1 Journeys of St Paul in Acts N

1. Journeys of St Paul in Acts N. Hammersley

N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey. BACKGROUND • Saul’s (Paul) conversion Acts 9 and then his “retreat” in Arabia. • Peter’s vision of the clean and unclean animals Acts 10. • CORNELIUS’ conversion and Baptism. Peter justifies himself in Jerusalem. • Peter in prison and escape… Acts 12: 24/5 “. . the word of God continued to increase and spread. ” N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey Setting the Scene • With Barnabas and John Mark (Acts 13: 414: 28) • 13: 2, 3 ". . the Holy Spirit said, "I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them". So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off. " N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey N. Hammersley

Roads 1 st Century Asia Minor N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey • Form Antioch to Cyprus • 13: 2 “The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…” N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey • Jewish sorcerer and a false prophet Bar. Jesus (Elymas) at Paphos- He is blinded for his false teaching. • Sergius Paulus, the pro-counsul is converted. N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey • Perga. . . to Antioch in Pisidia N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey –Pisidian Antioch • John returned to Jerusalem from Perga • Sabbath day the visitors are invited to speak • Paul preaches. N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey - Paul’s Speech 1 • Mainly Jewish audience • “Brothers…Men of Israel…Gentiles who worship God…” – is Paul still a Jew? • 13: 16 -25, Old Testament preparation for the Messiah. Egypt and Moses, Samuel, Kings Saul and David “from this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the saviour Jesus” (v. 23) • John baptises Jesus (v. 25 - compare with Luke 3: 16) N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey - Paul’s Speech 2 • 13: 26 -37 Focus: Jesus’ death and Resurrection • The Jews had no proper grounds but “asked Pilate to have him executed” (v. 28) • He was taken down from the “tree” and put in a tomb. • God raised him from the dead. • O. T. used as proof texts – they show scripture was fulfilled in Jesus. N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey - Paul’s Speech 3 • 13: 38 - 41 The conclusion, choose between Life or Death! • Everyone who believes is justified. • Warning from the prophet Habakkuk – believe without seeing. N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey - Paul’s Speech 4 • The KERYGMA is stated – Jesus died, was buried, was raised and seen by many. • The Reaction – 13: 42 - 52. Some glad (Gentiles/God-fearers) and some “converts to Judaism” (proselytes); some Jews “stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas…” (v. 50) N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey • Iconium. . . Lyconia cities of Lystra and Derbe N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey- Iconium • First spoke in the Synagogue • A number believed –Jews and Gentiles • “Miraculous signs and wonders” confirm their message • A plot against the apostles so they flee… N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey-Lystra and Derbe N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey-Lystra and Derbe • Cripple healed 14: 8 -10 (parallel to Peter in 3: 1 ff) • Crowd mistake Barnabas for Zeus (King of the gods) and Paul for Hermes (the gods messenger)(14: 11 -15) “We too are only men…” N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey-Lystra and Derbe • Paul’s Speech at Lystra 14: 15 -18 • Mainly Pagan audience • As they have no O. T. so Paul focuses on the natural world • 14: 19 -20 Paul is attacked and left for dead by Jews from Iconium N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey-Lystra and Derbe and home • Derbe they have great success and then return to Antioch. • They appoint elders for each church • They report to the church in Antioch describing their success among the Gentiles and stay there a “long time” N. Hammersley

First Missionary Journey N. Hammersley