The following are some devotionals I prepared in preparation of going to Greece. As we prepared to travel the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul's Second Missionary Journey, I wanted to recall also where he went on his FIRST journey.
We will study all three journeys as well as his journey to Rome on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m., beginning June 30 in Room 147. Please come and see more things we could ever possibly see in an actual journey as we drive through History and the Holy Land with David Stotts video, "Drive Thru History, Acts to Revelation"
Also, there is a video I recommend you watch before we study the missionary journeys. It is a part of the Visual Bible series. You can preview that series at the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqxm9oJpgBs&list=PL0ACB6D2B735F48B2&index=9
Antioch – The Journey Hub for Missions
Acts 12:24-13:4 (NKJV)
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
In Waco, there is a church called Antioch which is famous for sending out missionaries. It has developed a nondenominational movement across the country and around the world. Of the Antioch Movement, best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado said, “To visit the Antioch Church is to visit the Book of Acts. To hear their passion, is to hear the heart of God. To listen to their stories of their global impact is to realize: it can happen today!”
All three of Paul’s missionary journeys started out in Antioch of Syria. The city is the literal birthplace of the name of “Christians” for believers (see Acts 11:26). Located about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, the city was only about 16 miles from Mediterranean. It was the hub of Syria and the capital of the Roman province in Asia. This “first city of the East” ranked third most important city of the Roman empire, after of course Rome and then Alexandria.
Known now as Antakya in Turkey, this city was open to diversities of beliefs and was a welcomed harbor for the Christians when they were dispersed from the persecution in Jerusalem. The Gentiles were receptive to the gospel here and it was likely the beginning for Barnabas to seek out the assistance of Saul of Tarsus, who was likely converted around 37 AD.
The city is crucial as it is the origin and final destination of the first two of the three journeys of Paul. Paul likely would have returned to Antioch of Syria at the end of his third journey, had he not been arrested in Jerusalem.
Why did Paul go on his missionary journeys? He went because of Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth,” Jesus said in Acts 1:8. Do you have the heart of Antioch to send off missionaries to spread the gospel throughout the world?
I hope this series on Sunday afternoons inspire you you to study Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy and Titus more. I hope we become educated of the area and the culture of the day.
But more than anything else, I hope we too can grow in our appreciation of missionaries like those early saints and support those who are continuing their journeys, 2,000 years later. Paul’s first journey began around 45 AD, less than a decade from his conversion. His journeys continued and concluded at the end of his life. If we can go and commemorate his journeys, we too should work to continue them as well. Let us pledge to be Antioch Christians.
