Have you ever felt God nudging you toward something bigger than yourself? That nudge became a thunderous call for the Apostle Paul, shifting him from a prestigious Pharisee to a missionary for Christ. In Acts 13:1-12, we witness the commissioning of Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary journey. It is a divine call to take the gospel to all nations. This passage challenges us to recognize our role in God’s mission to know Him and make Him known, responding with obedience and faith as everyday missionaries.
The call to spread the gospel originates from God Himself. In Acts 13:1-3, we see the church at Antioch, which was a vibrant, diverse community, worshiping and fasting together. Amid this devotion, the Holy Spirit speaks, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” This is no human initiative; it’s God’s work. The church obeys, commissioning them with prayer and the laying on of hands. This moment marks the first recorded instance of a church sending out missionaries, a divine call echoing through history.
Consider Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary born in 1867. Raised in a wealthy Christian family, she traded comfort for sacrifice after a transformative encounter with God. In 1895, she left Belfast for India, founding the Dohnavur Fellowship to rescue girls from temple prostitution. Her 55 years of service without returning home reflect a belief that God’s purpose often demands embracing hardship. Like Paul, her call was divine, not born of human ambition. As Corrie ten Boom said, “God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” God initiates the mission through His Spirit, equipping us all to answer.
Acts 13:4-5, Paul and Barnabas, sent by the Holy Spirit, journey to Cyprus (which happens to be Barnabas’s homeland) and proclaim God’s Word in the synagogues. Their immediate action reflects strategic obedience, starting where people already seek God. Picture a soldier receiving orders. Hesitation could cost lives. Similarly, stepping into God’s mission requires courage and action. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. noted, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Paul and Barnabas didn’t delay; they went, trusting the Spirit’s leading.
Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympian of the movie “Chariots of Fire” fame, embodied this obedience. After winning gold in 1924, he left athletic glory to serve as a missionary in China. Even in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, he ministered tirelessly, organizing sports and Bible studies. Liddell’s life proves that God’s call to humble service outweighs fleeting human achievement. For us, obedience means taking that first step wherever God leads.
The gospel’s advance often meets resistance, yet God’s power prevails. In Acts 13:6-12, Paul and Barnabas encounter Elymas, a sorcerer opposing their message to the proconsul Sergius Paulus. Filled with the Spirit, Paul rebukes Elymas, who is struck blind. This is a vivid display of divine authority. Astonished, the proconsul believes. This echoes Michael Yat, a Sudanese pastor who faced armed militants while preaching. The militia fled in fear when he prayed boldly, and many villagers embraced Christ. Opposition is inevitable, but God’s strength overcomes it.
God calls us by His Spirit, equips us for obedience, and empowers us through opposition. Paul’s journey began with a single step of faith. Ours can too. Where is God calling you to grow in knowing Him and making Him known? You’re an everyday missionary, whether at home, work, school, or in your community. A teacher shines as salt and light in her school; a corporate leader seeks to glorify God in his workplace; parents raise children in faith. Like Paul and Barnabas, you’re called, led, and empowered. Will you say “yes” to Jesus and surrender to His purpose? Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!