Where did Paul's ministry begin after he left Jerusalem, and what people was he calling out?
Paul’s ministry began in the regions of Syria and Cilicia—the area of Antioch and his hometown of Tarsus—after he left Jerusalem. There he was calling out a people for His name from among the Gentiles, marking the start of that distinct ministry.
Les explains that after Paul had stopped at Jerusalem for a couple of weeks, he came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. That area is the region of Antioch and Paul’s hometown of Tarsus. Les teaches this was the beginning of Paul’s ministry, a calling out of a people for His name—not from Israel, but from among the Gentiles. He also connects this to God’s balance: Israel had about 2,000 years, and the Body of Christ has been on the scene nearly 2,000 years with a few Jews, so everything balances out.