“Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy — The Great Transition, The Glorious Sweep of God’s Abundant Grace — Paul Begins His First Missionary Journey”

Soon after Paul and Barnabas returned from a quick visit in Jerusalem, they went to Antioch, where, the Holy Spirit spoke commanding them to depart for Gentile lands and so they did. In Crete they spoke in the synagogues leaving behind a blinded Jewish false teacher and an enlightened Gentile.  Then they left Crete and arrived by ship in our present day Turkey where considerable Jews had migrated.  Paul preached there in Perga and then went on to speak inland at the synagogue in Antioch of Psidia, where he delivered his first recorded message here in the Acts. It was memorable indeed, focusing primarily on the Old Testament prophecies regarding Israel’s coming messiah as found in Psalms 2 & 16, Isaiah 55, and perhaps Psalm 49 as well.  Paul did not argue the case but merely quoted from these OT sources allowing the Holy Spirit to write these truths on the hearts of those that heard.  Christ had died and was risen — and he was therefore the only source of forgiveness and salvation.  But the rulers of the synagogue there rejected his message concerning their Risen Messiah and opposed those Jews and Gentiles that had believed.  Paul’s striking condemnation of them finishes the chapter with the new believers rejoicing in their new found faith and its many blessings.