BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

The Gospel is on the move—to the ends of the earth! Recall Acts 1:8, where the early witnesses received a challenging commission to take Jesus’ message to Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and then the whole world.

Today’s video shows how the witnesses carried the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Along with today’s reading, it pivots toward the next section and final frontier, the ends of the earth.

Paul and Barnabas partner up on a wild adventure, sailing and hiking into the far reaches of Rome’s dominating empire. They tell everyone that a new, superior king has taken his throne. In every city, they follow a pattern. They first preach at the synagogue with a Jewish audience. Then, when they face (predictable) opposition, they meet to talk with gentile communities.

The story shows a powerful Gospel moving without force, steering around opposition and entirely invincible, able to take root in the most unexpected places.

For example, take Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas’ first stop in today’s reading. A Jewish magician brings dark opposition. With love, Paul carries out a Spirit-empowered sign act, rendering the magician temporarily blind. Jesus blinded Paul the same way, not to harm but to teach.

This sign piques the curiosity of the Roman provincial governor. After hearing the teaching about the Lord, he believes!

Then in Pisidian-Antioch, we get the same song, different verse. The Jewish leaders grow jealous of Paul’s missionary success and hurl insults and contradictions his way. So Paul pivots to the Gentiles, who receive the message with great joy.

This pattern repeats again and again. In every city, new churches spring up. Attempts to stamp out the Jesus movement backfire. The word is out—and it’s unstoppable.

Reflection Questions

• Meditate on the church’s commission of Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:1-3. What might this story reveal about the purpose of fasting and prayer in the church?
• Can you think of anyone else in Acts who healed a man who couldn’t walk? Hint: It happened right around the time they started to preach the good news about Jesus. (Review Acts 3:1-10 for more help.) What other parallels do you notice between these two stories? What might the author (Luke) be saying by connecting them?