Summary
Highlights
Paul (formerly Saul) and Barnabas, accompanied by John Mark, begin their first missionary journey from Antioch of Syria. They travel to Cyprus, where the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus believes in Christ despite a false prophet's interference. Moving to Perga, John Mark leaves. Paul and Barnabas continue to Antioch of Pisidia, where Paul preaches to both Jews and Gentiles. Faced with opposition, they turn exclusively to the Gentiles. After being expelled from Antioch and Iconium, they heal a lame man in Lystra, where they are initially mistaken for gods but later Paul is stoned and left for dead. They proceed to Derbe before returning to Antioch of Syria. During an interim, Paul addresses attempts to Judaize the church, leading to a trip to Jerusalem for resolution.
Wishing to revisit the churches, Paul and Barnabas part ways due to disagreement over John Mark. Barnabas and John Mark go to Cyprus, while Paul, joined by Silas and later Timothy and Luke, heads northwest. In Philippi, Lydia is converted and baptized. Paul and Silas are jailed but the jailer and his family come to believe. In Thessalonica and Berea, the Gospel is received with varying degrees of acceptance. Paul sails to Athens, engaging philosophers at the Areopagus. He then spends a year and a half in Corinth, where many believe. After a brief stop in Ephesus, Paul sails back east.
Paul returns to Ephesus, spending about three years there, leading to widespread gospel dissemination but also inciting a riot by idol makers. He revisits Macedonia and Greece, collecting contributions for saints in Jerusalem. Discovering a plot against him, Paul reroutes through Macedonia. Luke rejoins him as they sail to Troas. Paul meets with Ephesian elders at Miletus. Despite warnings, he returns to Jerusalem, where he is falsely accused and imprisoned for two years in Caesarea. He appeals to Caesar, leading to a perilous journey to Rome, enduring a storm and shipwreck. In Rome, he continues to teach and write, where the book of Acts concludes.