Paul and his companions left Cyprus and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia (modern day Turkey) and from Perga they went to Antioch in Pisidia. The missionaries visit the synagogue in Antioch and are invited to speak. Paul then proceeds to preach a sermon showing how the Old Testament looked forward to someone in the line of David to be the Savior/Messiah and that John the Baptist, who was widely considered a prophet, pointed to Jesus as the long awaited Savior.

At Antioch were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Saul, a black man from North Africa, an Arab, and a Roman; thus the diversity of the early church. The Holy Spirit calls Barnabas and Saul to that which “I have called them.” Off the two go to Cyprus, and run into a Jewish false prophet named Elymas, meaning magician opposes them, and Saul miraculously causes the magician to go blind. This event has a major impact on proconsul Sergius Paulus, and Luke reports that he “believed.”

An angel of the Lord rescues Peter without the sixteen Roman guards even being aware of it. Peter heads for the home of Mary where believers are present and when inside Peter requests that “James and the brothers” be told about what happened then leaves to parts unknown. Then follows the story of Herod, who falls prey to a terrible illness, only described as “eaten by worms,” a common idiom meaning dying badly due to an invasive disease

Herod Agrippa 1 ruled from AD 41–44 and considered himself Jewish and attended the morning and evening sacrifices at the temple regularly. His desire to please the Jews resulted in his persecution of the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. He killed the apostle, James Zebedee, with “the sword,” and arrested Peter, placed him in ‘maximum’ security with 16 soldiers guarding. Meanwhile the “church” was praying for him.

Luke now goes back to a time after the scattering of believers following the death of Stephen, some of whom had travelled to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Some of those who went to Antioch preached Jesus to Gentiles, and a great number of them believed.

It was not long before the “apostles and brothers” in Jerusalem heard that Gentiles had received the “word of God.” Upon Peter’s return to Jerusalem the “circumcision party” criticizes him for fraternizing with Gentiles, thus provoking a defense and explanation from Peter.

Peter’s brief but succinct preaching is interrupted by the action of the Holy Spirit “fallen” upon the Gentile hearers.

Following the vision the men sent by Cornelius arrive at Simon the Tanner’s home in Joppa. The Spirit prepares Peter to do as the men will request. The following day Peter and six others make the journey to Caesarea and find upon arrival that Cornelius has assembled a number of people. Cornelius explains to Peter how it came to be that he sent for him. Peter now preaches the first message of Jesus to a Gentile audience. Peter presents the core Gospel message concluding with the surety of forgiveness of si

In Caesarea, a Gentile but God-fearing Roman centurion named Cornelius has a vision in which he is told to send for Peter who is staying in Joppa. As he prays before the noon meal, Peter also has a vision, the substance of which is God saying to him that no animal is unclean, much after the fashion of what Jesus taught in Mark 5. Peter is now prepared for the arrival of the centurion’s servants already sent to bring Peter to Caesarea.

Peter travels from Jerusalem to Joppa. There he heals a paralyzed man named Aeneas. Many are converted as the news about the healing spreads. A dear saint named Dorcas dies at Lydda, and her friends send for Peter. When he arrives, he sends them outside the upper room where the body is placed, and once again, like Jesus did with the daughter of Jairus (see Mark 5), Peter says, “Tabitha arise.” And once again, the news of the miraculous healing causes many to believe in Jesus.