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.

The death of Ananias and Sapphira is often misunderstood, being less about what was given and more about hypocrisy. How this was addressed is clearly the work of God. The Apostles continued proclaiming the truth, however the Jewish leadership reacted negativily to this. However, the results were not what the Jewish leadership expected. But a highly respected Pharisee advised them how they should address these new teachings.