The First Missionary Journey

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE, 1 March 2026
Sermon Series: “The Acts of the Apostles” (#21)
Sermon Text: Acts 13:4-14:28
Main Points:
Introduction
I. The progress of the mission
II. The power behind the mission
III. The participants in the mission
Conclusion

When we come to Acts 13, something decisive happens in the life of the church. Up to this point, the gospel has been spreading in Jerusalem, and through Judea and Samaria.

But now, for the first time, the church deliberately sends out missionaries beyond its immediate sphere, just as the Lord Jesus promised in Acts 1:8. The establishment of the church in Antioch was already a surprising work of the Holy Spirit. Yet, what happens here goes even further. The church in Antioch sends the first missionary team deep into the pagan world – into territories few would’ve imagined the gospel reaching so soon. A new phase in the life of the church begins.

This is not random travel; it is not spiritual adventure; it is not human ambition. Rather, it is the beginning of intentional, cross-cultural, church-commissioned, Spirit-directed mission.

What we read in Acts 13 and 14 is commonly called the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. But if we read carefully, we discover something deeper: this is not ultimately their mission. It is God’s mission. The church participates in it. The missionaries carry it. But the driving force behind it is the Holy Spirit – God Himself carrying forward His work of redeeming a people through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, in chs. 13-14, we see three defining features of this missionary movement. First, we see the progress of the mission – how the gospel advances despite opposition. Second, we see the power behind the mission – the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. And third, we see the participants in the mission – servants sent, strengthened, and directed by God.

And as we follow this missionary journey, we’re not merely looking at ancient history. We’re seeing the blueprint of how Christ continues to build His church today. This record teaches us that mission is not sustained by enthusiasm; it is not secured by strategy; it is not preserved by personality. It advances because God Himself is at work.

So, let us trace this first missionary journey and see the Lord’s work of expanding His kingdom under three headings: the progress of the mission, the power behind the mission, and the participants in the mission.

I. The Progress Of The Mission

The chapters we’re looking at today record a missionary work that unfolded over roughly two years. The church in Antioch received the Spirit’s command to set apart Barnabas and Saul for this work. After fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off – most likely around AD 46.

Before we follow the path of this first missionary journey, it helps to understand the region in which the mission took place. The mission unfolded in the southern part of what is now modern Turkey. Along its southern edge runs the Mediterranean Sea, with the island of Cyprus lying just offshore.

The coastline, itself is a narrow strip of lowland. But, immediately beyond it rises a steep wall of mountains – the Taurus range – climbing quickly to elevations of over a thousand metres above sea level. Beyond those mountains lies the vast Anatolian plateau.

Because of this geography, sea travel was often easier and safer than inland travel in the first century. So, Barnabas and Saul began their journey the way many travellers did in that world – by ship. And so, the progress of the mission begins.

They left the Syria by ship from Seleucia, the port city near Antioch, and sailed to Cyprus. We’re not explicitly told why they began there, but since Cyprus was Barnabas’ hometown, it’s reasonable to assume that this may have influenced their starting point.

After proclaiming the word across the island, they departed from Paphos and sailed north to the mainland, arriving at Perga. From there, having preached the gospel, Barnabas and Paul undertook the difficult ascent through the Taurus Mountains, climbing from the coastal lowlands up to the high plateau of Pisidia, and eventually arriving at another Antioch – Antioch in Pisidia.

Up to this point in the journey, there are two significant developments worth noting. First, in Acts 13:9, Saul is no longer called Saul but Paul. That verse is the last time the name Saul appears in Acts. From that point forward, he is consistently referred to as Paul. This change coincides with what happens in Pisidian Antioch. When many of the Jews rejected the gospel there, Paul declared in 13:46 that they would now turn to the Gentiles. As the mission increasingly moved into the Gentile world of the Roman Empire, his Roman name, Paul, naturally became the primary name used.

Second, there is a noticeable shift in leadership emphasis. From Acts 11:25 through 13:7, we read names in this order – ‘Barnabas and Saul.’ But in 13:13, the wording changes to “Paul and his companions.” And in 13:43, the order becomes ‘Paul and Barnabas.’ Some interpret this as indicating a shift in leadership within the missionary team. some also connect this change with the departure of John, also called Mark, at Perga. This Mark would later become the human author of the Gospel of Mark.

From Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas travelled to Iconium, then, to Lystra and Derbe – moving farther into regions with less Jewish presence and influence. But, opposition followed them. In Iconium, a plot to stone them was discovered, and they fled to Lystra.

Lystra was strongly pagan. There, after a miraculous healing, the people mistook Barnabas and Paul as Roman gods – Zeus and Hermes – and attempted to offer sacrifices to them. But the scene quickly turned. Jews from Antioch and Iconium stirred up the crowd, and Paul was stoned and left for dead. But he rose and they went on to Derbe.

After reaching Derbe, they did something remarkable. They turned around and retraced their steps – revisiting the very cities where they had faced opposition and violence. In each place, they strengthened the disciples, encouraged them to continue in the faith, and appointed elders in every church.

Finally, they returned to the coast, sailed from Attalia, and came back to Antioch in Syria – the church that had sent them out. There they reported all that God had done and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

This, in summary, is the first missionary journey – a mission that unfolded over approximately two years, marked by bold preaching, fierce opposition, unexpected turns, and the steady advance of the gospel. The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly, but we can imagine the hearts of the Antioch believers overflowing with joy and thanksgiving when they heard the report.

II. The Power Behind The Mission

Having traced the progress of the mission, we must now ask a deeper question – what made all of this possible?

Humanly speaking, what we’ve just surveyed is astonishing. Within a relatively short period – roughly two years – the gospel travelled from Syrian Antioch across the sea to Cyprus, up through the mountains of Pisidia, and into the heart of Asia Minor. Cities were evangelised. Churches were planted. Elders were appointed.

Few in the early church would’ve imagined such rapid expansion. Even the establishment of the church in Antioch in Syria had been a surprising and unexpected work of God – a development that startled believers in Jerusalem and Judea, including the apostles themselves. And now, the gospel was advancing even further, beyond familiar Jewish territories and into predominantly Gentile regions.

So, what accounts for this? What was the driving force behind such bold and sustained advance? Was it the strategic brilliance of Barnabas and Paul? Or was it the vision of the church in Antioch? Was it favourable circumstances?

The answer is none of these. The power behind the mission was the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts makes this unmistakably clear. In 13:2, it is the Holy Spirit who says, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” In 13:4, we’re told explicitly that they were “sent out by the Holy Spirit.” The church lays hands on them, yes – but the Spirit commissions them. The missionaries travel, preach, and endure hardships – but the Spirit directs and empowers.

Throughout the journey, it is the Spirit who, first, grants boldness in proclamation ; second, exposes falsehood, as in the case of Elymas at Paphos; third, strengthens the missionaries amid persecution ; and fourth, opens hearts to believe.

This mission was not sustained by human enthusiasm. It was not secured by clever planning. It was not preserved by strong personalities. It was advanced by the sovereign work of the Spirit of God.

And that is precisely why the mission succeeds, despite opposition, misunderstanding, and suffering. The visible agents are Barnabas and Paul. But the true missionary – the One carrying forward God’s redemptive purpose – is the Holy Spirit.

III. The Participants In The Mission

So far, we’ve seen the progress of the mission. We’ve seen the power behind the mission. And now, we consider the participants in the mission.

If the Holy Spirit is the true driving force, does that make human agents unnecessary? Not at all. The Spirit who sovereignly directs the mission also chooses to accomplish His work through His servants. In fact, He graciously delights to work through them.

Listen to Phil. 2:13, “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” God shapes His people’s desires and enables their obedience. Eph. 2:10 adds further depth, saying this: “we are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God carefully formed, redeemed, and prepared for works He has already ordained. He lovingly ordains their role in His redemptive plan. When it comes to the preaching of the gospel, Scripture is even more explicit. 1 Cor. 1:21 says, “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

Now, consider the participants in this mission. They were not superhuman figures. Barnabas was an encourager. Paul was once a persecutor of the church. John Mark was young and inexperienced – and at one point, he withdrew from the work. These were real people with real strengths and real weaknesses.

Yet God worked through them; He graciously and powerfully – even delightfully – carried out His saving purposes in Cyprus, Pamphylia, Pisidia and Lycaonia. Throughout their journey, Paul and Barnabas lacked no grace necessary for the task. They were opposed, rejected, and even stoned – but they were never abandoned. The Spirit who sent them never left them; He sustained them through every trial along the way.

Conclusion

So, what do we learn? The mission belongs to God. It always has, and it will until the Lord returns. Because mission is God’s work, He ensures its success according to His purpose. The Holy Spirit carries it forward in divine power.

Yet, the Lord works through His people. He delights to accomplish His mission that way. He shapes them into willing and obedient servants. He strengthens them to persevere. Barnabas and Paul were instruments in God’s hands. And so are we! We’re called to take part in God’s work – and He supplies the grace necessary for it.

By the way, why does God delight to work through us, His servants? Simply because it pleases Him. It is His gracious will to share His joy and glory with those He loves. Just as a parent delights to share good gifts with a child, so our Heavenly Father delights to draw His children into the joy of His saving purposes. He does not keep us at a distance from His work; He brings us into it, making it our own work.

As Christ continues to build His church, the Spirit continues to empower us, God’s beloved children. Therefore, let us willingly and joyfully take part in His work – here in this church, and in our homes, and in workplaces! ***