PAUL’S MISSION STRATEGY IN ACTS 9-20

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A Paper

Presented to

Dr. Tony Maalouf

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

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In Partial Fulfillment

of the requirements for MISSN 3363

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by

James Johnson

January 6, 2009
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PAUL’S MISSION STRATEGY IN ACTS 9-20

The apostle Paul stands as one of the most influential figures in the first century of

Christianity – particularly its expansion. As such, his strategy for spreading the gospel

throughout the Mediterranean region both informs and provides a potential blueprint for modern

missions endeavors. In this particular instance, two specific strategic thrusts will be observed:

Paul’s focus on cities and cultural centers, and his priority of preaching the gospel in the

synagogues and public forums in those cities.

Paul’s distinct metropolitan focus is quite evident in both of his missionary journeys.

After spending a period of time in Damascus and Jerusalem following his conversion, Paul set

out from Antioch and visits the entire island of Cyprus before making his way to southern Asia

Minor, and eventually returning to Antioch. His second journey (chapters 16-20) begins in

Jerusalem and continues throughout Asia Minor and southern Greece, following a similar

strategy: the focus of these passages highlights and focuses on Paul’s interactions in the various

cities mentioned in the Scriptures. While he doubtless spoke to many on the roads and in the

countryside (especially while visiting the entire island of Cyprus), the text specifically highlights

his interactions in the larger metropolitan areas and cultural centers. Many reasons for this

particular strategy are plausible – ease of transportation between major cities, higher

concentration of potentially receptive prospective converts, more developed religious practices

and beliefs, etc. – but regardless the reasons, Paul followed the Holy Spirit and preached the

gospel boldly in cities and more densely populated areas as opposed to villages and hamlets in

the country.

The second major strategic thrust that is readily apparent throughout the chapters in view

is Paul’s priority of preaching the gospel in the synagogues in the cities he visited (see Acts 9:20;
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13:5,14; 14:1; 17:2, 17; 18:4, 19; 19:8). Again, the reasons for this strategy are potentially quite

numerous – Jesus’ priority to the ‘lost sheep of Israel’ (Mt. 10:6, 15:24), familiarity with basic

tenets of Judeo-Christianity, concentration of religious leaders, etc. – the text seems to

specifically point out that Paul made a concerted effort to go immediately to the synagogues in

each of the cities that he visited.

Having seen these two particular strategic thrusts in Paul’s missionary endeavors, the

question begs answering: What significance do/should these observations have in modern

missionary efforts? Culturally, cities play an immensely influential role in a nation – for

example, in the United States the major cultural areas are in the most populated areas (New

York, Los Angeles, etc.). If Christians were to develop a significant presence in those cities,

they would begin to have massive opportunities to share the gospel with a wider range of people

via various business and communication enterprises than the same presence in a more rural area.

Therefore, following Paul’s example by concentrating missionary efforts into the larger cultural

centers of various people groups seems to be the more profitable and efficient approach to

reaching various people groups. Similarly, when Paul goes directly to the synagogues, he is

approaching the religious leaders and spiritually hungry people in the city by peaceably

attempting to use the established platform for the advancement of the gospel. He boldly

proclaims the gospel truth in public religious forums, clearly presenting those with

religious/spiritual mindsets with the Truth about the one true God. Engaging religious leaders

and spiritually hungry people with a humble boldness should be a hallmark of modern missions.

All people do need the gospel of Christ Jesus, and perhaps an effective and efficient strategy for

the modern missions movements would be to use the social and religious platforms already in

place to feed spiritually hungry crowds with Truth.