The Preaching of St. Paul

Paul worked with untiring zeal to bring peoples to the knowledge of Jesus; he embarked on many journeys spreading the Word.

On his First Journey, accompanied by Barnabas, Paul visited Cyprus and parts of Asia Minor. His preaching received a mixed response, being accepted by some and rejected by others. Churches were established and, by the power of God, grew and flourished. On his Second Journey he responded to the Call “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”(Acts 16:10 ) He reached Philippi where he was well received and the seeds of a Church were sown.

The first European convert was a lady called Lydia, who offered the hospitality of her house. Later, Paul cured a young slave girl who “by her soothsaying provided much gain for her owners.”(Acts 16:16) This led to Paul’s arrest and imprisonment. During the night, while Paul was praying, the prison doors were suddenly opened, the jailer was terrified but Paul assured him all was well “for we are all here.” The jailer and his whole household were converted. This beginning is a microcosm of the Church which is open to all. Lydia, a wealthy woman, was the top of society, the slave girl, the bottom and in between, the jailer – a middle class Roman civil servant. Paul was certainly being “a light to all nations.”