Just before Paul began the first of his three missionary journeys, he and others at the Church of Antioch were worshiping and fasting, when Holy Spirit set Paul and Barnabas apart on a special mission to the gentile cities. They journeyed throughout much of the Mediterranean coastline of modern day Turkey with John-Mark – a helper who would later be the cause of Paul and Barnabas’s separation in Acts 15. This first missionary journey is unique because Paul and Barnabas taught the Jews first and then the Gentiles (later on Paul would focus primarily to teaching the Gentiles) and tells of Paul and Barnabas’s response to a sorcerer who tried to lead a Roman Governor away from Christianity. What isn’t unique however, is how the Jewish leadership stirred up persecution against Paul expelling him and Barnabas from the region.

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, and follower of the Jewish faith, had a vision of an angel who told him to find Simon Peter and bring him back. Since Peter believed Gentiles were unclean, he should not go. He thought this was a test. But after a discussion with God, Peter realized neither people or food are inherently unclean, so he went to Cornelius and many gentiles were saved and baptized both in water and the Holy Spirit.