Acts 13 and 14 describes the next important stage in the spread of the Christian faith. Saul and Barnabas were sent by the Christians in Antioch to other Gentile areas in Cyprus and Asia Minor. About this time became known by a Roman name, Paulus (13:9). Paul and Barn spent some years on this first long journey, from about A.D. 45 to 49. They moved from city to city, establishing new Churches.

When they eventually returned to Antioch, they found that a serious crisis had developed there in their absence. Some of the Jewish Christ from Jerusalem had come to Antioch and were insisting that the Gentile Christians must be circumcised and follow the Jewish Law if they w to be accepted in the Church by the Jewish Christians; in other words the Gentiles had to become Jews before they could become Christians