionary journey.

Explanation of the Holy Land geography: Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Dead Sea, and Jerusalem.

Geographical overview of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding regions relevant to the journey.

Paul and Barnabas are set aside by the Holy Spirit and sent on their mission from Antioch in Syria.

Paul and Barnabas travel to the island of Cyprus, starting from the port city of Salamis.

At Paphos, Paul and Barnabas meet the proconsul Sergius Paulus, where Paul performs a miracle by temporarily blinding a magician.

After Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas sail to Perga in modern-day Turkey, where John Mark leaves them.

Paul and Barnabas continue to Antioch in Pisidia, where they preach in the synagogue and stir great interest.

Jewish leaders in Pisidian Antioch grow jealous, oppose Paul and Barnabas, and eventually force them to leave the region.

Paul and Barnabas travel to Iconium, where they preach again and face division within the city.

Paul and Barnabas flee to Lystra and Derbe after learning of a plot to stone them in Iconium.

In Lystra, Paul heals a man crippled from birth, leading the locals to mistake them for Greek gods, Zeus and Hermes.

Paul is stoned in Lystra by Jews from Antioch and Iconium, but survives and continues preaching.

After making many disciples in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps, encouraging new believers and appointing elders in the cities they visited.

Paul and Barnabas return to Syrian Antioch after approximately two years, completing their first missionary journey.

Transcripts

Paul's first missionary

journey hi my name is John and I want to

tell you about Paul's first missionary

journey but first let me ask you if you

know what this

is everybody who reads the Bible should

be able to look at this and instantly

know what it is it's the Holy Land up at

the top there's the Sea of Galilee then

it goes down the Jordan River which

flows into the Dead Sea and then this

area over here is the Mediterranean Sea

we'll just put some squiggles over here

to uh make that look like the sea and

then this little dot here this is

Jerusalem never draw a picture of the

Holy Land without Jerusalem but we start

with this because once you have this

then you have kind of a hat to hang all

your geographical knowledge on and uh a

way to reference everything else as you

learn if you don't memorize something

simple first it's a lot harder to

remember stuff but we're on Paul's first

missionary journey which doesn't

actually take place here in the holy

land so the next thing we want to do is

kind of get a feel for where it is and

so here is uh the bulk of the

Mediterranean Sea you can see tur Italy

over there kicking the boot and then

there's Greece and Turkey and this

island here is Cyprus and then there's

the land of Israel that's where that uh

we just drew that layer there and then

Egypt and of course this the

Mediterranean Sea but we're not here to

look at the whole Mediterranean Sea so

we want to zoom in a little bit and uh

here we go we're moving in and there's

the Mediterranean Sea in Israel and

Cyprus and what is modern day Turkey but

we actually want to move move in a

little bit more just to the northeast

corner of this because that's going to

let us get a good feel and a good

picture of Paul's missionary journey so

here we go with Paul's missionary

journey it's in Acts 13 we read that the

Holy Spirit set aside Paul and Barnabas

for a mission so the people prayed over

them and sent them off this started in a

Syrian City Antioch and this is going to

be important because Saul and Barnabas

are going to visit another Antioch which

we'll get to in a minute it in the

region of pidia so first they travel

from Antioch which is Inland to a port

city called cusia on the east coast of

the Mediterranean Sea from there they

sailed to the island of Cyprus and they

landed at the Port City of Solus on the

East side this is a major port city on

the island of Cyprus there's one on

either end so the Bible tells us they

taught in the Jewish synagogues and John

Mark was there helping them they worked

their way all the way across the island

of Cyprus to the city of paos which is

the Port City on the west side of the

island of Cyprus now in pathos Paul and

barnabus spoke with the proconsul who

was a learned man the Bible tells us

named sergius paus because he had asked

them to come and share God's word with

him now there was also a magician there

named

elamus and he tried to turn the

proconsul away from the faith but Paul

being filled with the Holy Spirit made

elamus blind for for a time it says and

then Acts 13:12 says then the proconsul

believed when he saw that so that's kind

of interesting that and and we we read

this that the signs and wonders

accompany the preaching of the holy

spirit so from there they sailed

Northeast to a city called perga which

is in modern day

Turkey somewhere in here John Mark left

them and headed back to Jerusalem and

when we get later in the book of

Acts if you're going through the whole

book you will find that that comes up

again later with Paul and Barnabas

trying to decide about that but

anyway John Mark left and headed back to

Jerusalem but Saul and Barnabas

continued on

to another city called Antioch and this

Antioch is in the region of pidia which

sets it apart from the other Antioch

which is over in the region of Syria

which is due north of the land of Israel

and so you know this kind of thing

happens cities have the same name so in

pidan Antioch after the reading in the

synagogue they were invited by the ruler

of the synagogue to offer a word of

encouragement they might have for the

people so acts tells us Saul stood up

and shared about how Jesus of Nazareth

fulfilled the Prophecies of the Messiah

including the religious leaders turning

against him because they didn't

understand the very things they were

reading every Sunday every Sabbath

excuse me

evidently this caused quite a stir

because at the next Sabbath service in

the synagogue attendance was through the

roof and then we read in Acts

13:34 that the Jew the Jewish leaders

were jealous and began speaking against

and trying to discredit Saul and

Barnabas but Saul and Barnabas spoke

boldly and it says the word of the Lord

grew but the Jews who were against Saul

and Barnabas stirred up the leaders to

drive them from the area so Saul and

Barnabas left and headed for the city of

Iconium shaking the dust from their feet

now at Iconium they spoke in the

synagogue again and many believed but

there was also opposition God was doing

signs and wonders through the apostles

but the city was divided it says for and

against the

apostles the disciples it said stayed in

the city preaching boldly for many days

but when they learned that some of the

leaders were plotting to have them

stoned they left Iconium for lisra and

derba cities in the region of lyonia

where they preached in the cities and in

the surrounding

Countryside and then at lisra a crazy

thing happened God through Paul had

healed a man who had been crippled from

birth then the people started saying

that the gods and these are the Greek

gods had come down to them that Barnabas

was Zeus and Paul was Hermes again these

are Greek gods by the way which is

interesting because this area is ruled

by the Romans but the Romans had a

different set of gods but they let the

people keep their own Gods as long as

they submitted to Roman rule in

general the priest of Zeus even tried to

offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas

the disciples were understandably

distressed by this reaction and

continued to preach the Gospel of Jesus

Christ to them but the Jews from the

other cities they already visited paidan

Antioch and Iconium came down and

persuaded the people to Stone Saul after

which they dragged him from the city and

left him for dead well it turns out he

wasn't dead the next day uh Saul and

Barnabas headed for Derby where they

preached and made many disciples then it

says they headed back through lisra and

Iconium and pidi and Antioch encouraging

all the new disciples and appointing

Elders in each city as they went then

they headed back through uh pamilia

which which is the region where perga is

and they preached there and they also

headed over to a city called

Italia and from there they headed back

to Syrian Antioch where their Journey

had begun all this happened about 48 49

ad and people who like to sit down and

calculate these things figured they were

on the road for about two years and

included probably and this this is

uh an overly accurate estimate if you

ask me but 58 travel days

so that is Paul's first missionary

journey in a

nutshell