Transcript powerpoint

Paul’s First Missionary Journey
Acts 13:1-14:28
Paul's first journey as a
Christian missionary
began when members of
the congregation at
Antioch selected Paul
and Barnabas to take the
gospel to new places.
Setting out from Antioch,
they sailed to Cyprus,
then ventured to regions
that lie in what today is
Turkey.
st
1
Missionary Journey
Antioch
Acts 13:1-3
Christians at Antioch made a
concerted effort to spread the
gospel locally among nonJews. With prayer and the
laying on of hands, some
from the Antioch
congregation also sent Paul
and Barnabas to spread the
gospel in other places. They
first went to Cyprus, which
was Barnabas' home region.
Context: The congregation at Antioch was among the most important in the early
church. According to Acts 11:20, it was at Antioch that Christians made the first
major efforts to extend the gospel to non-Jews. Paul was part of that effort.
The city of Antioch in Syria was
created de novo in 300 BCE by Antioch was the third most important city in the Roman
Seleucus I, the founder of the
empire, after Rome and Alexandria. Christianity came
Seleucid dynasty, which last 247 to the city with the arrival of Christians fleeing
years; Seleucus named the city persecution in Jerusalem; these early missionaries told
after his father, Antiochus.
the "good news," not only to Jews but also genitles
Antioch was situated on the
(Acts 11:19-21); it was in Antioch that Christians were
Orontes River, which flowed into first called "Christians" (Christianoi) (Acts 11:26).
the Mediterranean Sea. It
continued as the capital city of
the Seleucid empire until it was
captured by the Tigranes, king of
Armenia, in 83 BCE, when all of
Syria came into possession
through military conquest.
Fourteen years later, the Roman
general Pompey defeated
Tigranes, so that the city came
into Roman possession in 65
BCE. After Pompey's military
conquests in the east, the
Seleucid empire ceased to exist;
Antioch became the captial city
of the newly-formed Roman
province of Syria
Cyprus:Salamis
Acts 13:4-5
Paul, Barnabas, and a
Christian named John
Mark sailed from
Antioch to the Cyprus.
They landed at Salamis
on the island's eastern
coast and spoke the
word of God at various
places, including
synagogues
Context: Cyprus is a large island in the eastern Mediterranean that came under
Roman control in the first century B.C. Salamis was one of the island's major cities.
Cyprus had a significant Jewish population in Paul's time. Jews from Cyrus, who
joined the Christian community in Antioch, were instrumental in extending the gospel
to non-Jews there. Paul's companion Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus who became
a Christian in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36). After a dispute with Paul, Barnabas and John
Mark would later return to Cyprus while Paul went to Asia Minor (Acts 15:39).
The
Shores
of
Cyprus
Acts 13:6-12
Cyprus: Pamphos
Paul, Barnabas, and
John Mark traveled
across Cyprus to the
city of Paphos. They
received a favorable
reception from the
Roman administrator
there, but met
resistance from a
Jewish magician
named Bar-Jesus or
Elymas. In response,
Paul inflicted him
with temporary
blindness.
Context: Paphos was one of the larger cities on Cyprus. Situated on the island's
western end, it was the Roman administrative center for Cyprus. Among the deities
worshiped at Paphos was Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.
Perga
Acts 13:13
Paul, Barnabas, and
John Mark sailed north
from Cyprus and landed
in Pamphylia. They
stopped briefly at Perga.
There John Mark left
them and returned to
Jerusalem. Because of
this, Paul considered
him unreliable and
would later refuse to
work with him (Acts
15:38)
Context: Perga a city in the region of Pamphylia in southern Asia Minor. It had
impressive gates, towers, aqueducts, and public buildings. A stadium and theater
contributed to regional cultural life. A gymnasium, adorned with statues, was dedicated
to the emperor Claudius.
Antioch in Pisidia
Acts 13:13-52
Leaving Cyprus, Paul and
Barnabas went to Antioch
in Pisidia. Paul gave a
sermon in the synagogue
there, presenting Jesus in
light of Israel's history.
Some were favorable to
the message but others
resisted it and the
apostles departed.
Context: Antioch in Pisidia is a city in what today is west central Turkey. (It is not to be
confused with Antioch in Syria, the city from which Paul set out.) The emperor
Augustus made Antioch in Pisidia a Roman colony in 25 B.C. The city was adorned
with buildings devoted to the imperial cult. Some of these remains are shown above.
By the middle of the first century A.D., several members of the imperial household had
served as magistrates here. Like many cities in Asia, Antioch in Pisidia had a Jewish
synagogue. Those who gathered included Jews and others, who revered the God of
Israel, but who were apparently not full converts to Judaism (Acts 13:16).
A
n
t
i
o
c
h
Iconium
Acts 14:1-7
The apostles went
east to the town of
Iconium. Although
some were open to
the message
others showed
hostility. People
attempted to stone
them.
Context: Iconium was an important city in the Roman province of Galatia, in what
today is Turkey. Located along one of the major routes connecting the eastern Roman
provinces with Asia Minor to the west, Iconium was a prosperous community. Wealth
came from trade and agriculture.
Lystra
Acts 14:8-23
At Lystra, Paul healed a man
with crippled feet. People
thought Paul and Barnabas
were the gods Zeus and
Hermes. They brought oxen
and garlands to offer a
sacrifice, but Paul prevented
it. Later, people turned
against Paul. They stoned
him and dragged him out of
the city.
Context: Sacrifices of oxen were common in Greek religious practice. Shown here is a
sacrificial procession from an Asian sculpture. Zeus was the supreme god among the
Greeks. Hermes was the messenger of the gods. Since Paul did the talking, the people
identified Paul with Hermes and Barnabas with the more distant figure of Zeus. On
Paul's second journey he returned to Lystra where he met Timothy, who became a
valued associate.
Zeus
Zeus was the highest of the
gods in the Greek
pantheon. He is shown here
receiving a crown.
Hermes
Hermes was the
messenger of the gods.
Since Paul did the
talking, the people
identified Paul with
Hermes and Barnabas
with the more distant
figure of Zeus.
Lystra
L
y
s
t
r
a
Derbe
Acts 14:20-21
Paul and Barnabas
left Lystra for the
town of Derbe
where their
message found a
favorable
reception.
Afterward, they
retraced their
steps to the coast.
Context: Derbe was a town in south-central Asia Minor. Paul's message was favorably
received in Derbe during his first journey. He would visit Derbe on his second journey
(16:1) and probably again during his third journey through Galatia (Acts 18:23). During
the third journey, Paul was accompanied by several people from Greece to Asia. Among
them was Gaius, who was from Derbe (Acts 20:4).
D
e
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b
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Attalia
Acts 14:25-26
As Paul and Barnabas
completed the initial phase
of their work in Asia, they
returned to Perga near the
coast. They boarded a
ship at the nearby port of
Attalia, which took them
back to Antioch in Syria
and then to Jerusalem for
one of the church's most
important assemblies
Context: Attalia was the chief port of the region of Pamphylia. It was founded by a
king of Pergamum, the city that dominated western Asia Minor before the Roman
conquests. The city had towers and defensive walls. Its its harbor could be closed
with a chain.
Jerusalem Council
Acts 15:1-29
Increased number of
non-Jews accepted the
Christian faith. This
raised questions about
the need for Christians
to observe Jewish law.
At a meeting in
Jerusalem, it
was agreed that
gentile Christians did
not need need to be
circumcised.
Context: The council determined that non-Jewish converts to Christianity did not need
to become circumcised, but the status of other Jewish practices remained unclear. Acts
15:20 says that gentile Christians were to refrain from things polluted by idols, from
sexual immorality, and from certain types of non-kosher meats. Although Acts 15
implies that Paul knew of the decree and told other about it, Acts 21:25 suggests that
Paul learned of this decree only later. Paul did refrain from idolatry, but did not feel
constrained to keep kosher.