Welcome to a Year in the Bible with Daily Grace.

From Eden to eternity, the Bible tells one big story of redemption.

My name is Tiffany, and I want to spend a few minutes with you every day walking through the Bible chronologically.

Together, we will explore God's sovereign plan as the events of Scripture unfold and point to Jesus.

Hey, you're in the Bible family. Welcome back to the podcast. Tiffany here, and today we return to the

book of Acts after our time in James yesterday. In Acts 13 through 14, we will travel with Saul, now known as Paul,

on this first missionary journey. As we talk through these chapters today, we will take a look

at the general pattern of a missionary journey and learn more about how the Jews and Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire

responded to the gospel. Through it all, we will see the faithfulness of Paul and Barnabas

as they fulfill the Great Commission everywhere they go, despite persecution. Around five to eight

years passed between Herod Agrippa's death in Acts chapter 12

and the beginning of Paul's first missionary journey in Acts chapter 13. Remember, Paul had been

living in Tarsus for some time after fleeing death threats following his conversion. In Acts 12, 24 through 25,

we read that Barnabas, Paul, and John Mark had been tasked with a relief mission, and then

returned to Jerusalem. At some point in this five to eight year span, they journeyed to Antioch, the home of Luke,

and ministered there for some time. This was the place where believers were first called Christians.

Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement, was a Levite from Cyprus. After becoming a believer, he gave his

land to the apostles and later became the leader of the church in Antioch, as well as Paul's

friend and travel companion on this first missionary journey. While he and Paul were in Antioch,

the Holy Spirit set them apart for their missionary work.

The church in Antioch sent them out,

and they first traveled to the island of Cyprus.

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