Class 7 ~Gentile Mission: Paul

Introduction to the Apostle Paul and the First Missionary Journey

A New Protaganist• From Acts 1 through 12, the main character is Peter;• Beginning in Acts 13, Saul of Tarsus, also called the Apostle Paul,

takes over as main character for the rest of Luke’s narrative.• We will see Peter one more time in Acts 16 with the council at

Jerusalem, but he is not mentioned again in Acts.• This reflects the changing focus in the Christian movement from a

Jewish sect to a worldwide faith of all nations.• ALSO, IMO, Peter probably fulfilled the God-given role of

shepherding apostle for the Christian movement (elder at the Jerusalem, and probably subsequent churches), while Paul fulfilled the role of missionary apostle for the Christian movement (trainer of evangelists).

• The LORD had a different role for them to build up the church.

TIMELINE

• My preference is to put the events of this work in a timeline context and understand dates –it helps me put my Christian experience in context as well, and makes for some interesting observations about Christian life.

• For instance: John, some 20 years younger than Peter, a mere teenager when Jesus called him -Jesus’ 12 disciples must have had a wide range of ages.

Meet Saul of Tarsus

• Born Saul in the City of Tarsus around 2-5 Anno Domini (“in the year of our LORD,” the beginning of the Christian era). (About 6-10 years younger than Jesus).

• Tribe of Benjamin (named after a famous Benjaminite?)• Father a Pharisee and a Roman citizen.• Saul was his Hebrew name –also given the Latin name

Paul. Circumcised on the 8th day (Phil 3:5)• We’ll look more into the influences on Saul when we talk

about the church council next week.• The First Missionary Journey is a plateful this week.

Preparing for the Journey• Building up the church in Antioch -3

years since Acts 11:25, 41 AD to Acts 13:1, 44 AD –Saul trained in this church of new Gentile converts for his work.

• Went to Jerusalem for Famine Relief with Barnabas –John Mark came back with them from Jerusalem

• The revelations he alludes to in 2 Cor 12 probably occurred while he was in Jerusalem

• The movement has been around for about 14 years- Jerusalem, Samaria, Ethiopia, Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch

• Holy Spirit calls Barnabas and Saul, 44 AD Acts 13:1-4

Holy Spirit Calls Barnabas & Saul

• God told Ananias that Saul was His chosen instrument to “carry my name before the Gentiles…” (7 years before Peter & Cornelius)

• Paul in Galatians 1:15 –”set me apart from birth to preach to the Gentiles”

• Are we prepared for the tasks that the Holy Spirit has for us? I’m talking about life defining tasks –How do we prepare –by serving the Lord and His church NOW

• Worshipping and Fasting part of getting the Lord to move in your life

• Laid hands on them –A blessing of the church –The entire church was invested in this effort –not just the missionaries –We’ll see this at the end of the journey.

“The First Missionary Journey”

• “Brother Paul, I want to write a book to my friend Theophilus”

• “Tell me about your first missionary journey…”

• These are the impressions the journey made on Paul –Let’s see what Paul (and by extension) the Lord wants us to know about these places…

1st Stop ~ CYPRUS• Acts 13:4-12• Salamis –Preached

in the Synagogue• God has provided a

means to get the word out –the centuries of preparation of the synagogue to be the basic forum to get His gospel out to His people, the Jews

• Paphos –The episode with Bar-Jesus and the proconsul, Sergius Paulus

Bar-Jesus & Sergius Paulus

• Bar-Jesus, or Son of Jesus, also known as Elymas, which means “the Sorcerer”

• Despite the “Miracle” of Elymas’ blindness, what impacted Sergius Paulus was the TEACHING about the Lord. Luke16 -31 The rich man and Lazarus

• Saul now adopts his Latin name Paul

2nd Stop ~ Antioch, Pisidia

• Another Antioch• John Mark left

at Perga (must have stayed on the ship bound for Jerusalem)

• Went to the Jewish Synagogue and were invited to speak (Acts 13:15)

• Acts 13:38-52

Paul’s Message to the House of Israel

• Similarly to Peter at Pentecost, he alludes to Jesus as the heir of David’s throne and royalty

• Warns them not to scoff, but to believe ~Hab 1:5• Significant interest –particularly among the

Gentile converts to Judaism• They were begged to come back next Sabbath• Entire town came out!• Paul must have been studying Isaiah that week

–He quotes Isaiah 49• Isaiah 49:5-6

Isaiah 49:5-6 ~Paul, the light to the Gentiles

• Paul sees himself as fulfilling this prophecy –he sees the prophecy as a “command” (Acts 13:47)

• See also Galatians 2:7

• The word will divide the crowd.

• Word spread throughout the region.

• Great joy and the Holy Spirit!

3rd Stop -GALATIA• Acts 14:1-7• Galatia –a province that

the Roman empire connected to the Lycaonian region

• Iconium –Similar pattern to Antioch Go to the Jewish synagogue–divide the crowd

• This time, did not just expel, but tried to stone (increasing level of persecution)

• A cottage industry of persecution is created ~2Tim 3:12

• Cross over into Lycaonican region –Lystra, Derbe and the surrounding country

• Lystra –as we will see later in Galatians, they are easily “bewitched”

Lystra’s Fluid AllegiancesThe good and gentle town folk of Locker C-18

• Acts 14:8-20

Lystra, Galatia –A City of “Mercurial” People

• Probably no Synagogue –they performed signs and wonders as a way of introducing the teaching

• Paul & Barnabas are gods!• “Right on time,” here come the Jews…• This time the Jews were “successful” and Lystrans just stoned those

who they had earlier wanted to deify as gods• Adapt the gospel to their own religious desires/ agenda• Very shallow convictions and more interested in being religious than

repenting –Easily swayed The rocky soil of the Bible Talk Parable• Galatians –In the later letter to the Galatians, we see that even the

disciples carried traces of their community with them Gal 1:6, 3:1• Do not underestimate how influenced we are by the world around

us.

Return to the Flock • Acts 14:21-28• As Paul & Barnabas

passed back through the cities they passed this message: Must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God

• This message was intended to strengthen the churches

• Appointed elders –less than two years since churches were born –first mention of elders being appointed –Paul established the process and guidelines for appointing elders that we have today.

• Elders are also called bishops, overseers and pastors

• Sailed from Attalia and arrived at Antioch in Autumn of 46 AD

Rejoice at the News

• The church in Antioch rejoiced at the news

• Their hearts were in the missionary effort

• Pray, support missionary efforts to reach the lost

• NEXT WEEK ~ Read Acts 15, we’ll talk about the Church Council and look more in depth at Paul’s early years.