Story of the first missionary journey – प्रथम मिशनरी यात्रा की कहानी
The First Missionary Journey refers to the missionary journey undertaken by the apostle Paul, accompanied by Barnabas, as recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in the book of Acts, chapters 13 and 14. It marks the beginning of Paul’s extensive missionary efforts to spread the message of Christianity to the Gentiles.
The First Missionary Journey took place around 46-48 CE. Paul and Barnabas, both influential leaders in the early Christian community, were commissioned by the church in Antioch to embark on a missionary journey to proclaim the Gospel and establish Christian communities.
They first traveled to the island of Cyprus, Barnabas’ homeland. There, they preached in synagogues and encountered a proconsul named Sergius Paulus, who desired to hear the word of God. However, they also faced opposition from a sorcerer named Elymas, who tried to thwart their efforts. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounced a temporary blindness on Elymas, leading the proconsul to believe in the teachings of Paul and Barnabas.
From Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas sailed to Pamphylia in modern-day Turkey. They then proceeded to travel through various cities, including Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, preaching in synagogues and reaching out to both Jews and Gentiles.
In Pisidian Antioch, Paul delivered a sermon in the synagogue, tracing the history of Israel and emphasizing the fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus Christ. Many Gentiles were receptive to their message, while some Jews opposed them and incited persecution. Despite the opposition, Paul and Barnabas continued to boldly proclaim the Gospel.
In Lystra, Paul performed a miraculous healing of a man who had been crippled since birth. The people, astonished by the miracle, mistook Paul and Barnabas for gods and attempted to worship them. Paul quickly corrected them, emphasizing that they were mere messengers of the true God.
However, Jewish opponents from Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra and stirred up the crowd against Paul. Paul was stoned and left for dead outside the city. But miraculously, he recovered and continued his journey with Barnabas to Derbe, where they preached the Gospel and made many disciples.
After establishing these Christian communities, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, encouraging and strengthening the new believers in each city they had visited. Finally, they returned to Antioch, where they reported to the church about their journey, recounting the miraculous works of God among the Gentiles.
The First Missionary Journey marked a significant turning point in the spread of Christianity. It demonstrated Paul’s commitment to sharing the Gospel with both Jews and Gentiles, his perseverance in the face of opposition, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit at work through his ministry. This journey laid the foundation for Paul’s subsequent missionary endeavors and played a crucial role in the expansion of the early Christian movement.
Story of the first missionary journey – प्रथम मिशनरी यात्रा की कहानी
