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.

Paul now leaves to travel to Macedonia. He spent three months there, and hearing that there was a plot against him, he changed course to go through Macedonia instead of Syria. It was here where he raised the young man from the dead who fell three stories during Paul's teaching. He called the Elders of Ephesus to him and he encouraged them to be strong in the faith, also telling them they may never see him again.