Mentoring along the way is the story of Paul, the mentor, and Titus, the mentee, as they walked together on their journey of faith. When Paul (Saul) and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, they brought Titus with them. Later, as they returned to Antioch, they brought John Mark back as well. These were not accidental travel …
God demonstrated His grace for the Gentiles through Saul and Barnabas. Jews had always considered that they were the only people of God and had excluded the Gentiles. However, God had always planned to include the Gentiles. The prophets had foretold what Jesus, the Messiah, would do. Isaiah 49: 6 He says, “You will do more …
The church in Antioch had a compassionate response to the words of a traveling prophet. Acts 11: 27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. …
After Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus and spent years training him, we find Saul teaching at Antioch. The Jerusalem church had sent Barnabas to check out the newly formed group of Jesus followers in Antioch. Antioch was the 3rd-largest city in the Roman Empire, with a population of half a million. …
Barnabas, the encourager, is an example for every believer. In Acts 9:27, we meet Barnabas at a critical moment in the early church. Saul, once a fierce persecutor of believers, had encountered Christ and been transformed. Yet the believers in Jerusalem were understandably afraid of him. They doubted his conversion and kept their distance. It …
As the message of Jesus spread, the believers began to understand that the Gospel is for the Gentiles, too. What seemed chaotic was actually God’s quiet strategy. After Stephen’s death, believers were scattered by persecution, carrying wounds, grief, and uncertainty. Yet as they traveled to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, they carried something stronger than pain: …
God had revealed His mission for Saul to Ananias before Ananias prayed for Saul. Acts 9: 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.[1] Paul gives his testimony of the Damascus road experience three …
Luke doesn’t go into detail about how God trained Saul. But Saul, who is later known by his Greek name Paul, gives us hints of his early training as a believer in Christ. Saul immediately begins to preach that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah they have been waiting for. Luke condenses Saul’s …
The disruptive truth was the reality of Saul’s ministry as He proclaimed the Gospel. His transformation was undeniable. Once a fierce opponent of the Gospel, he now boldly proclaimed Jesus as Lord. Acts 9:23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the …
Apologetic but not believing is a symptom of pride and sinfulness. This is the spiritual battle that the city officials found themselves in when they told the jailer to let Paul and Silas out of prison. The city officials placed Paul and Silas in jail as they responded to the mob’s wishes. Earlier, Paul prayed …