Paul stayed in Ephesus longer than anywhere else, and his message triggered a massive, culturally disruptive spiritual awakening in a city deeply saturated with superstition, sorcery, and witchcraft.

Loose morals, pagan temples, and rampant materialism made the thriving, turbulent cosmopolitan metropolis of Corinth a fascinating and intimidating place for Paul to bring the Gospel message.

When Paul reached Athens, he was deeply disturbed by idols and inscriptions to an “Unknown God.” He earned the invitation to speak with the Greek philosophers and used his sermon on “Mars Hill” to introduce the Creator they worship without knowing.

When his prayer to set a woman free lands Paul and Silas in prison, their worship and prayer causes the earth to quake, chains to break, and the jailer and his whole household come to faith in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit leads Paul and Silas into Europe, where they find a woman by the riverside, whose heart is open to their message.

There are moments when the deep convictions held by two Christians may differ so significantly that they have to separate, not because one is “right” and the other “wrong” but because each must be faithful to The Lord’s direction.

From the start, The Church has faced moments of sharp disagreement around beliefs and practices. Acts 15 represents the first “council” of Christian leaders, who worked through their differences, and provided unified direction.

When Paul and Barnabas amazed the Greeks with their healing power and authoritative teaching-the crowd was quick to credit their usual gods. But Paul and Baranabas deflected the praise and found new ways to point to the evidence and goodness of God.

Paul and Barnabas set off on their first missionary journey, and immediately encounter spiritual resistance from a false prophet and “enemy of all that is good.” We all need to guard the voices we give ear to.

On the day we honor the men among us, we look at the life of a man whose enduring legacy was his gift of encouragement. Barnabas saw and called out God’s best in people, including Paul.