Jesus sent out His followers as witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (1:8). Cross-cultural outreach has been happening already, but in Acts 13 the mission takes another important step forward in its global advance. The multiethnic church of Antioch serves as the launching pad for this first missionary journey of the apostle Paul, as the good news of Jesus Christ is about to spread throughout the entire Roman empire. The church was never meant to be idle, but active. The gospel must be unleashed, not confined. The Antioch church recognized this, but didn’t want to make plans and develop strategies on their own. So together, they waited on the Lord with prayer and fasting, seeking His direction. And the Holy Spirit made it known to them that His call was upon Barnabas and Saul (v 1-3). Sent by the Spirit, the two men begin their journey with a visit to the island of Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas. Proclaiming God’s Word from synagogue to synagogue, they encounter spiritual opposition in the city of Paphos. When a Roman official is eager to hear the gospel, a Jewish sorcerer tries to distract and interfere. Filled with the Spirit, Saul boldly exposes the man as a charlatan, a demonic con artist. The darkness of judgment suddenly falls on the sorcerer, as the light of salvation dawns on his boss, the Roman official (v 4-12). From this point forward in the narrative, Saul (Hebrew name) will be referred to as Paul (Greek name), as he and the team continue their trek into Gentile regions. “Barnabas and Saul” now becomes “Paul and Barnabas” as a new leader emerges. And John, the nephew of Barnabas, decides to return home, for reasons that are not given, but his departure will become an issue later in the story. Having sailed from Cyprus to Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), the missionaries come to another city named Antioch, this one in Pisidia (v 13-14). At the local synagogue, Paul is invited to share a few words, and he takes full advantage of the opportunity! Little did the people know they were about to hear the most important message of their lives. Paul begins by reviewing the history of Israel, emphasizing God’s sovereignty and showing how the whole story pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the descendant of David and promised Savior of the world. This Savior died unrecognized, guiltless, and cursed—in order to deliver us from sin and death. It was all in the plan of God, who then raised His only Son, that forgiveness of sins might be proclaimed in His name. But this offer of grace is accompanied by a warning of judgment. And as always, the message receives a mixed response. The gospel always divides (v 15-52). For further meditation: