Paul and Barnabas First Missionary Journey Events
The first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, detailed primarily in Acts 13 and 14, marked a significant expansion of the early Christian mission, particularly to the Gentiles. This journey began with a strong sense of guidance from the Holy Spirit [2]. Barnabas and Saul (Paul) had previously returned from Jerusalem after fulfilling a ministry of service [3]. They were accompanied by John Mark, Barnabas's nephew [3].
Their journey commenced from Antioch, traveling westward by sea to the island of Cyprus, which was Barnabas's homeland [2]. From Cyprus, they proceeded to various cities in Asia Minor, including Perga in Pamphylia, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe [5]. Throughout this journey, Paul and Barnabas were conscious of the Holy Spirit's direction [2].
In each location, their ministry involved preaching the gospel, often encountering both acceptance and significant opposition. At Iconium, for instance, they preached successfully for a time, but the violence of both Jewish and Gentile persecutors eventually forced them to flee to neighboring regions [5]. Their message required a decision about belief in Jesus, and opinions were often split [6].
A notable event occurred in Lystra, where Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth. This miracle led the local people to believe Paul and Barnabas were gods, calling Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes." The apostles vehemently rejected this veneration, tearing their clothes and directing the people to worship the living God [5]. Despite this, Paul was later stoned by a mob, dragged out of the city, and left for dead, though he miraculously recovered [6].
Paul and Barnabas are referred to as apostles for the first time in Acts 14:4 and 14:14, extending the concept of apostleship beyond the original Twelve. Their message was consistent with that of the original apostles, and they demonstrated a willingness to endure hardship and persecution, much like their predecessors [6]. Paul's own understanding of the gospel was formed during a period that included a trip to Arabia, and he considered his apostleship to be in the same category as the original disciples [8].
After establishing churches and facing various challenges, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, revisiting the churches they had founded to strengthen and encourage the disciples [7]. They appointed elders in every church and commended them to the Lord [1]. Upon their return to Antioch, their home church, they gathered the congregation and reported on their evangelism and discipleship. They humbly attributed the success to divine guidance, acknowledging God's role in "opening the door of faith to the Gentiles" [1]. These reports consistently emphasized God's activity working through the ministries of his servants [1].
The first missionary journey concluded with Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch, having completed the circuit of their mission [4]. This journey laid the groundwork for future missionary endeavors and established a pattern of evangelism, discipleship, and church planting that would continue to shape the early Christian movement.
Sources
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 14:26: 14:26-28 As soon as Paul and Barnabas returned home to Antioch from their first missionary journey, they called the church together and gave a full report of their evangelism and discipleship. They humbly acknowledged divine guidance in opening the door of faith to the Gentiles (see 11:18; 1 Cor 16:9; 2 Cor 2:12). Similar reports (Acts 15:4, 12; 21:19) always stressed the activity of God as working through the ministries of his servants (see Rom 15:17-18; 1 Cor 3:5-9; 15:10-11).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 13:4: 13:4 Barnabas and Saul’s first missionary journey was undertaken with a strong consciousness of the Holy Spirit as their guide. • Seleucia was Antioch’s ancient seaport, located about twelve miles (20 km) west of the city at the mouth of the Orontes River. • Their journey took them westward by sea to the island of Cyprus, which was Barnabas’s homeland (4:36).”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 12:25: Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem--where, it thus appears, they had remained during all this persecution. when they had fulfilled their ministry--or service; that mentioned on Act 11:29-30. took with them John . . . Mark--(See on Act 12:12), not to be confounded with the second Evangelist, as is often done. As his uncle was Barnabas, so his spiritual father was Peter (Pe1 5:13). PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY: In Company with Barnabas. Next: Acts Chapter 13”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 15:41: and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches--"It is very likely that Paul and Barnabas made a deliberate and amicable arrangement to divide the region of their first mission between them; Paul taking the continental, and Barnabas the insular, part of the proposed visitation. If Barnabas visited Salamis and Paphos, and if Paul (travelling westward), after passing through Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, went as far as Antioch in Pisidia, the whole circuit of the proposed visitation was actually accomplished, for it does not appear that any ”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 14 (introduction): We have, in this chapter, a further account of the progress of the gospel, by the ministry of Paul and Barnabas among the Gentiles; it goes on conquering and to conquer, yet meeting with opposition, as before, among the unbelieving Jews. Here is, I. Their successful preaching of the gospel for some time at Iconium, and their being driven thence by the violence of their persecutors, both Jews and Gentiles, and forced into the neighbouring countries (Act 14:1-7). II. Their healing a lame man at Lystra, and the profound veneration which the people conceive”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 14:4: 14:4 The apostolic message required a decision about belief in Jesus, and opinion was clearly split. • Paul and Barnabas are called apostles for the first time (also in 14:14), extending the idea of apostleship beyond the Twelve. Their message was in continuity with that of the original apostles, and they were prepared to suffer hardship and persecution for it as the earlier apostles had done (5:41; 14:19; 20:24; 21:13-14; see also Rom 8:35-38; 2 Cor 4:8-17).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 16:1: 16:1-3 Paul returned to churches that he and Barnabas had established on their previous journey.”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 1:17: 1:17 those who were apostles before I was: Paul put his own apostleship in the same category as the original disciples (see 1 Cor 9:1; 15:5-9; cp. Acts 1:22; 10:41). • Paul’s trip to Arabia is not mentioned elsewhere; his understanding of the Good News was apparently formed during that time. Paul knew the Scriptures (see Acts 22:3), the claims of the first Christians (see Acts 8:1), and what others had told him since his conversion.”