The Journey of Paul
Teacher
Lesson Summary
The class opened with a vivid picture of Paul’s first missionary journey, situating the travel between 45‑48 AD and mapping the 1,400‑mile trek from Antioch of Syria through Cyprus and into Pisidia. Teacher Davison highlighted Acts 13:1‑5, where the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul, and explained how this divine commissioning set the tone for the missions ahead. The route was broken down stop‑by‑stop, emphasizing the strategic use of familiar locations like Barnabas’s home region and the synagogue settings that offered common ground with both Jewish and God‑fearing Gentile audiences. The discussion then turned to the first recorded conflict in Acts 13:6‑8, where a sorcerer named Bar‑Jesus opposed the proconsul Sergius Paulus. Davison used this episode to illustrate the spiritual resistance missionaries face and connected it to Paul’s later encounter on Mars Hill in Acts 17. The class also revisited the “thorn in the flesh” theme from 2 Cor 12, urging participants to see personal hardships as opportunities for reliance on God’s grace. Throughout, students were encouraged to apply the mission principles—start where you’re familiar, engage common ground, and persevere despite opposition—to their own lives.
Key Scriptures
Now, they were in the church in Antioch. Prophets and teachers. Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger. Lucius of Cyrene. Menaean, a lifelong friend of Herod the Tetrarch. And Saul. While they were there, while they 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. Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.