This summer I studied the life of Saul/Paul with our boys. Although I've read his staggering story many times, several things jumped out at me this time around, particularly about his first missionary journey in Acts 13-14. While countless books have been written about Paul as a missionary, I will humbly submit my own reflections here.
Paul's first missionary journey is packed with action, but it begins with the simple act of prayer.
Actually, even before that, it begins with worshiping and fasting. "While they [prophets and teachers in the church in Syrian Antioch] were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (13:2). A group of leaders in the church intentionally spent time worshiping and fasting together, and in that environment the Holy Spirit chose to speak to them. I find this as a powerful challenge to the Church. Communal worship and fasting not only unites us, but invites the Holy Spirit to fill us and speak to us. In this specific situation, He spoke about sending some of the Syrian Antioch church leaders on mission.
Paul already knew that God had called him to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, and also that he would suffer along the way. Jesus made that clear during Paul's radical conversion experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:15-16). So this instance of the Holy Spirit speaking was not Paul's initial call to missions. Rather, I believe it served three other important purposes: 1) to inform the other church leaders that the Lord was indeed calling Paul to be a missionary; 2) to include Barnabas in the call; 3) to confirm to Paul that this was still what God wanted him to do. Confirmation is a marvelous thing, and the Lord graciously provided it here. So, after confirming the call, Paul officially embarked on his first missionary journey. This is where the simple act of prayer begins Paul's life as a missionary. "So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off" (13:3).
A couple things are important to note here. First, Paul obeyed. He heard God's call on his life and he agreed to it. Not everyone is willing to obey what God says, but Paul does and thereby sets an example for the rest of us (not least of which because he said yes to something incredibly arduous). Secondly, Paul and Barnabas were sent off with the support and blessing of the Church. What the Church's support looks like will vary, but having its support and blessing is vital to a missionary.
The first stop on this journey was Cyprus (13:4-12). There, as they were sharing the Gospel with the proconsul, they met direct opposition from a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus. To counter this hostility, God allowed Paul to oppose the sorcerer right back and even blind him. (Perhaps Paul was remembering his own experience with blindness and how terrifying it was, but also how it helped to turn him to the Lord.) The phenomenon of instantaneously blinding a man not only captured the attention of the proconsul but led him to believe in the power of Jesus. We often think of miracles as some marvelous act turning a bad situation into something good - and often that is the case - but if we understand a miracle as being something only God can do, then the blinding of this sorcerer was in fact a miracle. And it did, indeed, lead to something good: the salvation of the proconsul of Cyprus.
Sometimes, when we do what God asks, He moves on our behalf and it looks and feels like God is fighting for us.
Leaving Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas ventured on toward Pisidian Antioch (13:13-52). Upon entering the synagogue and being invited to speak, they boldly preached the Gospel. They were so convincing, "the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath" (13:42). When they returned the next week, however, some Jews were jealous and spiteful of their popularity and made it clear they were no longer welcome. They "talked abusively against what Paul was saying.... They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region" (13:45, 50b).
Sometimes, when we do what God asks, there are mixed results and it looks and feels like God hasn't made up His mind about what's happening.
They moved on to Iconium where they also received a divided response (14:1-7). Although "a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed" Paul and Barnabas ultimately had to flee because of "a plot afoot among the [unbelieving] Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them." This was the second time in a row a visit had ended poorly.
Sometimes, when we do what God asks, we experience the joy of fruitful ministry only to be rewarded by an attack from the enemy, and it looks and feels like God is playing a joke on us.
They fled to Lystra and, persevering, continued preaching the Gospel (14:6-20). One day Paul encountered a crippled man who'd been lame since birth. By the power of God, Paul healed the man. The crowd that witnessed the miracle could only understand it in light of their own Greek worldview and thus interpreted the act as the gods appearing among them. They're not far from the truth - "the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them" (14:15b) was truly there and had truly worked a miracle in this man's life - but they're in need of further explanation about this one true God they are confusing with their false gods. They ascribe godhood to both Paul and Barnabas which, understandably, upsets them greatly and thus ensues a back-and-forth about what really happened. The public spectacle consumes enough time that the apostles' enemies from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium have time to catch up with them and convince the crowd to stone Paul. He'd successfully escaped being stoned by them earlier, but now he is caught and stoned in the end - stoned so badly that he was presumed dead and his persecutors disposed of his body by dragging it outside the city (14:19).
Sometimes, when we do what God asks, it ends in shambles because God doesn't protect us and instead allows us to suffer great persecution. (Notice that Paul wasn't given the ability to blind any of his enemies in Lystra like he had on Cyprus).
Remarkably, Paul soldiers on and together with Barnabas he goes to Derbe and preaches the Gospel yet again (14:20-21a). Seemingly, all goes according to plan in Derbe and they "won a large number of disciples without any disruption to their ministry (14:21).
Sometimes, when we do what God asks, he gives us a break and lets us not only experience success but lets us bask peacefully in it too.
Paul and Barnabas then decide it's time to return to Syrian Antioch, where they'd began this journey, and they choose to go back the way they'd come, passing through Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch. What fortitude! To go back to the places where they'd been stoned, run out of town, and persecuted! They are either complete fools with a glutton for punishment, or they are so convicted of their call and filled with the Holy Spirit that they can't help but take the risk. I believe the latter is true.
As it happens, their return trip continues without a hitch. Paul and Barnabas strengthen and encourage the believers in these places, specifically reminding them "we must go through hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (14:22). Paul is surely saying these words to himself as well, remembering that part of his initial call included the injunction from Jesus, "I will show [Paul] how much he must suffer for my name" (9:16), but Paul wants other believers to know they are also included in this reality by virtue of being a follower of Jesus. Paul's sufferings are unique in their prevalence and difficulty (see 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27), but all followers of Jesus should expect to face trials and sufferings. Paul wants them to know this so they can be encouraged that their hardships are not in vain.
Along with encouraging them, Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in the local churches. They ran into nary a problem on the way back to their home base. Why? Perhaps they kept quiet as they visited those cities again. Perhaps their influential enemies were all out of town. Perhaps God placed His hand of protection over them. Who knows? Regardless, they were successful and the churches were strengthened and encouraged.
Sometimes, when we do what God asks, His favor is abundantly clear and His kindness and generosity knows no bounds.
Paul's first missionary journey is a study of contrasts. So much success and so much struggle. As a missionary, the struggles have a way of catching my attention in particular. I can't help but wonder how I would manage if faced with the same animosities and despairs. I can easily imagine that I wouldn't have the same fortitude or commitment that Paul did.
As we studied Acts 13 and 14, one glaring question presented itself: "In the face of so much opposition and persecution on his first missionary journey, why didn't Paul give up?"
I've been tempted to think that Paul just had an overwhelmingly intense personality - the kind that never runs out of energy or passion or vision, the kind that truly runs their race. (And to be honest, missions definitely attracts an uncanny number of those personalities.) Maybe that's part of it. There's certainly enough evidence in Scripture to attest to Paul's fiery and zealous persona.
But there's more to Paul's steadfastness than a strong personality.
We must remember that he had a blessedly clear call from the Lord. And what a gift! To know without doubt what the Lord has invited you to do? Such a thing should never be taken for granted. Paul had this, and he took it seriously. The Lord informed Paul at the very beginning, on the road to Damascus, that he would be preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles (and also suffering along the way), and then the call was confirmed at Syrian Antioch. So whether the mission was going well or not, Paul could always remind himself of that clear call from the Lord Jesus Christ and could therefore stay the course with confidence.
The other incredibly important thing to remember was Paul's motivation to share the love of Christ. He did not give up despite opposition and persecution because his desire for others to also know the transforming power of Christ was so great that he could do nothing else but press on. Paul well knew what it was like to live in darkness, to be separated from God, to live for self and self alone. He knew what bitterness and anger taste like. He knew that hatred and vengeance lead to destruction. He knew the agony of living with a complete lack of hope and peace.
He also knew life, light, joy, and shalom when he surrendered his life to Christ. Because of that, he couldn't stop sharing the Good News with anyone who would listen. Paul wanted others to have the same experience he had of learning to trust and love the Savior.
Not everyone can claim a clear call from the Lord, but every follower of Jesus can be motivated by His love and grace and forgiveness. Like Paul, that motivation should compel us to not give up being a witness, by word and deed, to the love of Jesus. Wherever we find ourselves in the world, we can pursue being a source of light in this dark world.
As for me, I'm encouraged by this part of Paul's story. The Lord helped him throughout his entire first missionary journey. God strengthened him, empowered him, granted him courage, brought other believers alongside to help and assist him, and brought him back "home" to testify to what God had done and to receive a time of rest and refreshment (14:26-28).
I'm encouraged to not give up, and to believe that the Lord will watch over me and provide for me as He sees fit, like He did for Paul, and to trust that what He sees fit is truly for my good and for His glory.
