Taught by God
It seems that after Saul’s conversion, he needed to get alone and meditate on what had just happened to him. He also needed to spend time with God, without any distractions.
Galatians 1:15-17 (NASB)
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Discipleship
Understandably, most people in Damascus were not believing that Saul had suddenly, completely changed. I’m sure they wanted to believe, but their lives were at risk if they were wrong. There was a godly, generous man in the church in Jerusalem, named Barnabas. He had even sold some land and given the proceeds to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37), so that they could distribute it to whomever had needs. This man met Saul and saw what God was doing in his life.
Three years later, Saul went to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:26-27 (NASB)
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.
Saul even met with Peter for fifteen days (Cephas is Peter).
Galatians 1:18-19 (NASB)
18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord s brother.
Because of Barnabas, the Christians in Jerusalem were accepting and even embracing Saul. Some of the Jews, however, felt that Saul had betrayed them, and they plotted to kill him, so his fellow believers rescued him and sent him to Tarsus, where he had been born. He probably still had relatives there who could keep him safe.
Syrian Antioch
In the meantime, some believers had preached the gospel to people in the Syrian (Gentile) city of Antioch, so the apostles sent Barnabas to Antioch to establish the new church there. Barnabas saw what God was doing in Antioch, and he went to Tarsus to get Saul.
Acts 11:25-26 (NASB)
25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
By the way, this term, Christian, is only used three times in the New Testament: here, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16.
During this time, Saul had established himself as a faithful servant of God. Some prophets had come and prophesied that there was going to be a worldwide famine. The Christians in Antioch wanted to send a contribution to the Christians in Jerusalem, because they were already going through persecution, including the loss of some of their homes and possessions. They trusted Barnabas and Saul to deliver this offering to the Jerusalem church.
Back to Syrian Antioch
Acts 12:25 (NASB)
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.
After they came back from Jerusalem, Saul continued in the church in Antioch, where he grew in the Lord, and learned how to be a true disciple and leader in the body of Christ. Barnabas was one of the leaders in this church, as well as Saul.
Acts 13:1 (NASB)
1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Notice how Saul, at this point, was mentioned last. Many times in scripture, this indicates position or office. Saul was one of the teachers/prophets, but still learning. Little did he know that God was about to do much more in his life.
Calling to Evangelize
Acts 13:2-3 (NASB)
2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Notice how there are many different ways that God calls us – to be saved, to different ministries, or other major life events. God is never boring, and He won’t be “put into a box.” Some people might say that they have one aspect of God figured out, and they come up with a “formula” to how He operates. That’s usually when God will do something totally different. God called Saul to salvation through a blinding light and a vision on the road to Damascus. He then calls him to this ministry during a prayer meeting. Many people were saved by the preaching of Peter on the Day of Pentecost. Every calling was legitimate, and they were all different.
Now, Barnabas and Saul were called by God for a specific work. They left with the blessing, and probably assistance, of the church in Tarsus.
First Missionary Journey
Barnabas and Saul went to Seleucia, a port city close to Antioch. From there, they went to Cyprus. They went through the different towns and cities, telling the people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. When they arrived at the western end of the island, a magician by the name of Elymas was opposing their message. God used Saul to perform a miracle.
Acts 13:9-11 (NASB)
9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him,
10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord?
11 “Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand.
This is the first time that we see scripture referring to Saul (which means desired) as Paul (which means small or little). After this display, the leader (proconsul Paulus) believed and was saved. God used this miracle to confirm the words being spoken by Paul and Barnabas. It’s also after this point that we see Paul’s name being mentioned before Barnabas’s name. God was raising up Paul and making him into the man he needed to be.
Unfortunately, John Mark left them after that incident. We don’t know the exact reason; perhaps he was overwhelmed by the enormity of what he had just seen. He did not go back to Antioch, from where they were called, but to Jerusalem, his hometown.
Paul and Barnabas continued on through areas of modern-day Turkey, preaching the gospel and seeing a number of miracles.
Lystra
When they reached Lystra, they saw a man who had been “lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.” (Acts 14:8) While Paul was speaking, he looked at this man and saw that “he had faith to be made well.” (Acts 14:9) He told the man to “Stand upright on your feet.” The man leaped up and began to walk. The crowds were so amazed that they started calling Paul and Barnabas gods in their own language. They were about to sacrifice to them, but when Paul found out what they were doing, he stopped them and told them that they were only men. Then, the pendulum swung the other way.
Jewish men from nearby towns were jealous of Paul and Barnabas, and they came to Iconium and managed to convince the crowd that Paul and Barnabas were not gods, but were somehow evil.
Acts 13:19 (NASB)
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
It is incredible how quickly public opinion can change. In the same day, the “mob mentality” went from considering Paul and Barnabas to be gods, to stoning Paul and leaving him for dead. Paul was not scared away, though.
Acts 13:20 (NASB)
20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
Throughout his ministry, Paul was persecuted many times.
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NASB)
23 Are they servants of Christ? – I speak as if insane – I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Return Trip
After ministering in Derbe, Paul wanted to go back through all of the places where they had been, so they could encourage the believers to continue on in the faith. This included Iconium, where Paul was almost stoned to death. He knew that his life was in God’s hands, and what Jesus had done for him was worth far more than whatever suffering he might go through. This is what he wrote:
Romans 8:18 (NASB)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Opposition to Peter
Men and women of God are not perfect. We all make mistakes, and we all need correction at times. This was also true of Peter.
Galatians 2:11-13 (NASB)
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
Paul found himself in a position where he had to confront the leader of the church, Peter, as well as his mentor, Barnabas. It is not clear if this event happened before or after the Jerusalem council. Regardless, God had already shown Peter that Gentiles could be saved, the same as Jews (see Acts 10). Barnabas had seen God save many Gentiles in Antioch and during their first missionary journey, which was in Gentile countries.
As Paul did, we need to make sure that we stay humble and know that we have heard from God before we oppose our spiritual leaders. At the same time, we can’t shy away from our calling to help each other walk this journey with purity and faithfulness to God.
Paul is now being raised up by God in the eyes of the church people and the church leaders. They can see that God has called him to be an apostle.
To be continued…
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