Learning from Pauls Journeys - First

Learning from Paul’s journeys – the first
L a i n d o n B i b l e S t u d y C l a s s , 5 t h J u n e 2 0 1 9

Paul's first journey 2
Journey: cAD 47-49; Epistle: to the Galatians cAD 49-50; Distance: c.1,235
miles05/06/2019
A journey
that
encompasse
d key Jewish
communities
; not
necessarily
easiest or
most direct
route
The coming
in of the
Gentiles,
one of the
biggest ever
upheavals in
the Jewish
world

Paul's first journey 305/06/2019
Paul’s First Missionary Journey (AD 47-49) - Itinerary
City, Region visited Relevant passage Estimated date
Antioch, Syria Acts 13 v 1-3 Spring 47
Seleucia, Syria Acts 13 v 4 Spring 47
Salamis, Cyprus Acts 13 v 5 Summer 47
Paphos, Cyprus Acts 13 v 6-12 Summer 47
Perga, Pamphylia Acts 13 v 13 Summer 47
Pisidian Antioch, Galatia Acts 13 v 14-52 Autumn 47 – Winter 48
Iconium, Galatia Acts 14 v 1-7 Until Summer 48
Lystra, Galatia Acts 14 v 8-19 Until Autumn 48
Derbe, Galatia Acts 14 v 20-21 Winter 48-49
Returns to Lystra, Iconium,
and Pisidian Antioch, all
Galatia
Acts 14 v 21-24 February – May 49
Perga, Lycia Acts 14 v 25 June – July 49
Attalia, Lycia Acts 14 v 25 June – July 49
Antioch, Syria Acts 14 v 26-28 August 49

(Our purpose) ‘Learning from…’
2 Corinthians 11 23 Are they ministers of
Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in
labours more abundant, in stripes above
measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths
oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save
one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in
the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of
waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine
own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in
perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are
without, that which cometh upon me daily, the
care of all the churches.
Acts 9 15 But the Lord
said unto him, Go thy way:
for he is a chosen vessel
unto me, to bear my name
before the Gentiles, and
kings, and the children of
Israel: 16 For I will shew
him how great things he
must suffer for my name's
sake.
How was the
truth
established?
What example do the
Apostles provide to
us?
What should a minister of
Christ be prepared to do?
1 Thessalonians 1 5 For our
gospel came not unto you in word
only, but also in power, and in the
Holy [Spirit], and in much
assurance; as ye know what
manner of men we were among
you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us,
and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction, with joy
of the Holy [Spirit]: 7 So that ye
were ensamples to all that believe
in Macedonia and Achaia.
05/06/2019
“Suffer” “Affliction” “Perils” [x8!]

1. Background & commissioning
(Acts 13 v 1-3)
05/06/2019
1.

The Holy Spirit selects Barnabus & Saul
• God, not man, is in control & carefully selects His chosen
vessels
• God acts, then man (aligned with His will); an endorsement
• “Sent them away” = Gk. ‘to free fully’ (i.e. a fresh responsibility)
Acts 13 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and
teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and
Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they
ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy [Spirit] said, Separate me Barnabas and
Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Acts 13 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they
sent them away.

2. Sailing to Cyprus,
Salamis & Paphos (Acts 13 v 4-12)
05/06/2019
2.
Cyprus = the eastern
island of the
Mediterranean sea,
approx. size 140 miles x
60 miles
Cyprus comes from Gk.
kypros meaning copper,
due to the natural
resources present there
From BC27, Cyprus was a
Senatorial province
(answered only to Rome),
hence ch. 13 v 7 reference
It had a large Jewish
community, as indicated
by “synagogues” in
Salamis (see ch. 13 v 5)

First stop, the homeland of Barnabus
• What could have been more natural? (Perhaps he was well-
known?)
• It appears that there was a ready/receptive audience for the
truth
Acts 4 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being
interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having
land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 11 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose
about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the
word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and
Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching
the Lord Jesus.
They also took John Mark, cousin of Barnabus (Colossians 4 v 10, RV)

Paphos, official capital/Roman admin.
centre
• The first opposition encountered, a reminder of the primitive
pagan and mystical beliefs of the time (which held sway)
• Elymas full of “mischief” (v. 10) = Gk. ‘easy work’; Apostle, thro’
the Holy Spirit, inflicts blindness [allegory, for “a season” v. 11];
05/06/2019 Paul's first journey 9
Acts 13 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain
sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 Which was with the
deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and
Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his
name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the
faith.
Acts 13 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished
at the doctrine of the Lord.

A significant name change, Saul  Paul
• Subtly introduced… the first mention of the name Paul…
• Saul = ‘asked for’; Paul = ‘little’ (i.e. true period of service/
ministry begins; Luke 9 v 48 “least” = Gk. mikros = small, little)
• What was the name of the Roman “deputy”? Sergius Paulus…
the only other NT Paul…! Was Paul’s name also changed to
assert his Roman-ness (important for his freedom to travel)?
Acts 13 13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to
Perga in Pamphylia: …
Acts 13 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes
on him,

3. In Perga, Pamphylia
(Acts 13 v 13)
05/06/2019
3.
Pamphylia means ‘place of
all races’; wide variety of
Gentile peoples resident
A new sub-continent to
preach in, equates to
modern-day Turkey
Paphos to Perga (capital
of Pamphylia) = a sea trip
of about 200 miles

A seed sown that will lead to sharp words
• Almost incidental to the narrative, a companion turns back…
Acts 13 13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to
Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
Acts 15 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the
word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 And some days after Paul said unto
Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have
preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to
take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take
him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to
the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed
asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the
grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Paul is mentioned first
“the care of all the
churches” (2 Cor. 11 v
28)
“Contention” = Gk. paroxusmos =
incitement positively or
negatively (only other use Heb.
10 v 24)
Positive outcome! Now two
missionary journeys; also Mark
ultimately “profitable” (2 Tim. 4 v 11)
Diaglott ‘having withdrawn from them’

4. The Galatian ecclesias: Pisidian
Antioch, Iconium, Lystra & Derbe
(Acts 13 v 14 – Acts 14 v 24)
05/06/2019
4.
Galatia became
incorporated as a Roman
province in BC25 (by
Augustus)
Connections: Gaul 
Galatia  Gomer
The recipients of the first
of Paul’s 14 epistles (inc.
Heb)
Galatia was a poor land (in
central modern-day
Turkey), but was well
known for its warriors

Paul’s ‘mystery illness’ revealed in Epistle
• God’s providence at work here, albeit not mentioned in Acts
• (Highly speculative) Perhaps a contagious illness, such as
malaria, had afflicted Paul? This might explain how it put the
Galatians “to the test”… regardless, clearly God was shaping
events…
[NET] 13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the
gospel to you, 14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not
despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as
though I were Christ Jesus himself!
Galatians 4 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto
you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor
rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Paul’s first powerful speech (v.16-41)
• Once again, the preaching is first to the Jews (+ proselytes
v.16)
• Paul seemingly not a natural orator (cp. 2 Cor. 10 v 10), but
characteristically beckons the hand to draw attention (v. 16)
• The focus of the speech is that it is God that chooses
individuals:
• … and now had “raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus” (v. 23)
• He had been slain by “they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their05/06/2019 Paul's first journey 15
Acts 3 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in
turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
• “chose our fathers” (v. 17)
• “he gave… judges” (v. 20)
• “God… gave Saul” (v. 21)
• “he raised up… David (v. 22)

“We turn to the Gentiles”
• Both the Jews and Gentiles respond, however trouble brewing
Acts 13 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the
word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and
spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and
blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that
the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so
hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that
thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles
heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout
all the region.
“rather through their fall salvation is come unto the
Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” (Romans 11 v
11)
The “thee” and the “light of the Gentiles” are the Lord
Jesus Christ, whose life was being proclaimed by the
Apostles (cp. Isaiah 42 v 6 & 49 v 6)
Thanks be to God that from this time forwards the Gentiles truly came into the light!

Repeated persecution endured
Pisidian
Antioch
Iconium Lystra
Acts 13 50 But the Jews stirred
up the devout and honourable
women, and the chief men of
the city, and raised persecution
against Paul and Barnabas,
and expelled them out of their
coasts. 51 But they shook off
the dust of their feet against
them, and came unto Iconium.
Acts 14 2 But the unbelieving
Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and
made their minds evil affected
against the brethren. […] 5 And
when there was an assault made
both of the Gentiles, and also of
the Jews with their rulers, to use
them despitefully, and to stone
them,
6 They were ware of it, and fled
unto Lystra and Derbe…
Acts 14 19 And there came
thither certain Jews from
Antioch and Iconium, who
persuaded the people, and,
having stoned Paul, drew
him out of the city,
supposing he had been
dead.
As Jesus described, this
would be “a testimony
against them” (Mark 6 v
11)  judgement
The Jews again stir up
problems and turn the
Gentiles against Paul, a
repeating pattern
A horrific outcome, a
threatened stoning in
Iconium becomes an
actual one in Lystra
(boulders??)

A wonderful (hidden) mark of authenticity
Acts 14 8 And there sat a certain man at
Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple
from his mother's womb, who never had
walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak:
who stedfastly beholding him, and
perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on
thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11
And when the people saw what Paul had
done, they lifted up their voices, saying in
the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are
come down to us in the likeness of men. 12
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and
Paul, Mercurius*, because he was the
chief speaker. * NKJV, ESV, NET: “Hermes”
PubliusOvidiusNaso
Born 20 March 43 BC
Sulmo, Italy, Roman Republic
Died AD 17 or 18 (age 58–60)
Tomis, Scythia Minor, Roman
Empire
“In Ovid's moralizing fable which stands on the
periphery of Greek mythology and Roman mythology,
Baucis and Philemon were an old married couple in
the region of Tyana, which Ovid places in Phrygia, and
the only ones in their town to welcome disguised gods
Zeus and Hermes (in Roman mythology, Jupiter and
Mercury respectively)… the town and all those who had
turned them away and not provided due hospitality…
[were] destroyed by a flood.” Wikipedia

One of the bravest acts in all scripture?
• What would you expect a stoned/left for dead person to do
next?
• Surely, in the mind of Paul, this would have drawn connections
back to the occasion of Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8 v 1)
• Typical resurrection – “he rose up” (Gk. anistemi s.w. as ch. 13 v
33/34)
• Also, imagine the impact on the believers when they saw his
bruised and battered body (on his return leg he exhorted them
Acts 14 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who
persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he
had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and
came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

A face in the Lystran crowd?
Acts 16 1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra:
and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named
Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which
was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a
Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the
brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
2 Timothy 3 10 But thou hast fully known my
doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions,
afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at
Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured:
but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Aside: Galatians – the contemporary Epistle
• Many connections can be drawn between journeys & writings
Acts 13 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified
from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Galatians 2 16 Knowing that a man is
not justified by the works of the law, but
by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we
might be justified by the faith of Christ,
and not by the works of the law: for by
the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.
Galatians 3 11 But that no man is justified
by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the
law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth
them shall live in them.
A key early principle to be
established, justification outside of
the law (of Moses)

5. The final leg: Perga, Attalia &
back to Antioch (Acts 14 v 24-28)
05/06/2019
5.
The Attalia to Seleucia leg
was the longest individual
one in the entire journey
(c320 miles at sea)

2 years later, the boat journey home
• The structures needed to be set up to continue the work
• The work had been “fulfilled” (Gk. pleroo) i.e. brought to a
completion, filled full
• Paul now transitioned back into his role in the ecclesia at
Antioch, where he “abode long time” (v. 27)
Acts 14 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 24 And after
they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had
preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26 And thence sailed to
Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work
which they fulfilled.

Some learnings from this evening
• Suffer, affliction, perils
• Providential working e.g. Paul’s illness
• The coming in of the Gentiles, through God’s mercy
• The journeys and the Epistles, a mark of truthfulness
• Seeds sown for future events, e.g. John Mark  or Timotheus

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