Chapter 14 – Setting Off

Narration

Acts 13:3

All the brothers joined in a time of prayer and fasting, then laid their hands on Saul and Barnabas and sent them on their way.

John Mark went with them as well.

How could anyone know that by the time they returned, Saul would no longer be known as Saul, but Paul?

And how could anybody guess that the journey they were setting out on would become famous: still to be spoken of 2,000 years later?

It was the first of several preaching trips Saul-turned-Paul undertook in the company of many different evangelists, but Paul’s would be the name associated with them all.

Paul’s first missionary journey was underway.

Chapter 15 – Cyprus

Narration

Acts 13:4

Leaving Antioch, Barnabas, Saul and John Mark went to Seleucia to catch a ship and sail for Cyprus.

Sketch 15.1

A purposeful breeze filled the main sail, driving the ship onward.  She cut through the waves, white water at her bows, her crew satisfied with their progress.

Barnabas, Saul and John Mark stood on the deck, shading their eyes against the brilliant sunshine, straining to see their target port as Cyprus opened out before them.

“We’ll be landing in Salamis soon, and then we start telling the people of Cyprus all about Jesus, the Christ,” said Barnabas, rubbing his hands together.

“How do we begin?” asked John Mark.

“In Damascus, I went to the synagogue and was asked to speak,” answered Saul.  “It provided the perfect opportunity.”

“And tomorrow is the Sabbath,” observed Barnabas.

“We might not be welcome in a synagogue,” said John Mark.  “Have you thought about starting by healing some people?”

“That’s not our main aim,” said Saul.  “Jesus Christ taught first.  Miracles were never the main game.”

“Saul’s right,” agreed Barnabas.  “After Jesus fed the five thousand, multitudes came to him and he said they were just looking for food.  He wasn’t pleased – in fact, that was when he taught some of his hardest lessons.”

“There’s no doubt,” said Saul, “the Lord Jesus came first to teach.  Miracles followed – often because the people who came to listen had many problems and he felt sorry for them.”

“We’re not going to Cyprus to heal everyone’s physical ailments.  We’re going to cure spiritual problems, particularly ignorance.”

“So no miracles at all?” asked John Mark, disappointed.

“That’s not what we’re saying,” smiled Barnabas.  “Miracles are sure to come, but teaching about Jesus has to come first.”

“What will we do the rest of the time?  Going to the synagogue on Saturdays still leaves six days of the week.”

“We can go to the market,” said Saul.  “I’ll find tent-making and leatherwork to do and talk to the traders and customers while I’m at it.”

“I don’t have any trade I can pursue in a market,” said John Mark.  “Should I look for work as a labourer to pay for my food?”

“We’re not short of money at the moment,” answered Barnabas.  “Our brothers and sisters in Antioch gave us money to cover our costs for some time.  At the same time, Saul and I are both determined to support ourselves if we possibly can.”

“We want to give people the gospel free of charge whenever possible,” added Saul.

For a while, no one spoke.  The ship was approaching the port of Salamis, and seabirds hovering above the ship filled the air with their mournful cries.  All three had a feeling that they were on the cusp of something amazing.  The Way had spread first throughout Israel and then through the neighbouring countries, but now… was it time for it to spread over the rest of the world?

“One thing I wonder,” reflected John Mark.  “On the Day of Pentecost, Jews from all over the world heard the truth about Jesus Christ and were baptised.  Soon afterwards, most returned to their homes and took their new faith with them.  Will we meet any of them on this journey?”

“That’s a good question, cousin,” said Barnabas.  “I’ve often wondered what happened to all those people.”

“We’ll start to find answers soon,” said Saul.

The ship was approaching the quay and the crew waited to spring into action and make the vessel fast.  Christianity was about to enter a new phase.

Narration

Acts 13:5-12

Having landed at Salamis, it was time to begin preaching.

Straight away, Saul and Barnabas put into operation a method of preaching that they used for many years thereafter.  If they arrived in a town and found a Jewish synagogue there, they visited it on the Sabbath.  While there, they took any opportunity they could find to talk about the good news of Jesus from the scriptures, from witness reports and from Saul’s own experience of Jesus.

In synagogues, visitors, particularly educated ones, were often invited to speak or read, and Saul made the most of that tradition.  Sometimes, if he piqued their interest on a Sabbath, they also gave him opportunities to talk to them during the week.

Town by town, they made their way through the island of Cyprus until they came to Paphos at the far end of the island.  News of their work had travelled before them and the proconsul wanted to hear the message from Barnabas and Saul directly.  He was an intelligent man and Saul was enjoying explaining the gospel.  However, a Jewish magician and false prophet was also present, and he did his best to stop the proconsul listening.  Saul put up with this for a while, but then cursed the man and struck him with blindness in the name of the Lord.  The proconsul was amazed and kept listening.  The miracle achieved its purpose.

It was in Paphos that “Saul” changed to “Paul”.  From then on, he was always called Paul.

Chapter 16 – Perga in Pamphylia

Narration

Acts 13:13
 

Paul and his companions left Paphos and sailed to Perga where a sad and disappointing separation occurred: John Mark deserted them and sailed home.

Sketch 16.1

“So we’re agreed that tomorrow morning we travel north?” Barnabas looked at his companions for confirmation.

“That’s what we’ve agreed, isn’t it?” puzzled Paul.

“I’m just checking,” said Barnabas, his eyes on John Mark, who was fidgeting.

“Ah, I’m not…  That is, I’m wondering.  I mean…” stuttered Mark.

“What do you mean?” asked Paul.  “Haven’t we talked this out already?”

Barnabas held up his hand soothingly.  “Just let Mark say his piece.”

“I’m going home,” blurted out Mark.

“You’re what?” queried Paul, frowning.

“I’m going back to Jerusalem.  I’m sorry to let you down, Paul, but it’s all too hard.”

“What’s too hard?” asked Paul, looking baffled.

“The stress, the uncertainty, the opposition, the worry.  I don’t think that I’m cut out for life as a travelling preacher.”  Mark looked ashamed and upset.  He had been so eager to go on this preaching journey with his cousin and Paul, but it had turned out much harder than he expected.

“Look, Mark, it’s up to you,” said Barnabas, “but if you just hang on and stay with us, I’m sure you’ll find it gets easier.  God will give you strength and confidence if you can just keep trying.”

“I just can’t face it any more,” replied Mark.  “You’ve seen how angry some people get when we preach to them.  One of these days we’ll go into a town and someone will try to stone us.  I just can’t…  I can’t keep going.  I’m too… too scared.”

“Scared?” repeated Paul, blankly.  He wasn’t being deliberately obtuse – he simply couldn’t understand how the events of their journey thus far could have inspired such fear.  Later, after experiencing many far more traumatic incidents while preaching, he would begin to understand for himself how one could end up in such an extremity.

“If you feel like that,” said Barnabas to his cousin, “perhaps it is better for you to go home.  I’m sure God will have plenty of work for you to do in Jerusalem.”

“That’s true, I suppose,” responded Paul, “but we’ll miss your help.  An extra pair of hands, an extra voice, an extra mind looking for opportunities and praying for guidance.”  He shook his head in disappointment.  He couldn’t help feeling that their current situation was safer than Jerusalem had been on his last visit!  Yet Mark seemed to consider Jerusalem a safe haven – a place where he could feel at home.

Paul wasn’t the only one who was upset at Mark’s decision.  Barnabas looked disappointed too – after all, it would certainly reduce their ability to preach – but he seemed to understand better.  He knew that travelling through a foreign land where customs, language and behaviour were all different was not easy.  After all, he had left his home in Cyprus to go to Israel!

Mark looked less distraught now that he had admitted his troubles and announced his plan to leave.  It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“Will you need help to arrange a passage back to Judea?” asked Paul, willing to help, even if he couldn’t understand.

“No, thank you,” said Mark.  “I’ll see what I can arrange this afternoon.  That is, unless you’d like me to help you get ready.  I can find a ship after you’ve gone in the morning if you prefer.”

“We don’t have much to do before we leave,” said Barnabas.  “Just get some food, that’s all.”
John Mark booked a passage home that afternoon.