Our Messages

While Paul and Barnabas are spending time in Antioch, a group of men come from Judea and begin telling the gentiles they must be circumcised in order to be saved. This causes a large debate, and the Antioch Church sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles and the Elders there.

Having been chased out of Antioch and Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were found by their enemies in Lystra, where a notable miracle had taken place. Now public opinion changed and Paul was stoned. However, God had other plans, so Paul survived the attack, and the next day they went to Derbe. After they made many disciples there, they retraced their steps, encouraging the believers and appointing elders in the new churches. They returned to Perga, preached there, then went to Attalia. From there they returned to Antioch and reported all that God had done, especially opening the door of faith to the Gentiles. Thus, the first missionary journey ended after about 3 years.

Paul and Barnabas find themselves in Iconium where they preach with boldness in spite of opposition. Many Jews and Greeks are saved, but Paul and Barnabas are forced to flee to Lystra due to an attempt to stone them. While in Lystra, we see a man who was crippled from birth get healed and the miracle was so great that they people think Paul and Barnabas are gods. But fortunately, they are able to keep them from sacrificing to them by pointing the gentiles back towards the living God.

After Paul preaches the gospel message, they want him to come back on the next Sabbath. However, the Jews are jealous that Paul and Barnabas draw such a large crowd. So, they decide from now on to take their message to the gentiles and the gentiles rejoice at this news.

After evangelizing Cyprus, Paul and his team sail to Perga on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey. There, John Mark leaves them and goes back to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas make their way to the other Antioch in Pisidia in central Turkey. While visiting the synagogue, they're invited to speak "words of exhortation to the people." So, Paul explains the Scriptures concerning Jesus and ends with a warning against unbelief.

The gentile church in Antioch has been growing quickly and has a solid team of prophets and teachers. The Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Saul to begin their missionary journeys to the gentiles.

Herod Agrippa I wants to gain favor with the Jews. He sees that killing James pleased them, so he arrests Peter to gain even more favor. However, God has other plans and supernaturally rescues Peter from the hands of his captors.

This last half of chapter 11 records "the young church in action." From the revival, which began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and the eventual spread of the Gospel resulting from Saul's persecution, we now witness a series of "firsts." Gentiles were added to the Church. Barnabas was sent out as the first "missionary" from the Church in Jerusalem. He and Paul become the first "team." The first time anyone is mentioned as a prophet is recorded. The believers are first called "Christians." And the first mention of a collection being received for the relief of the saints is included to set the pattern for the New Testament Church to follow until Jesus returns.

As a result of going to meet with Cornelius, a gentile, Peter experiences a large negative reaction from the Jewish believers. So today Peter gives an account of why he went, and the result is the Jewish believers rejoicing that salvation had been granted to the gentiles.

Peter understands that God shows no partiality as to those who can receive the gospel and begins to preach. As he does, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius, his household, and his friends and they begin speaking in other tongues and extolling God. As this demonstrated that God has accepted them, Peter commands them to be baptized.

The disciples had proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, reaching all the way to Damascus, where Saul of Tarsus was converted. Now it was time to begin expanding "to the uttermost parts of the earth." So, a series of supernatural events began to unfold as the "Way" was going to be received by the Gentiles. Both Cornelius the Centurion and Peter the Apostle needed direct intervention by God to propel this expansion. The resulting divine appointment has had far reaching effects still active today.

Luke continues following Paul after his radical conversion. After ministering the gospel in Jerusalem, the Jews seek to kill him, so he leaves back to Tarsus. Following this, the church sees peace for a time, and we follow Peter as he travels through the area preaching and performing miracles. As a result, the church grows.