consisted of Saul and Barnabas and John Mark. They went by way of the
isle of Cyprus and at Paphos the capital of the island the governor
was converted and Saul was afterward called Paul. They reached
Pamphylia and Pisidia in Asia. John Mark left them in Pamphylia and
returned home. In the cities of Pisidia Paul was persecuted and
opposed. At Antioch he made a complete break with the Jews and at
Lystra they stoned him until they thought he was dead. From Derbe the
missionaries retraced their steps except that they did not go through
Cyprus on the return to Antioch. Their stay at Antioch was marked by
an important church council at Jerusalem, Acts 15:1-35. At this
council it was decided that Gentile Christians were not bound by the
requirement of the Jewish law. This decision was instrumental in
determining that Christianity was not simply a new branch of Judaism
but was a new religion.

Second Missionary Journey. (Acts. 15:36-18:22). Paul proposed that he
and Barnabas visit the brethren in every city "where he had already
preached," but he declined to yield to the wish of Barnabas to take
Mark with them and in consequence separated from Barnabas. He took
Silas and went overland through Syria and Cilicia to the scene of his
former labors. At Lystra he was joined by Timothy. He was restrained
by the Holy Spirit from further work in Asia and called into Europe by
the "Macedonian call" while at Troas. While in Europe he labored at
several places, the most conspicuous service being rendered at
Philippi, Thessalonica and Corinth. Strong churches grew up at each of
these places to which he later wrote letters. He returned to Antioch
by way of Ephesus where he spent a little time, and Caesarea, from
whence he probably visited Jerusalem.

While on this Journey during his long stay at Corinth Paul wrote First