Paul’s First Missionary Journey Christian Religious Studies Primary 5 Third Term Lesson Notes Week 4

Subject : Christian Religious Studies

Term :First Term

Week: Week 4

Class : Basic 6 / Primary 6

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Previous lesson :

The pupils have previous knowledge of the importance and significance of Paul’s repentance and conversion

Topic :

Paul’s first missionary journey

Behavioural objectives :

At the end of the lesson,  pupils should be able to

• Say the people that went with Paul during his first missionary journey
• Mention various cities that were visited by Paul during his first missionary journey.
• State the reasons for embarking on such journey in the first instance
• Write out what the people did to Saul or Paul when he embarked on his first missionary journey

Instructional Materials :

• Wall charts
• Pictures
• Related Online Video
• Flash Cards.
• The Holy Bible

Methods of Teaching :

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

Reference Materials :

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
• Workbooks
• The Holy Bible

Content :

How Paul and Barnabas were selected for missionary work

There was a church at Antioch in Syria. Antioch was the headquarters of Gentile Christians. The believers were first called Christians there.

In the church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers. Their names were

Barnabas,

Simeon who was called Niger

, Lucius of Cyrene,

Manaen who was a member of the court of Herod the Tetrach,

and Paul.

One day, while the members were worshipping and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’

Then after fasting and praying, the members laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them forth for the work of evangelism. Evangelism among the Gentiles was the work the Holy Spirit said he had called them to do.

Places Paul preached and the people he preached to

When Paul and Barnabas were sent forth, they went to the seaport of Antioch called Seleucia.

From the seaport, they sailed to the island of Cyprus.

They started their first missionary work on the Island of Cyprus.

The first place Paul and Barnabas preached was called Salamis, on the island of Cyprus.

They also preached at Paphos and probably some other places on the same island.

From Paphos, they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia..

At Perga, the young man that was with them, called John Mark, left them and went back home to Jerusalem.

John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas. From Perga, they went to Antioch of Pisidia.

At Antioch, on a Sabbath day, they preached to both the Jews and the Gentiles in a synagogue. They were asked to come and preach again on the next Sabbath. But the Jews there became jealous when Paul and Barnabas went back. They turned the people against them. As a result, Paul and Barnabas were driven out of the place, but they shook off the dust on their feet as a testimony against the people.

Paul and Barnabas left Antioch and went to Iconium where they preached to both Jews and Gentiles. They converted many people but the Jews from Pisidian Antioch came there and turned the people’s mind against them.

Again, Paul and Barnabas had to leave Iconium for Lystra which was a completely pagan society. At Lystra, there was a man that was crippled from birth. When Paul was preaching, the lame man was listening attentively. Paul healed the man in Jesus’ name.

The people of Lystra saw the miracle that Paul had performed and thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods. They therefore shouted in Lycaonian (their native language) that the gods had come down to them in the likeness of men.

They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

Paul was called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.

The people of Lystra then started trooping to the temple of Zeus with oxen which they had decorated. They were going to sacrifice these to Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul and Barnabas saw them and rushed out to stop them, telling them that they were not gods but men like them. Paul and Barnabas told them that they had come to Lystra to stop them from worshipping idols, and to turn them to the worship of the living God.

They told the people that it was the living God who created Heaven and Paul and Barnabas in a ship with other people on the way to the Island of Cyprus

Earth and all the things in them that made them have fruitful seasons, through which they had food to eat.

With great difficulty, they succeeded in stopping the people from making sacrifice to them. They converted many Lystrans to Christianity.

Later, the Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium also came to Lystra and turned the people’s mind against Paul and Barnabas. The Lystrans changed and started attacking the missionaries. They stoned Paul and left him outside the city thinking that he was dead. Paul and Barnabas stopping the sacrifice them!

Those who had become believers at Lystra came and helped Paul.

They took him back to the city. The next day, Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe. At Derbe they preached the word of God and converted many people. Paul and Barnabas did not have any problem or opposition at Derbe. Paul’s first missionary journey ended at Derbe.

Then from Derbe they went back to Antioch in Syria, their headquarters, passing through all the places they had visited. Paul left unconscious outside the city of Lystra

List of places visited by Paul and Barnabas During their first Missionary Journey

During Paul’s first missionary journey in the Bible, he traveled with Barnabas and visited several places. Here is a list of the places they visited:

1. Antioch: Paul and Barnabas started their journey from Antioch, which was their home base and where they were commissioned by the church (Acts 13:1-3).

2. Seleucia: They traveled from Antioch to Seleucia, which was a nearby port city, and from there they sailed to their first destination.

3. Cyprus: They arrived in the island of Cyprus and visited several cities, including Salamis and Paphos. In Paphos, they encountered the proconsul Sergius Paulus and witnessed the opposition of a sorcerer named Elymas (Acts 13:4-12).

4. Perga: After leaving Cyprus, Paul and Barnabas sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. However, Paul faced some challenges in Perga and decided to move on to another city (Acts 13:13). [mediator_tech]

5. Antioch of Pisidia: They traveled to Antioch of Pisidia, which is different from the Antioch they started from. Here, Paul delivered a sermon in the synagogue, sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Many Jews and Gentiles responded positively, while others opposed them (Acts 13:14-52).

6. Iconium: From Antioch of Pisidia, they went to Iconium. Similar to their experience in Antioch, they faced both acceptance and opposition. They spent a significant amount of time there, preaching and performing signs and wonders (Acts 14:1-7).

7. Lystra: From Iconium, they traveled to Lystra. Here, Paul performed a miracle by healing a man who had been crippled since birth. However, the people mistakenly took Paul and Barnabas for gods and attempted to offer sacrifices to them. Paul quickly corrected their misunderstanding and preached the gospel (Acts 14:8-20).

8. Derbe: After leaving Lystra, Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe. They preached the gospel and made many disciples in this city (Acts 14:21-23).

9. Return Journey: After establishing churches in Derbe, they retraced their steps and revisited the cities where they had preached on their way to Derbe, including Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia. They encouraged and strengthened the disciples, appointing elders in each church (Acts 14:21-23).

10. Return to Antioch: Finally, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, the place from where they had been sent out. They reported to the church and shared the great things God had done through them (Acts 14:24-28).

These are the places that Paul and Barnabas visited during their first missionary journey, as recorded in the book of Acts in the Bible.

Presentation

The topic is presented step by step

Step 1:

The class teacher revises the previous topics

Step 2.

He introduces the new topic

Step 3:

The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the needs arise

Conclusion

The class teacher wraps up or conclude the lesson by giving out short note to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.

The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.

He or she does the necessary corrections when and where  the needs arise.

[mediator_tech]

Evaluation

1 Where were the apostles first called Christians

2. Who said that set apart for me Paul and Barnabas

3. Where were Paul and Barnabas called gods

4. Mention four cities that were visited by Paul and Barnabas during the first missionary journey.

5. What is the name of the last city that was visited by Paul and Barnabas during their last missionary journey

Assignment

Prepare for the next lesson by reading about

The second missionary journey of Paul

Objective Questions

1. During Paul’s first missionary journey, where did he and Barnabas start their journey?
a) Jerusalem
b) Antioch
c) Rome

2. Which island did Paul and Barnabas visit during their first missionary journey?
a) Cyprus
b) Crete
c) Malta

3. In which city did Paul and Barnabas encounter the proconsul Sergius Paulus?
a) Salamis
b) Paphos
c) Iconium

4. After leaving Cyprus, where did Paul and Barnabas sail to on their journey?
a) Athens
b) Perga
c) Ephesus

5. In which city did Paul deliver a sermon in the synagogue during their first journey?
a) Antioch of Pisidia
b) Lystra
c) Derbe

6. Which city did Paul and Barnabas visit after Iconium?
a) Ephesus
b) Thessalonica
c) Lystra

7. Where did Paul and Barnabas encounter opposition and were mistaken for gods?
a) Perga
b) Lystra
c) Antioch of Pisidia

8. In which city did Paul and Barnabas establish churches and appoint elders?
a) Derbe
b) Iconium
c) Antioch of Pisidia

9. After reaching Derbe, Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps and revisited the cities where they had preached. Which city was NOT one of those revisited?
a) Lystra
b) Iconium
c) Damascus

10. Where did Paul and Barnabas return to after completing their first missionary journey?
a) Jerusalem
b) Rome
c) Antioch

Remember to choose the correct option for each question based on the places visited during Paul’s first missionary journey as recorded in the Bible.

1. The apostles were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. This is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Acts, specifically Acts 11:26.

2. The statement “Set apart for me Paul and Barnabas” was made by the Holy Spirit through the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. This is recorded in Acts 13:2.

3. Paul and Barnabas were called gods in the city of Lystra. According to the account in Acts 14:11-13, after Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth, the people of Lystra believed that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

4. Four cities visited by Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey were:

a) Antioch (in Pisidia): This was the starting point of their journey.
b) Iconium: They preached in the Jewish synagogue and a large number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
c) Lystra: This is where Paul healed the lame man and was later mistaken for a god.
d) Derbe: They preached the gospel and made many disciples in this city.

5. The last city visited by Paul and Barnabas during their last missionary journey together was the city of Antioch in Syria. After completing their journey and reporting back to the church that sent them, they stayed in Antioch for a while, as mentioned in Acts 14:26-28.

[mediator_tech]

1. Where were the apostles first called Christians?
– Correct answer: b) Antioch
– Explanation: The apostles were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. This term was given to the followers of Jesus Christ by the people of Antioch, as mentioned in the Bible, specifically in Acts 11:26.

2. Who said, “Set apart for me Paul and Barnabas”?
– Correct answer: c) Holy Spirit through the prophets and teachers
– Explanation: The statement “Set apart for me Paul and Barnabas” was made by the Holy Spirit through the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. This is recorded in Acts 13:2.

3. Where were Paul and Barnabas called gods?
– Correct answer: b) Lystra
– Explanation: Paul and Barnabas were called gods in the city of Lystra. According to the account in Acts 14:11-13, after Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth, the people of Lystra believed that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

4. Mention four cities that were visited by Paul and Barnabas during the first missionary journey.
– Correct answer: b) Iconium, Antioch, Lystra, Derbe
– Explanation: Four cities visited by Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey were Iconium, Antioch, Lystra, and Derbe. They preached the gospel and made disciples in these cities, as described in the book of Acts.

5. What is the name of the last city that was visited by Paul and Barnabas during their last missionary journey?
– Correct answer: c) Antioch in Syria
– Explanation: The last city visited by Paul and Barnabas during their last missionary journey together was the city of Antioch in Syria. After completing their journey and reporting back to the church that sent them, they stayed in Antioch for a while, as mentioned in Acts 14:26-28.

By providing these explanations, students can understand the context and significance behind each question and answer, enhancing their understanding of the topic.