The Bible Recap – Day 325 (Acts 13-14) – Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: November 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps Acts chapters 13-14, highlighting Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey. She delves into God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit, the early church’s cross-cultural and redemptive nature, the challenges and miracles encountered by Paul and Barnabas, and the spread of the Gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. Tara-Leigh also explores the themes of God’s common grace and the resilient encouragement found in churches under persecution.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Church Leadership and Redemption

• The early church in Antioch was led by a diverse group, including men with troubled pasts – Saul (Paul), a former persecutor, and Manaan, who worked for Herod, the king who killed John the Baptist.
  • Quote:
    “Here are these Christians working alongside and being led by people who at one point killed their leaders and friends. This is what the Gospel looks like. It not only reaches past nationalism, but it reaches past pain and hurt as well.” – Tara-Leigh (01:19)

2. Holy Spirit’s Direction

• The church receives guidance from the Holy Spirit, leading them to appoint Saul and Barnabas as missionaries. The church anoints and sends them out.
• Reinforces Jesus’s promise that the Spirit would guide His followers.

3. First Missionary Journey: Encounters and Opposition

• Stop 1: Cyprus

  • Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark travel to Cyprus, preaching the Gospel.
  • They confront a magician who opposes their message; Paul calls out the magician and, invoking temporary blindness, demonstrates the power of God.
    • Quote:
      “Saul calls him out. He calls him a son of the devil, actually, and he speaks temporary blindness over him.” – Tara-Leigh (03:21)
  • The governor, impressed both by the teaching and the miracle, believes in Jesus.
  • First mention of the name “Paul” instead of “Saul,” marking a shift as he reaches out to Gentiles.

• Stop 2: Pisidian Antioch

  • John Mark leaves and returns to Jerusalem (“put a pin in that for a few days”).
  • Paul preaches in the synagogue, focusing on God’s redemptive plan through Christ rather than praising the people’s efforts.
    • Quote (Paul, Scripture):
      “Let it be known to you therefore brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you and by him. Everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” – Paul, paraphrased by Tara-Leigh (05:52)
  • He issues a warning from Habakkuk, urging them not to miss God’s work.
    • Quote:
      “That verse from Habakkuk is frequently misquoted and taken out of context, but Paul uses it rightly here as a warning.” – Tara-Leigh (07:03)
  • The crowd is enthusiastic and wants Paul to return, but the following week Gentile attendance stirs up tensions.
  • Many Gentiles believe; Paul asserts that the Gospel is for them too, following its rejection by some Jews.

4. Continual Persecution and Resolve

• Stop 3: Iconium

  • Paul and Barnabas preach to Jews and Greeks; many believe.
  • Opposition intensifies; despite danger, they stay “a long time” before fleeing upon learning of a plot to stone them.

• Stop 4: Lystra

  • Paul heals a lame man; locals try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods.
    • Quote:
      “I’d be like, just a refresher. I’m still not God and I have a goat’s blood allergy, so I’m going to pass.” – Tara-Leigh (10:48)
  • Jews from previous towns stir up the crowd; Paul is stoned and dragged out for dead but survives and returns.
    • Quote:
      “He goes from being worshiped to being nearly killed in one verse.” – Tara-Leigh (11:44)

• Stop 5: Derbe and Return Journey

  • Preach in Derbe and then circle back to the towns they’d been persecuted in.
  • Paul’s return isn’t for revenge or self-justification, but to encourage and strengthen the believers, appoint leaders, and entrust them to God.
    • Quote:
      “He doesn’t go back to show all the haters he’s still alive. And he doesn’t even go back to try to change their minds. He goes back to strengthen and encourage the believers there.” – Tara-Leigh (12:30)

5. God’s Common Grace and Generosity (God Shot)

• Focus on Acts 14:16-17 – God’s patience and kindness in allowing nations to go their own way yet providing tangible blessings as a “witness.”

  • Quote (Paul, Scripture):
    “He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your heart with food and gladness.” – Paul, as relayed by Tara-Leigh (13:40)

• Theological theme of “common grace”—God showing kindness to all, even those who reject Him.

  • Quote:
    “What a generous God to not immediately destroy the wicked and rebellious as we all deserve, but to use his kindness and grace as a means of making Himself known, even among his enemies. If we look close enough, we’ll see that every blessing is a gift with his signature on it.” – Tara-Leigh (14:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is what the Gospel looks like. It not only reaches past nationalism, but it reaches past pain and hurt as well.” (01:19)
• “Saul had experienced this himself, so he knows what it’s like. I wonder if any part of him hoped this temporary blindness would end in spiritual sight like his did.” (03:54)
• “Paul says he has become all things to all people. And this is part of what he meant.” (04:40)
• “Paul’s version of encouragement doesn’t focus on what the people are doing, but on what has already been done for the people.” (05:18)
• “He goes from being worshiped to being nearly killed in one verse. After the stoning, the disciples gather around him. He gets up and goes back into the city again. Not my first choice. Only Paul.” (11:44)
• “If we look close enough, we’ll see that every blessing is a gift with His signature on it. He’s where the joy is.” (14:36)

Key Timestamps

• 00:02 – Introduction to the church at Antioch; diverse backgrounds of its leaders
• 02:06 – The Holy Spirit’s guidance and mission of Barnabas and Saul
• 03:12 – Cyprus: Confrontation with the magician and the governor’s conversion
• 04:50 – Name shift from Saul to Paul, and meaning for mission to Gentiles
• 05:17 – Pisidian Antioch: Paul’s message and focus on the Gospel over works
• 07:10 – Paul’s use of Habakkuk and response to Gentiles believing
• 08:32 – Effects of the Gospel’s spread and opposition faced
• 09:41 – Iconium: Preaching, belief, and persecution
• 10:19 – Lystra: Miracle, attempted worship, and subsequent persecution
• 11:44 – Paul stoned, survives, and his resolve in returning to encourage believers
• 13:40 – God Shot: Common grace explained (Acts 14:16-17)

Final Thoughts

Tara-Leigh concludes by reflecting on God’s patience and generosity not only towards believers but also to those who reject Him, framing every blessing as an expression of His grace. This episode encourages listeners to recognize God’s active hand in history and in their own lives, noting that “He’s where the joy is.”

Next Reading: The Book of James (full, 5 chapters)
Additional Note: Check the show notes for a helpful video overview and information about joining the Recaptains Facebook group for further discussion.

This summary aims to provide a thorough recap of Acts 13-14 as discussed by Tara-Leigh Cobble, emphasizing key themes of redemption, mission, hardship, and grace, while featuring timestamps and direct speaker attributions for memorable moments throughout the episode.