Studying Acts alongside some of Paul’s Epistles in a single season for the first time, we can connect the dots between these overlapping stories—what happened to Paul in Luke’s words (Acts 9), and Paul’s own account of his before-and-after conversion experience (Galatians 1). Knowing a bit about what happened in the cities of Galatia, (Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Derbe) informs the mindset of Paul’s intended audience—these are the people who ran Paul and Barnabas out of town and then pursued him to other towns; they saw a lame man healed and wanted to worship Paul thinking he was the god Hermes; this is where Paul was stoned, yet somehow survived and snuck out of town.
And yet, in each place, people responded to the gospel in large numbers—the whole city listened (Pisidian Antioch), the whole region heard the message, a great number of Jews and Greeks, a large number of disciples … these are the early churches, the first with a mix of Jewish and non-Jewish believers, a recipe ripe for conflict and confusion … and there are people willing to stir the pot, even after Paul circles back to reinforce his message and appoint elders to lead in his absence.
To these churches he has strong words: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting …” “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” This is the voice of an anguished parent watching a teenager listen to the wrong crowd—wanting to knock some sense (back) into people he loves, whose faith he planted and nourished as long as he could. So he bends over backwards to validate the truth of the gospel he preached—citing the source (revelation/Jesus Christ) and giving a chain-of-custody account to show he wasn’t just repeating words from someone else.
While Acts gives us a sequential chronology, Paul’s version of events fills in some timelines: Three years in Arabia after the Damascus encounter before he meets Peter for the first time. Then to Syria and Cilicia—that’s where Antioch and Tarsus are found (“Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul”). Then FOURTEEN YEARS go by before Paul finds himself in Jerusalem for more than two weeks—that’s a gap that’s not entirely obvious between Acts 9:25 and 9:26. The disciples are still wary of him and it’s Barnabas who breaks the ice. Luke’s story then breaks to follow Peter for a few chapters before picking things back up to track Saul and Barnabas in Antioch (Syria). The list of prophets and teachers there came about over time … years! Then the Holy Spirit sent them on their way into Galatia, after a stop in the island of Cyprus (Paphos).
It’s helpful to remember once in a while that between a verse or two, or in the process of “going” from one place to the next … days, weeks, months or even years pass by. (Unless you’re Philip, I suppose, and get to just “appear” somewhere new!)
Another bit I find fascinating is Peter’s journey. In Acts 10 he (somewhat reluctantly) comes to the realization that the gospel, including the Holy Spirit, is for Gentiles, too—but he has to see it to believe it. He’s called to account for this radical notion and publicly reports to the Jewish believers back home in Jerusalem and defends what happened at Cornelius’ house as something God was doing—and he wasn’t going to stand in the way (while making it clear that it wasn’t his idea!). And yet—we read that Paul opposed him and called him to account for not associating with Gentiles!
And even more astounding … we read that even Barnabas, the one who hand-picked Saul as a missionary companion, was led astray!
The divide between Jews and Gentiles, the circumcised and uncircumcised, seems trivial to us today (probably because we are most of us in the “Gentile” camp) … and yet it was a big, hairy deal. It’s hard to share one’s Messiah with those who haven’t experienced the history of centuries of waiting for promises made in generations past to be fulfilled. How can outsiders know and appreciate who Jesus is and what he stands for—how can he be the fulfillment of the Law for those who have never lived under the law? Here are the outlines, the foundations of Paul’s arguments to the church in Rome in an earlier form. A first draft, if you will, that he elaborates upon later in a more cool-headed manner.
And why is Paul so worked up? What is worth defending? Nothing more or less than “the truth of the gospel” … without distortion, without compromise, without adding requirements or stripping away its essence.
He had it from the source (Jesus) and he will die on that hill. Paul never had to be convinced that the gospel is for everyone. His stony Jewish heart needing more convincing than God-fearing Greeks he encountered along the way, even when his preaching was primarily in the synagogues. He delivered his message to anyone who would listen.
It’s worth paying attention to ourselves. Examine the authenticity and take to heart the urgency in Paul’s words: “This is not something man made up … I received it … from Jesus Christ.” Those are some good credentials, and the only ones that matter.
Coaching tip: If you haven’t already, track down some useful maps of the places we read about in the text. I find a visual helps, so I can trace direction and know where things all fit in relation to one another.