Multiculturalism and the Church in Acts
6.21. The Period of Foreign Missions
Mention must be made of this period of foreign missions, because through missions the church was able to spread beyond Jewish cultures.
The Jerusalem Church was the opening and the centre of the first Christian Church and operations. The Church began here in Jerusalem. Because of persecution, the Church began to 'spill out' to other territories and regions, and of course, to the Gentile world. The preliminary events leading up to Paul's missionary journeys and foreign missions were: -
IJ The ministry of Philip in Samaria, in association with Peter and John (Acts 8: 5-25).
I:J The conversion of Paul, who become the great missionary, and the leading figure in the Church during this period (Acts 9: 1-30).
I:J The broadening of Peter's views by his vision at Joppa, resulting in his ministry among the Gentiles at Caesarea (Acts 10: 1-43).
I:J The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles at Caesarea, and the vindication of Peter's ministry there (Acts 10:44-11: 18).
I:J The sanction of the work at Antioch by Bamabas, the representative of the Church at Jerusalem (Acts 11: 22-24).
I:J The bringing of Paul from Tarsus to Antioch by Bamabas, and the co- operation of the two men in establishing the Church in the place of where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:25,26).
I:J Parenthesis, The persecution of the Church at Jerusalem by Herod. The death of James and the imprisonment and deliverance of Peter (Acts 12:1-9).
In Acts 13, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the first 'foreign missionaries' were sent forth. Paul and Bamabas were sent by the Church at Antioch; they were accompanied by John Mark (Acts 13: 1-5). The church through the missionary activities of the apostles began to penetrate new frontiers and extended to the other cultures and nations of the then known world. From Acts 13, Paul takes the leading role in the rest of the book. Luke records the apostle's three missionary journeys.
6. 22. Paul's First Missionary Journey
Missionaries Paul, Bamabas and accompanied by John Mark. Some of the places visited and outstanding events are summarised:-
Cl In the island of Cyprus where the proconsul was converted and Saul' s name was changed to Paul in the record (Acts 13:4-12).
Cl At Pamphylia, John Mark deserted the party (Acts 13: 13).
Cl In Antioch in Pisidia, Paul preached his great sermon in the synagogue (Acts 13:14-41).
Cl The Jews opposed the work among the Gentiles (Acts 13 :44-49).
Cl Driven from the city by the Jews, the missionaries went to Iconium. Here they worked for some time, but persecution arose and they fled to Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 14:6).
Cl The healing of the lame man at Lystra, resulted in the people proposing to worship Paul and Barnabas, but the missionaries forbade them to do so.
The Jews then stirred opposition and Paul was stoned. Undaunted, the two heroes escaped to Derbe, and where they preached the gospel and taught many (Acts 14:8-20).
Cl From this point the missionaries retraced their steps, revisiting and organising the churches, and returned to Antioch in Syria, where they made a report of their journey (Acts 14:21-28).
It was during the interim before the second missionary journey, the Jerusalem Council was convened, and the question at issue was discussed (Acts 15:5,6).
Peter's argument was in favour of Christian Liberty, (Acts 15:12). Paul and Barnabas then related their experiences to the Council. The speech of James and the decision ofthe Gentiles from the rules of the ceremonial law. Judas and Silas were sent to Antioch to deliver the letter from the Council to the church and Antioch (Acts 15: 13-30).
6. 23. Paul's Second Missionary Journey
After the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas parted, with Paul taking Silas on second missionary journey. At this time also they recruited Timothy in Lystra. Their journey took them through Turkey, and then on to Greece:
Neapolis, Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, and Corinth, where they stayed for some 18 months. The second missionary journey is summarised as follows:-
[J Disagreement between Paul and Bamabas concerning John Mark. Silas was chosen by Paul to accompany him on the journey (Acts 15:36-40)
[J The Spirit guided Paul to Troas, where they were called in to Europe by the 'Macedonian call' or vision (Acts 16:7-10).
[J At Philippi Paul and Silas were imprisoned, and the jailer was converted, and a church was established (Acts 16: 12-34).
[J The next important event was the founding of the Thessalonian church, where persecution arose and they departed to Berea. Here the missionaries found some candid students of the Word of God who became ready converts (Acts 17:1-12).
[J A further persecution broke out again, and Paul went to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy behind to establish the church (Acts 17: 13-15).
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Q At Athens, Paul found a city filled with idols, and he preached s sermon on Mar's Hill, but secured only a few converts to the faith (Acts 17: 15-34).
[J At Corinth Paul soon joined Silas and Timothy, and a church was founded.
The work was carried on for 18 months with great persecution (Acts 18:1- 17).
o After a considerable time, Paul bid farewell, and set sail for Syria, making a brief stop at Ephesus, and closed his journey at Antioch (Acts 18: 18-22).