Introduction to Paul's First Journey

Welcome to one of the most exciting parts of the Book of Acts! In this chapter, we follow Paul and Barnabas as they set out on their first intentional "missionary journey." Before this, the Gospel had spread mostly through people fleeing persecution. Now, the church in Antioch (covered in the previous chapter) sends Paul out to share the message of Jesus with the wider Roman world.

This journey is crucial for your Cambridge International AS Level studies because it sets the pattern for how Christianity moved from a small Jewish movement to a global faith. We will focus specifically on the events in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe as recorded in Acts 13:13–14:23.

The Route and Key Locations

Think of this journey as a loop. Paul and Barnabas traveled across the sea to Cyprus (not a primary focus of our syllabus section) and then into the mainland of what is now modern-day Turkey. Let’s look at the four main stops you need to know.

1. Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13–52)

This was a major Roman colony. Paul’s visit here established a "blueprint" for his future missions:

The Method: Paul first went to the local gathering place to preach. He spoke to both Jews and "God-fearing" Gentiles (non-Jews who were interested in the God of Israel).

The Message: Paul argued that Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promises to the ancestors of Israel. He invited everyone to receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus.

The Reaction: At first, many were excited and asked him to speak again the next week. However, when almost the whole city showed up to hear him, some local leaders became jealous. They stirred up persecution and drove Paul and Barnabas out of the region.

Quick Tip: Notice how Paul "shook the dust off his feet" (Acts 13:51). This was a symbolic act showing that he had done his duty and the responsibility now lay with those who rejected the message.

2. Iconium (Acts 14:1–7)

After leaving Pisidian Antioch, they traveled to Iconium. The story here is a mix of great success and intense danger.

Success: Paul and Barnabas spoke so effectively that a "great number" of both Jews and Greeks believed. God even enabled them to perform miracles (signs and wonders) to confirm their message.

Conflict: The city became divided. Some people supported the apostles, while others sided with the opposing leaders. Eventually, a plot was formed to mistreat and stone them. Learning of the plot, Paul and Barnabas fled to the next region.

3. Lystra (Acts 14:8–20)

Lystra provides one of the most famous stories of the first journey. It shows the challenges of preaching to people who had no background in the God of Israel.

The Miracle: Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth. When the crowds saw the man walking, they didn't think of Jesus; they thought Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods (specifically Zeus and Hermes) come down in human form!

The Misunderstanding: The local priest even brought bulls to sacrifice to them. Paul and Barnabas had to tear their clothes and shout to stop the crowd, explaining that they were just human beings. They used nature (rain and crops) as evidence to point the people toward the "living God."

The Turning Point: Opposition followed them even here. Opponents from Antioch and Iconium arrived, won over the crowd, and stoned Paul. They dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. Remarkably, Paul got up and went back into the city the next day!

4. Derbe (Acts 14:20–21)

After the drama in Lystra, they went to Derbe. This was a much more peaceful stop. They preached the Gospel and "won a large number of disciples." Unlike the other cities, there is no record of persecution in Derbe during this visit.

The Return Journey (Acts 14:21–23)

Instead of taking a shortcut home, Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch. Why? This is a key point for your AO1 (Knowledge and Understanding):

Strengthening the Disciples: They encouraged the new believers to remain true to the faith, warning them that "we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."

Appointing Leadership: They appointed elders in each church. This was vital for the long-term survival of these new Christian communities.

Evaluating Success: Was the Journey Successful?

For your AO2 (Analysis and Evaluation), you may be asked how far Paul’s journeys succeeded. Here is a balanced view:

Arguments for Success:

1. Church Planting: Paul didn't just preach; he established organized communities with appointed leaders (elders) that continued after he left.

2. Gentile Inclusion: The journey proved that Gentiles were eager to accept the Gospel, which was a massive step in the expansion of Christianity.

3. Resilience: Despite stoning and being driven out of cities, Paul returned to strengthen the believers, showing the depth of his commitment.

Arguments for Limited Success:

1. Intense Opposition: In almost every city, Paul faced violent rejection. He was often forced to leave before he could fully teach the new converts.

2. Local Instability: The division in cities like Iconium shows that the Gospel sometimes caused social unrest rather than peaceful conversion.

Quick Review Box

Key Locations: Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe.
Key People: Paul and Barnabas.
Main Challenges: Jealousy from local leaders, physical violence (stoning), and religious misunderstandings (being called gods).
Successes: Many new believers, miracles performed, and elders appointed to lead new churches.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't confuse the journeys! Make sure you associate Lystra and the healing of the lame man with the First Journey. The visit to Ephesus happens in the Third Journey, and the visit to Athens happens in the Second Journey.

Don't ignore the return trip. Students often forget that Paul went back through the cities where he was persecuted. This is a vital part of showing how he "succeeded" by organizing the churches.

Avoid outside details. You do not need to know about the Roman Emperor’s politics or the specific layout of the Temple for this section, as the syllabus excludes these specific background details.

Memory Aid: Use the acronym P.I.L.D. to remember the order of the main stops: Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe.