The Acts of the Apostles

How the Gospel was carried from Jerusalem to Rome

David M Pearce

Chapter 5

Paul tours Turkey

If you were asked to draw up a list of the most important religions, you would probably put somewhere near the top, the Christian faith. Millions of people the world over style themselves Christian, and the name is a household world. However, the fact is that the early disciples of Jesus of Nazareth were not known as Christians. Sometimes they were called "The Way" (Acts 9:2), and sometimes "The Nazarenes" (24:5). The book of Acts tells us that it was at a small city in what is now Turkey that the new name was born, and the story of how it happened is important to our theme.

The bloody persecution by Saul of Tarsus had compelled many followers of Jesus to leave Jerusalem for safer destinations. Some went far away into the country districts of Israel but a few travelled much further to get away from trouble. These included a group of Jerusalem believers who had originally come from Cyprus and North Africa. They decided to emigrate a second time, and travelled 300 miles north to the remote city of Antioch. Settling into their chosen refuge, these brave souls determined to sound the trumpet and let their new neighbours know exactly what they believed. A vigorous preaching campaign followed, and the good news of love and hope soon attracted not only the Jews of the city but also many Greeks.

The courage of these men and women might well make us ashamed, when we think how little we are prepared to risk in the name of Jesus. Would we flee from persecution, and then start preaching again in our place of sanctuary? God blessed their valiant efforts, and soon "a great number that believed turned to the Lord" (Acts 11:31). The great news of the gospel is that Jesus of Nazareth is the Anointed of God, the Messiah of the Old Testament, who will deliver both Jew and Gentile from the power of the grave. Translated into Greek, the language of the Mediterranean in the first century, 'Messiah' becomes 'Kristos' or 'Christ'. This title probably sounded strange to the ears of the inhabitants of Antioch, and they nicknamed the believers 'Christ-ians'. The name has stuck ever since.

The founding of the church (ecclesia) at Antioch meant the gospel was now being preached outside the land of Israel, and to people who were mainly non-Jews. News of this daring advance of frontiers soon got back to Jerusalem, and Barnabas, a trusted 'elder' was sent off to investigate. To his credit, he accepted the position without fuss, and gladly entered into the work, adding the stability of his own faith and experience to the youthful assembly. Barnabas realised that skilled help was needed to feed the minds of the new disciples and to keep up the momentum of the preaching. He knew just the man.

Saul of Tarsus had once visited Jerusalem, very briefly, just after his baptism. Barnabas had been impressed then by his courage, his knowledge, and his deep repentance from the harm he had done to the cause. The two men had become friends, Barnabas acting as Saul's champion when many had doubted the genuineness of his conversion, fearing he had come as a spy. He had lost touch since that time. 12 years had passed by, and Saul had settled into the comparative obscurity of his home town, Tarsus. It was here that the noble Barnabas tracked him down, and persuaded him to move to Antioch.

Antioch in Syria – from engraving by William Millar. Public Domain

The two men formed a powerful team, and Saul was able at last to practise the task for which he had been chosen by the Lord Jesus, to go to the Gentiles "to open their eyes … that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26 :18). Barnabas and Saul remained firm friends as the years passed. They were chosen by the believers at Antioch to be the official bearers of a collection taken up to help the believers at Jerusalem during a temporary famine – an excellent example of solidarity between Gentiles and Jews bound together by the gospel Paul mentions in his letter to Galatians that while at Jerusalem on this visit to hand over the money, he exchanged views with Peter, James and John. They endorsed with the right hand of fellowship his work of teaching the Gentiles (Galatians 2:9). He must have felt very happy as they returned to Antioch, their task completed.

It was the Lord Jesus, probably through the mouthpiece of one of the Christian prophets mentioned in Acts 13:1, who set in motion the next major advance in the outward movement of the gospel "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" came the message (Acts 13:2). It was a signal that could not be ignored. The two men, with the blessing of their friends at Antioch, set off by sea to Cyprus, taking John, Barnabas' nephew, for their assistant.

Cyprus CC

Cyprus was a natural choice for their first 'overseas' adventure, since Barnabas had been born in the island and knew his way around. It is likely he had been away many years, and his old friends would be surprised, and perhaps embarrassed, at the message he came back to press upon them. As we walk through that sun-blessed island with the newly qualified apostles, we can sense their desire to make an impression on the busy country folk, to turn them from the futility of toil to the hope of the Kingdom of God that sweetens human care and sorrow with a vision of the future. It must have seemed a daunting task. They began with the Jewish synagogues, where at least they would be guaranteed a hearing by people who knew the Bible well. They do not appear to have made much of an impression, though, during those early days, for no baptisms are recorded. However, they made a valuable ally in the person of the Roman Pro-Consul, Sergius Paulus, who heard of their visit and asked for an interview. Luke labels the Governor "a man of intelligence" (Acts 13:7), and Paul's power to work miracles convinced him their teaching was true.

Soon Saul (or Paul, to use his Roman name) and his companion crossed over to the mainland, where they made at once for the hill country 150 miles inland. No preaching at all is mentioned between leaving Cyprus and arriving at Antioch in Pisidia (not the Syrian Antioch from which they had set out), a centre of Roman administration on the main highway from Syria to Ephesus. It is not clear why they avoided staying in the coastal region, although it is known the area was badly infested with malarial mosquitoes. Some have conjectured that Paul may have been taken ill soon after landing. He certainly was ill when he first came to the cities of the high country, since he mentions this fact in his letter to the Galatians (Galatians 4: 13).

At Antioch Paul headed for the large Jewish synagogue on the first Sabbath after their arrival. Following the official daily readings from Deuteronomy and Isaiah, Paul used those chapters to build up an impressive case for Jesus being the promised Saviour. With many references to the Psalms, using, in fact, the very same passages that Peter had once quoted on the Day of Pentecost, he proved that the Messiah must die, and rise from the dead, to bring a forgiveness of sins that the Law of Moses was powerless to confer. He convinced a number of Jews, and some of the Gentiles who also regularly attended the synagogue. Word of his message got round during the week. The next Sabbath practically the whole city turned out to listen. Sadly, the leaders of the Jews, envious of Paul's success, began a campaign to discredit him, ending with a vigorous assault which meant he had to leave and move on to another province. It was Paul's turn to taste the pain of persecution. He left behind, nevertheless, a group of new disciples "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" including a number of Gentiles. His first preaching campaign was beginning to bear fruit.

From Antioch, Paul and Barnabas moved to Iconium. Again they were opposed, by both Jews and Gentiles this time, and so fled over the border into Lystra. Here Paul's whole career came close to a violent end. On entering the city of Lystra, Paul began to address the citizens with his good news about the Kingdom. After a while he noticed in the audience a man with crippled legs, listening eagerly to his words. He decided to heal the man with the power of the Holy Spirit. "Stand upright" he called, and the man at once sprang up and walked. The crowds were enormously impressed. Their reaction, however, was not quite what Paul had expected. Steeped in Greek mythology, they immediately jumped to the conclusion that Paul and Barnabas were the gods Mercury and Zeus come down to visit them. The priests from the temple of Zeus actually came out with garlands of flowers to honour the two travellers, and cattle to sacrifice to them. Distraught with the way their miracle had mis-fired, the two preachers ran into the crowds and tried to put things straight "we….bring you good news" they cried "that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heavens and the earth" (Acts14:15). Paul was suffering from the prejudice of idol worshippers, just as he already had from the prejudice of the Jews.

Before long Jews visiting Lystra from Antioch, where Paul was now well known, and others from Iconium, recognised their opponent. They set about inciting the people of Lystra against him. Paul was already somewhat of a disappointment to them after the garland incident, and it did not take much persuasion to set up a full scale riot. For the first time in his life (but not the last) Paul tasted the full fury of a howling mob. Stones began to fly, and struck the apostle with many a terrible blow. Before he sank into unconsciousness he would no doubt remember that fateful day, half a lifetime ago, when he had himself witnessed the stoning of Stephen, the first disciple to die for the faith. He had changed sides since then, and now, with a dreadful irony, was paying the price. Paul's friends watched with horror as his body was dragged out of the city and left for dead.

Once the crowds had disappeared, the disciples gathered round their brave leader, shocked beyond belief. But to their surprise and enormous relief, Paul revived and sat up, and was soon able to walk into the city. God still had work for the apostle to do. It was a miracle. In fact, the very next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe, where they were soon making more disciples. (Acts 14:21)

Paul's first preaching tour was drawing to a close. You might have expected that after such a hostile reception at Iconium and Lystra, Paul would have returned to Antioch by a different route. It is a tribute to his courage, faith, and dedication to his ministry that he insisted on returning through the same cities, He wanted to see his new converts again, to strengthen their faith and exhort them. "Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God" he said (Acts 14:22). As they saw his bruises and scars, they knew he had all but given his life to save them from eternal death. It was with a quiet satisfaction that the two travellers gathered together the members of the church at Antioch "and declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)

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