The First Mission Journey

Overview

Barnabas, Saul, and Mark set sail from Syria to Cyprus on the first leg of their mission journey. During and interview with the island's Roman governor, Saul was interrupted by a Jewish renegade magician, Elymas, who was struck with temporary blindness. At this point, Acts introduces the famous name-change for Saul, who was "also known as Paul." The tree missionaries sailed from Cyprus northward to Perga in southern Asia Minor, where John Mark left his colleagues. Journeying northward to Antioch-in-Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas here set the pattern of first announcing the Good News in the synagogue to their fellow Jews -- with mixed results -- and then turning to the Gentiles, who responded more positively. This was the case also in Iconium (today the Turkish Konya) as well as Lystra.