Welcome to Paul’s First Missionary Journey!

In this chapter, we explore a turning point in the history of the early Church. We follow Paul and Barnabas as they travel beyond their "home base" to spread the message of Jesus to new regions. This journey is a key part of your study for Paper 2 (The Development of Christianity) because it shows how the Gospel began to move from a mostly Jewish context into the wider Gentile (non-Jewish) world.

Don’t worry if the names of the cities seem confusing at first! We will break them down step-by-step using the specific texts required by your syllabus (Acts 13:13–14:23).

1. The Route and the "P.I.L.D." Cities

The First Missionary Journey focused on the region of Galatia (modern-day Turkey). While the journey started in Cyprus, your syllabus specifically requires you to know the events in these four key locations:

P — Pisidian Antioch
I — Iconium
L — Lystra
D — Derbe

Pisidian Antioch: "We now turn to the Gentiles"

When Paul and Barnabas arrived here, they followed Paul’s usual pattern: preaching in the synagogue first. Paul gave a long speech tracing God's history with Israel, ending with the resurrection of Jesus.

Key Events:
1. Initially, people were very interested and invited them back the next Sabbath.
2. On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city showed up! This made some Jewish leaders jealous.
3. When the Jewish leaders opposed them, Paul made a famous declaration: since they rejected the message, he would turn to the Gentiles.
4. The Gentiles were "glad and honored the word of the Lord," but eventually, Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the region by the city leaders.

Iconium: A Divided City

The pattern continued in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas spoke so effectively that a "great number" of Jews and Greeks believed. However, the city became divided between those who supported the apostles and those who didn't.

Key takeaway: Success often came hand-in-hand with opposition. When a plot was discovered to mistreat and stone them, they fled to the next town. Remember: Paul wasn't looking for trouble; he moved on to keep the mission alive!

Lystra: Gods or Men?

This is one of the most famous and dramatic stops on the journey. It highlights the challenge of preaching to pagans (people who worshipped many gods) rather than Jews.

Key Events:
1. Paul healed a man lame from birth. Seeing this "mighty work," the crowd went wild.
2. The Mistake: The locals thought the apostles were gods! They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes (because Paul was the chief speaker). The priest of Zeus even brought bulls to sacrifice to them!
3. The Reaction: Paul and Barnabas were horrified. They tore their clothes and shouted that they were only human beings. Note how Paul’s message changed here: instead of quoting the Old Testament (which the locals didn't know), he spoke about nature and rain as evidence of the one true God.
4. The Stoning: Some opponents from Antioch and Iconium followed them to Lystra, won over the crowd, and stoned Paul, dragging him outside the city and leaving him for dead. Miraculously, he got up and went back into the city!

Derbe: A Season of Success

After the violence in Lystra, Derbe was a place of relative peace. The Bible tells us they preached the Gospel and won a large number of disciples. No mention is made of persecution here.

2. The Return Journey: Strengthening the Church

Instead of taking a shortcut home, Paul and Barnabas did something very brave: they went back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (the very places they were attacked!).

Why did they go back?
1. To strengthen and encourage the new believers.
2. To warn them that "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."
3. To appoint elders in each church. This is a vital point for your exam—it shows that Paul wasn't just "converting" people; he was building an organized structure so the church could survive without him.

Quick Review: The Pattern of the Journey
- Preach in the synagogue first.
- Gain some converts (Jews and Gentiles).
- Face opposition/persecution from jealous leaders.
- Move to the next city and repeat.
- Return to appoint local leaders (elders).

3. Evaluating Success (AO2 Focus)

In your exam, you might be asked how far Paul's first missionary journey succeeded. To answer this, you need to look at different points of view. Don't worry if this seems tricky; just look at the evidence!

Arguments that the journey was SUCCESSFUL:

- New Converts: Large numbers of both Jews and Gentiles believed (especially in Pisidian Antioch and Derbe).
- Gentile Inclusion: It proved that the Gospel was for everyone, not just Jews. This set the stage for the future expansion of the Church.
- Sustainability: By appointing elders, Paul ensured the churches would continue to grow after he left.
- Resilience: Paul’s willingness to suffer (the stoning at Lystra) and still return to encourage others showed the power of his message.

Arguments that the journey had LIMITATIONS:

- Persecution: Paul was driven out of almost every city and nearly killed in Lystra. This could be seen as a lack of "social" success.
- Confusion: In Lystra, the people totally misunderstood the message, trying to worship Paul and Barnabas as Greek gods. This shows how difficult it was to bridge the cultural gap.
- Geographic Scope: The journey was relatively small compared to the later second and third journeys (which you will study in the next chapters).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Mixing up the gods: Remember, Barnabas was Zeus (the quiet, lead figure) and Paul was Hermes (the messenger/speaker).
- The "P.I.L.D." order: Make sure you know the cities in the order they occurred so you can describe the flow of the journey.
- Forgetting the Elders: Many students focus on the miracles and stone throwing but forget the appointment of elders. This is crucial for showing the "development" of the Church.

Did you know?
When Paul and Barnabas "shook the dust off their feet" (Acts 13:51) as they left Pisidian Antioch, it was a symbolic way of saying they were no longer responsible for the people who rejected the message. It was a common Jewish practice used against pagan cities, but here Paul uses it against those who rejected the Gospel!

Summary Key Takeaways

- The journey established the "Gentile Mission" as a core part of Christianity.
- Paul adapted his preaching style depending on his audience (Synagogue vs. Pagan crowds).
- Opposition was a constant feature, but it did not stop the expansion.
- Success is measured by the establishment of leadership (elders) and the spread of the message, despite physical hardships.