Paul’s First Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 15:36–41; Acts 18:23–28)
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. Act 4:36Act 15:35Act 11:22-27Act 13:9Gal 2:91Co 14:24-25Act 15:32Eph 4:11 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Gal 1:15Act 9:151Co 12:112Ti 1:11Rom 1:1Act 14:26Dan 9:31Ti 2:7 And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Act 6:62Ti 2:21Ti 4:14Act 13:2Act 14:23Act 14:261Ti 5:223Jn 1:8
On Cyprus
So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. Act 4:36Act 13:2Act 11:19Act 20:23Act 27:4 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper. Act 13:14Act 13:46Act 12:12Act 14:1Act 17:17Act 18:4Act 19:8Act 9:20
They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, Mat 7:151Jn 4:12Co 11:13Deu 13:1-3Exo 22:18Ezk 13:10-16Jer 23:14-15Mat 16:17 an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. Act 13:12Act 19:38Act 18:12Pro 18:15Act 13:81Th 5:21Act 17:11-12Hos 14:9 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 2Ti 3:82Ti 4:14-15Act 13:6-7Act 13:12Act 9:361Ki 22:24Act 6:7Act 8:9
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas Mic 3:8Act 4:8Act 2:4Act 7:55Mrk 3:5Act 4:31Luk 20:17 and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord? Jhn 8:442Co 11:3Mat 13:38Gal 1:7Hos 14:9Luk 11:521Jn 3:8Act 8:20-23 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Exo 9:3Psa 32:41Sa 5:11Heb 10:312Pe 2:17Jhn 9:39Job 19:211Sa 5:6-7
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. 2Co 10:4-5Act 13:7Luk 4:22Act 13:49Act 15:35Act 19:7Act 28:7Act 6:10
In Pisidian Antioch
After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. Act 15:38Act 12:12Act 13:5-6Act 14:24-25Act 2:10Act 27:52Ti 4:11Act 27:13 And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down. Act 16:13Act 13:5Act 14:19Act 17:2Act 18:4Act 13:42Act 13:44Act 19:8 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” Heb 13:22Act 15:21Mrk 5:221Co 14:3Act 13:27Act 18:17Act 22:1Luk 4:16-18
Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me! Act 12:17Act 10:2Act 13:261Ki 8:40Act 10:35Act 13:42-43Act 13:46Act 19:33 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people during their stay in Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out of that land. Deu 7:6-8Act 7:2-53Isa 63:9-14Psa 105:23-241Pe 2:91Sa 4:8Amo 2:10Deu 10:22 He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness. Act 7:36Act 7:39-43Amo 5:25-26Deu 1:31Deu 9:21-24Deu 9:7Exo 16:2Exo 16:35 And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance. Deu 7:1Psa 78:55Act 7:45Jos 14:1Jos 19:51Gen 17:8Gen 12:5Jos 18:10 All this took about 450 years. Jdg 2:161Sa 3:201Ch 17:61Sa 12:112Ki 23:222Sa 7:11Act 3:24Jdg 3:10
After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. 1Sa 10:11Sa 15:11Sa 10:21-261Sa 11:151Sa 12:12-191Sa 8:5 After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ 1 1Sa 13:13-141Ki 15:51Sa 16:13Psa 78:70-721Sa 16:11Sa 15:261Sa 15:28Ezk 37:24-25
From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised. Mat 1:1Psa 132:11Rev 22:16Act 13:32Jud 1:25Tit 3:3-62Pe 3:22Sa 7:12 Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Act 1:22Act 10:37Act 19:3-4Luk 3:2-20Mat 3:1-11Mrk 1:2-8Jhn 1:15-18Jhn 1:6-8 As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 2 Mat 3:11Jhn 1:26-27Mrk 1:7Act 20:24Jhn 1:20-23Luk 3:15-162Co 4:52Ti 4:7
Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. Col 1:5Eph 1:13Isa 46:13Luk 1:69Luk 1:77Rom 1:16Act 10:35Act 13:43 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Act 3:17Act 15:21Act 26:22-23Luk 24:20Luk 24:24-27Rom 11:251Co 2:82Co 3:14 And though they found no ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed. Jhn 19:4Luk 23:14-16Luk 23:21-25Mat 27:22-25Act 3:13-14Jhn 18:38Luk 23:4-5Mat 27:19
When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. Luk 23:53Jhn 19:28Jhn 19:301Co 15:4Act 5:30Jhn 19:36-42Luk 24:44Mat 27:57-60 But God raised Him from the dead, Act 2:24Act 17:31Mat 28:6Act 10:40Act 2:32Act 3:13Act 3:15Act 3:26 and for many days He was seen by those who had accompanied Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people. Act 1:3Luk 24:481Co 15:5-7Act 1:11Act 1:8Mat 28:16Act 1:22Act 10:39
And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers Rom 4:13Act 26:6Ezk 34:23Act 13:38Gal 3:16-18Jer 23:5Mic 5:2Rom 9:4 He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: Psa 2:7Heb 5:5Heb 1:5-6
‘You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father.’ 3
In fact, God raised Him from the dead, never to see decay. As He has said: Isa 55:3Psa 89:2-4Rom 6:9Psa 89:19-372Sa 7:14-16Ezk 34:23-24Jer 33:15-17Jer 33:26
‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 4
So also, He says in another Psalm: Psa 16:10Act 2:27-31Act 13:36-37Heb 11:5Jhn 3:36Jhn 8:51Luk 2:26Psa 49:9
‘You will not let Your Holy One see decay.’ 5
For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay. Act 2:291Ki 2:102Sa 7:12Act 13:221Ch 18:141Ch 13:2-41Ch 15:25-291Ch 17:11 But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. Act 13:30Act 2:24
Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Luk 24:471Jn 2:122Co 5:18-21Act 5:31Col 1:14Act 2:38Act 28:28Eph 1:7 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Gal 2:16Rom 10:4Heb 7:19Rom 8:3Rom 10:10Rom 8:1Rom 3:19Rom 4:15 Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you: Mal 4:1Hab 1:5Heb 12:25Heb 3:12Mal 3:2Heb 2:3Mat 3:9-12Isa 29:14
‘Look, you scoffers, Hab 1:51Pe 4:17Rom 11:7-14Col 1:26-27Isa 28:14-22Mat 22:7-10Pro 5:121Th 2:16
wonder and perish!
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’ 6”
A Light for the Gentiles
(Isaiah 49:1–6)
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people urged them to continue this message on the next Sabbath. Act 28:28Act 10:33Act 13:14Ezk 3:6Mat 11:21Mat 19:30 After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. Act 11:23Act 14:22Heb 12:15Heb 13:92Co 5:112Co 6:12Jn 1:92Pe 3:17-18
On the following Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. Gen 49:10Isa 11:10Isa 60:8Psa 110:3 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying. Jud 1:10Act 18:61Th 2:16Act 19:9Act 5:171Co 3:31Pe 4:4Act 17:5
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. Act 28:28Mat 21:43Act 18:5-6Act 26:20Act 3:26Rom 2:10Act 13:26Act 22:21 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: Isa 49:6Isa 42:6Luk 2:32Isa 45:22Zec 8:20-23Hos 1:10Isa 2:1-3Isa 24:13-16
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ 7”
When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. Rom 8:29-30Eph 1:4Rom 11:7Jhn 10:26-27Jhn 10:16Jhn 11:52Eph 2:5-102Th 2:13-14 And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region. Act 12:24Act 19:10Php 1:13-14Act 19:26Act 6:7Act 9:42
The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district. Act 13:45Act 14:19Act 14:22Ti 3:11Act 17:13Act 21:27Act 16:37-391Th 2:15-16 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. Mat 10:14Act 18:6Luk 9:5Act 14:21Mrk 6:11Act 14:1Act 14:19Act 16:2 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:131Th 1:6Act 4:31Gal 5:22Rom 5:32Co 8:2Act 2:4Mat 5:12