Introduction:
Paul's First Missionary Journey marks a significant phase in the spread of early Christianity, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. This journey, undertaken by Paul and Barnabas, was pivotal in establishing the church among the Gentiles and expanding the reach of the Gospel beyond Jewish communities. The journey is detailed in Acts 13:1–14:28 and took place around AD 46-48.

Commissioning at Antioch:
The journey begins in Antioch of Syria, a major center for early Christianity. The church at Antioch, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work to which they were called. Acts 13:2-3 states, "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

Cyprus:
The first destination was the island of Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas. They traveled from Salamis to Paphos, preaching in Jewish synagogues. In Paphos, they encountered the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was interested in hearing the word of God. A sorcerer named Elymas opposed them, but Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, struck him with temporary blindness. Witnessing this, Sergius Paulus believed, astonished at the teaching about the Lord (Acts 13:6-12).

Pisidian Antioch:
From Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas sailed to Perga in Pamphylia and then traveled to Pisidian Antioch. Here, Paul delivered a powerful sermon in the synagogue, recounting Israel's history and proclaiming Jesus as the promised Savior. Acts 13:38-39 records Paul's message: "Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." The message was initially well-received, but opposition arose from some Jewish leaders, leading to their expulsion from the region.

Iconium:
In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas again preached in the synagogue, and a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. However, the city became divided, with some supporting the apostles and others opposing them. Facing a plot to mistreat and stone them, they fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia (Acts 14:1-6).

Lystra and Derbe:
In Lystra, Paul healed a man crippled from birth, leading the crowd to mistakenly believe that Paul and Barnabas were gods. They called Barnabas "Zeus" and Paul "Hermes." The apostles vehemently rejected this adulation, urging the people to turn to the living God. Despite their efforts, Jews from Antioch and Iconium incited the crowd against them, and Paul was stoned and left for dead. Miraculously, he survived and continued to Derbe, where they preached the Gospel and made many disciples (Acts 14:8-21).

Return to Antioch:
Retracing their steps, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, strengthening the disciples and appointing elders in each church. They encouraged the believers to remain steadfast in the faith, acknowledging that "we must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Finally, they returned to Antioch in Syria, where they reported all that God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).

Significance:
Paul's First Missionary Journey was instrumental in establishing the early church among the Gentiles and demonstrated the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries. It set a precedent for future missionary endeavors and highlighted the challenges and triumphs of spreading the Christian faith in a diverse and often hostile world.