Some Jews began teaching that Gentiles could not be saved unless they were circumcised. Paul and Barnabas challenged them, and ultimately this dispute was brought before the Church in Jerusalem where the decision was made stating circumcision was not required due to references in the Old Testament, which presentated by James. Paul, who was in Antioch, spoke with Barnabas regarding meeting with the bretheren in all the cities the ministered in, to see how they were doing. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul said no, so Mark went with Barnabas and Silas went with Paul.

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.