Day 16: Paul's First Missionary Journey

The Mediterranean Region of Turkey has an immense amount of biblical history entwined in its cities and land. As a result, I will take two days to share about this region since I am somewhat of a history buff right now as I prepare to live in an area touched so heavily by the history of my faith. :-)

Today, we will focus on the area of Paul's first missionary journey (which actually extends some into the Central Anatolia Region north of the Mediterranean Region) and tomorrow we will focus on the remaining provinces and history of this region.

Feel free to follow Paul's journey in Acts 13-14.

Paul's first missionary journey began in Antioch, which is located in the lowest southeastern area of the Mediterranean region. It is here in Antioch that followers of Jesus were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26), and since then, there has been a continual presence of Christians in the city. If you visit Old Antakya (biblical Antioch), you will see a "maze of narrow, cobbled streets filled with quaint restaurants and pensions (lodging houses)" reminiscient of Bible times. New Antakya, however, is the modern part of the city with wide streets and government buildings.

From Antioch, Paul sailed to the island of Cyprus. After proclaiming the name of Jesus across the entire island (Acts 13:4-12), Paul and Barnabas sailed to Perga (in the Roman province of Pamphylia, modern Antalya Province; Acts 13:13).

The two men travelled north (through the modern Burdur and Isparta Provinces) to Pisidian Antioch (modern Yalvac; Acts 13:14-52). This city "is a friendly and delightful place to visit [where] the mayor has shown hospitality to Christian travelers."

Paul and Barnabas were driven out of Pisidion Antioch and travelled to Iconium (modern Konya; Acts 13:50, 14:1). Iconium was the chief city of the Roman province of Galatia where Paul established a church. Though Christianity once flourished in this Central Anatolia province, Konya now houses influential Islamic mosques and seminaries and is the primary center of the spiritual association of the Whirling Dervishes (devotees of mystical Islam who created a mesmerizing dance ritual where their twirling dance begins slowly and accelerates until they enter a trance-like ecstasy).

Due to very angry Jews reacting to Paul's bold proclamation of Christ, Paul and Barnabas fled Iconium to the cities of Lystra and Derbe where they continued to preach the gospel (Acts 14:6-7). In Lystra, Paul and Barnabas faced the challenge of clarifying to the people that they were not gods (Acts 14:8-18). When Jews from Antioch and Iconium came to Lystra to stone Paul, Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe (Acts 14:19-20).

After preaching in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas returned to the cities they previously travelled through to strengthen the believers there. When they returned to Antioch, they reported all that God had done (Acts 14:21-28).