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First Preaching Journey Acts 13-14
First Preaching Journey
"Make disciples of every nation - preach the gospel to every creature" (Matt. 28:18-19, Mark 16:16). The message of the resurrection of the Lord was to be preached in Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8). Acts first records how this message of Jesus was spread throughout Judea and Samaria in Acts 1-12. Now it is time to go into the uttermost parts of the world. The Spirit has chosen Paul and Barnabas to begin this work. The church in Antioch of Syria then 'sent them off' (Acts 13:3).
This is a small journey that takes them through the island of Cyprus and the area of Lycia and Galatia. As they go they preached the word of God (Acts 13:7, 46,49; 14:7, 21, 25). God confirmed their message by performing miracles through 'their hands' (Acts 13:11, 14:3, 8-11). They thus spoke in 'such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed (Acts 14:1, 13:12; 43; 14:21). As Luke states it: 'the word of God was spreading throughout the whole region (Acts 13:49).
With the preaching of the gospel came opposition. As people had rejected Jesus, they now reject His messengers. There was Elymas the magician at Salamis (Acts 13:8) and the unbelieving Jews at Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:45, 50). Both the gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, mistreated them in Iconium (Acts 14:5). The unbelieving Jews from Antioch and Iconium are so enraged at the message of Paul that they follow him to Lystra and cause him to be stoned (Acts 14:19). It was 60 miles from Antioch to Iconium, and another 40 miles to Lystra. The message of Jesus brought enough anger into the unbelievers hearts that they would travel this far just to oppose and stop it! "He that believeth not shall be condemned" said Jesus (Mark 16:16).
The believers are warned that "through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Paul thus urged them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43). To help strengthen and support these believers, they were gathered together in groups called 'churches'. Within these groups they appointed elders / shepherds to guide them and instruct them (Acts 14:23).
That is how the word of God spread in the first century. That is how churches began throughout the area of Galatia. That is the beginning of spreading the gospel unto the whole world. Hugh DeLong
