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Through Many Afflictions Saul and Joseph return to Antioch
What afflictions, which tribulations will we suffer for our witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
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~AD 49 - a return journey

[Just a reminder that Paul is a more local name for Saul from Tarsus beyond the imposing Guyik and Taurus mountains and many brothers address Joseph of the island of Cypress by his encouraging nickname, Barnabas.]

  - from remote Derby through Lycaonia to Antioch through Pisidia & Pamphylia to Perga and sailing from Attalia (without returning to Cypress) to their home port in Syria to Antioch.
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Joseph of Cypress and Saul of Tarsus have endured many afflictions for the Gospel, even a stoning of Saul (as he had once witnessed of Stephen in Jerusalem).

Barnabas

You’ll recall that Joseph of Cypress, known to his friends as Βαρναβᾶς or son of encouragement is a very Jewish Levite.

Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement)
Acts of the Apostles 4:36 LSB

Joseph had devoted his life to the Apostles’ teaching and gave them money from selling a field. This highly respected older man from Cypress had brought the feared young and zealous Pharisee Saul to the Apostles vouching for the authenticity of his conversion and teaching since encountering Christ.

Even then he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death.
- Acts of the Apostles 9:29
So the Church at Jerusalem, led by the Apostles, sent Saul off to the Church at Antioch, nearer to Tarsus as well as Cypress.

Barnabas continues mentoring a young Saul of Tarsus known to the Gentiles as Paul.

The Church at Antioch sends them out to Cypress along with Joseph’s nephew John Mark. From there these two apostles proceed to cities and small towns in the Taurus Mountains.
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As a reminder: 
Luke publishes ACTS OF THE APOSTLES in about AD 62 as a historical account for a growing Church.

This FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY of the Apostles PAUL & BARNABAS occurs over several months and many miles in about AD 47-49.
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Another Rising of Saul

Not too many men or women ever suffer the afflictions of Saul OR the miraculous raisings of a man who seems to have been struck down by God and men to persevere in more persecution for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
Acts of the Apostles 9:4-5 LSB

Acts 14 Pursued through Lycaonia

The Jews are divided by Paul’s Gospel of the Messiah Jesus

Acts of the Apostles 14:

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

20 But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city.

The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples..
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Dr. Luke once again accounts for not only the miracle of Paul's rising after being stoned to death and his battered frame dragged out of Lystra, but again that they 'had made many disciples' of the risen Lord Jesus in Derbe.
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Their Return Journey to Antioch Pisidia

[from Derbe] .. they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples..

The Apostles’ Parting Message:

.. encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying,
“Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.”

θλῖψις – Afflictions, Tribulations, Pressure & Persecution

So you want to enter the kingdom of God?

You hope for THE LIFE in a risen KING- the Son of God JESUS.

AND THIS IS the GOSPEL GOOD NEWS Paul proclaims?
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thlipsis STRONGS G2347:
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properly, a pressing, pressing together, pressure (Strabo, p. 52; Galen); in Biblical and ecclesiastical writings, a Greek metaphor, oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits;

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Gospel of Matthew 24:9 KJV – a prophesy of Jesus to his disciples

Paul and Barnabas have already seen much tribulation. But now others – Jewish converts, Hellenists, even Roman believers among so many saints of these growing churches will also suffer afflictions as disciples of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Paul comes with more than a change of heart and soul – these Christians will see afflictions and tribulations — troubles never before encountered when they did not claim the risen Christ Jesus as their Lord.

The SOULS of the disciples of these NEW CHURCHES will need much STRENGTHING from leaders ENCOURAGING them to CONTINUE in THE FAITH.

Paul and Barnabas will continue that work which they begun by returning to these new disciples on their return journey to the Church at Antioch from which they were sent out by the Holy Spirit and church.

A foundational ministry in the mountains
- they had proclaimed the gospel [in Derby] and had made many disciples,
- they returned
  - to Lystra
  - and to Iconium
  - and to Antioch
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 14:23

And when they passed through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia. – ACTS 14:24

And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Acts of the Apostles 14 – Paul & Barnabas’ return from first missionary journey

And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.

Home in Antioch (Syria)

And when they had arrived and gathered the church together,

they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

And they spent not a little time with the disciples.
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This first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas has taken about two years. The apostles (ones sent out) of the Gospel have much to share with the disciples (followers) of the risen Christ Jesus. 

NEXT: In Acts of the Apostles 15 Luke will record some differences in worship yet to be worked out between Christians in Antioch and disciples of Christ in Judea and other parts of Syria.
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To be continued…
November 29, 2022
Acts 13.4 Sailing to Salamis Cypress
Sailing from Antioch to Cypress
Acts of the Apostles 13:
How did the ancient Romans travel?
Sailing the Roman Sea
Salamis, Cypress
One additional passenger
Sailing from Antioch to Cypress

Acts of the Apostles 13:

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
A.D. 47

A Roman merchant ship sails from Seleucia

Photo source
Sailing Journeys in the Roman Empire

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t really know very much about sailing around in the Mediterranean in the first century A.D. And when I read later in Acts about wintering in some ort or about ship wrecks I had no idea what that was all about.

So here is a little I’ve learned about Paul’s journeys by ship in the first century Mediterranean Sea.

How did the ancient Romans travel?

[Like Paul and Barnabas]
- There were no passenger ships per say in first century Rome. No luxury cruise lines or anything similar.
- People willing to travel by ship had to board a merchant ship.
- They would first have to find a ship, it could be almost any kind of ship and then they would have to get the captain’s approval. The price would also be negotiated with the captain.
- Most of the times passengers would bring their own food supplies, covers, mattresses, even a tent and sleep on deck!
- Sometimes there would be hundreds of people on the deck.
- There were no restaurants or any of the luxuries of today’s ships but passengers could use the ship’s facilities to cook their meals. People would often play games, gamble, read or just drink wine.
OR perhaps a fellow passenger might ask two men like Paul and Barnabas,

“What brings you to Cypress?”

VITA ROMAE

.. Romans were not traditionally seafaring people. They were mostly land-based people who learned to build military and merchant ships from the people that they conquered. Sailing the seas was often considered un-Roman.

Romans had very few warships [BUT]

Rome managed to defeat the world’s most powerful navy to become the dominant naval power in the Mediterranean or as the Romans called it Mare Nostrum (“our sea”).

Sailing the Roman Sea

Another function of Roman military ships was to patrol the Mediterranean sea and to sometimes escort merchant ships.
- Most ships had a cargo capacity of 100 to 150 tons
- The largest ships, with a capacity of 600 tons, were 150 ft (46m) long.
- Merchant ships mainly used mainly wind power. They had from one to three masts with large square sails and a small triangular sail called the supparum at the bow.
- They also had oarsmen (usually slaves). [Roman military ships used free Roman soldiers on the oars.]
The time of travel along the many shipping lanes could vary widely. Roman ships would usually ply the waters of the Mediterranean at average speeds of 4 or 5 knots.
VITAE ROME

Salamis, Cypress

IF we do the math, allowing for the additional time in Seleucia while the cargo is loaded on their ship.. waiting in the boarding line where the captain’s representative makes certain all passengers have paid their fare.. boarding time… casting off WHEN the tide and winds seem right…

once weighing anchor, navigating the ship with new weight in the hold carefully out of the harbor…

AT 4-5 knots per hour (eventually) & depending on prevailing winds..

for perhaps 20-25 hours.. at least overnight (for this short voyage_) and timing of the tides and navigating Salamis…
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[Don't you just love all that waiting before departure and docking even on a short journey?]
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IF you would like to catch up to the LATEST post from our SERIES from ACTS of the Apostles CLICK HERE

So Joseph, you say you were born here?
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See Acts 4:36
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A Levite.

And you brought Saul here from Tarsus? (I’ve been there.)

What’s this ‘Good News’ you are bringing here?

One additional passenger

DO YOU RECALL:

Five years earlier in Jerusalem [~AD 42}: Peter amazingly appears at the gate of John Mark’s home after being freed from Herod’s prison by an angel.

His Angel at the gate

Peter goes to the home of Mary mother of Mark

AFTER Herod Agrippa died [A.D. 44]:

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, fulfilling their ministry, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark. – Acts of the Apostles 12:25

NOW, nearly three years later [~A.D.47]:

FIRST PORT of the FIRST Missionary Journey – Salamis
- It possessed a good harbor and was the most populous and flourishing town of Cyprus
- in the Hellenic and Roman periods, carrying on a vigorous trade with the ports of Cilicia and Syria.
- Its population was mixed, consisting of Greek and Phoenician elements.
  - The former, however, gave its tone and color to the city, and the chief cult and temple were those of Salaminian Zeus.
- There they preached the gospel in the “synagogues of the Jews” (Acts 13:5);
  - the phrase is worth noting as pointing to the existence of several synagogues and thus of a large Jewish community in Salamis.
  - Of work among the Gentiles we hear nothing,
  - nor is any indication given either of the duration of the apostles’ visit or of the success of their mission;
  - but it would seem that after a short stay they proceeded “through the whole island”
    
    Source: BibleHub.org
And when they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and they also had John as their helper.
Acts of the Apostles Paul & Barnabas 13:5 on Cypress

WE see here just a brief first stop of Apostles sent out by the Holy Spirit with the Gospel, which Paul and Joseph of Cypress proclaim in the synagogue of Salamis to fellow Jews who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus, the Christ promised by the Lord God.

With them, a servant helper, John Mark, who observingly will record his first Gospel published about ten years later [in the A.D. 50’s].
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ACTS of the Apostles 13 on Cypress

TO BE CONTINUED...
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September 22, 2022
Acts 13.2 – Sailing from Antioch
ON OUR JOURNEY AHEAD from Antioch I’ll show you a 21st century view of Paul’s missionary journey from GOOGLE EARTH guided by brief scripture for each part of Paul’s first missionary journey.

What do you know about Antioch?

https://talkofjesus.com/an-antioch-blueprint-of-church-evangelism/
Did any of you cartographers catch my wrong label for Antioch on this map?

In my introduction to the first missionary journey of Paul we introduced you to some representative faces of the culture in Antioch, the most notable church outside of Jerusalem.

Who shall we send? Barnabas and Saul

In the year of our Lord [A.D.] 47 + about 14 years after the Crucifixion, Resurrection & Ascension of JESUS.

About Antioch

Rather than taking a traditional approach to Paul’s missions from a first-century view culturally rooted in Jerusalem, it may help us to think about Antioch and Paul’s departure from this IMPORTANT ROMAN CITY more like a Roman Citizen.

After all, Saul of Tarsus (Paul), is not only a Jew, but a Roman Citizen who becomes somewhat of an ambassador between cultures, a man of learning and understanding of Romans, Jews and Greeks or Hellenists.

Antioch on the Orontes – source
- What you see above is a painting of ruins of the ancient wall of Antioch.
  - (I’ll show you an aerial view of this same area of the city [below]).
About Antioch: a little before Paul, but NOT before ROME:

The Great Commission – from Antioch

Three hundred miles (480 km) north of Jerusalem, the Seleucids urged Jews to move to Antioch, their western capital, and granted them full rights as citizens upon doing so. In 64 BC, Pompey made the city capital over the Roman province of Syria. By AD 165, it was the third largest city of the empire.
source
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21st c. comparison: FROM CINCINNATI OH to CHICAGO or Ashtabula OH 
WE might FLY to Chicago or DRIVE 400-500 km across Ohio, the same as from Jerusalem to Antioch {Syria, not Ohio}.
Jerusalem is a long walk from MOST of the Roman World!  
So Jerusalem in many ways is NOT such a great place to "go into all the world.'

TRAVEL: FLYING or even DRIVING 50+ mph for a day is NOT a first century option (obviously).
OUR DEPARTURE is for MOSTLY ROMAN destinations. 
And in fact, ANTIOCH is mostly Roman; therefore the Holy Spirit brings Paul, Barnabas and many others to establish the CHURCH in Antioch and from there, to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord JESUS." 
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Orontes River flows north along modern-day Lebanon and Syria toward Antakya, Turkey then SW to the Mediterranean.

Antioch on the Orontes, an ancient Greek city on the eastern side of the Orontes River, was one of the most glorious of all the Greek cities in the world.
Home to hundreds of thousands of people in its golden age, it was known as “The Second Rome” and subsequently “the Cradle of Christianity” before it experienced so many cataclysmic earthquakes and military conquests that it was reduced to a backwater.
source

~A.D. 47

ACTS of the Apostles 13:

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And while they were ministering to 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, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia…

Acts of the Apostles 13:4a
The Roman city is not unlike a more familiar Caesarea [a model pictured here], Jerusalem's Roman port also built by Herod the Great AND built even better for Rome by Herod Agrippa.
..and from there they sailed to Cyprus. – Acts 13:4b LSB

ACTS 13 of the Apostles on Mission TO BE CONTINUED…
September 20, 2022