The apostles obeyed Jesus’ command to spread the good news in all the earth. In 47 C.E., the brothers in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas on a preaching tour. The two zealous preachers traveled all over Asia Minor to such places as Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium.

Paul and Barnabas preached to everyone, whether rich or poor, young or old. Many people accepted the truth about Christ. When Paul and Barnabas preached to Sergius Paulus, the governor of Cyprus, a sorcerer tried to stop them. Paul told the sorcerer: ‘Jehovah is against you.’ Instantly, the sorcerer went blind. At seeing that, Governor Paulus became a believer.

Paul and Barnabas preached everywhere, from house to house, in markets, on the road, and in synagogues. When they healed a lame man in Lystra, those who witnessed the miracle thought they were gods and tried to worship them. But Paul and Barnabas stopped them, saying: ‘Worship only God! We are just men.’ Then certain Jews came and turned the crowd against Paul. The crowd stoned him, dragged him outside the city, and left him for dead. However, Paul was still alive! Right away, the brothers came to his rescue and took him back into the city. Later, Paul returned to Antioch.

In 49 C.E., Paul went on another tour. After returning to see the brothers in Asia Minor, he took the good news even farther, into Europe. He went to Athens, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, and other places. Silas, Luke, and a young man named Timothy joined Paul on his journey. They worked together to form congregations and help them become strong. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, strengthening the brothers there. He preached, taught, and wrote letters to many congregations. He also did work as a tentmaker. In time, Paul returned to Antioch.

Later, in 52 C.E., Paul went on a third tour, starting in Asia Minor. He traveled as far north as Philippi and then down into Corinth. Paul spent several years in Ephesus, teaching, healing, and helping the congregation. He also gave public talks every day in a school auditorium. Many people listened and changed their ways. Finally, after preaching the good news in many lands, Paul went to Jerusalem.

In Philippi, there was a slave girl who had a demon inside of her. The demon used the girl as a fortune-teller, and she made a lot of money for her owners that way. When Paul and Silas came to Philippi, she followed them around for many days. The demon made her shout: “These men are slaves of the Most High God.” Finally, Paul told the demon: ‘In the name of Jesus, come out of her!’ The demon left the girl.

When the girl’s owners realized that they would no longer make money from her, they were very angry. They dragged Paul and Silas to the civil magistrates, saying: ‘These men are breaking the law and upsetting the whole city!’ The magistrates ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten and thrown in jail. The jailer threw them into the deepest, darkest part of the prison and put them in stocks.

While the other prisoners listened, Paul and Silas sang praises to Jehovah. Suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful earthquake shook the prison from top to bottom. The prison doors burst open, and the prisoners’ chains and stocks came loose. The jailer rushed to the inner prison and saw that the doors were open. Certain that all the prisoners had escaped, he took a sword to kill himself.

Just then, Paul called out: ‘Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here!’ The jailer rushed in and fell down before Paul and Silas. He asked them: “What must I do to get saved?” They told him: ‘You and your household need to believe in Jesus.’ Then Paul and Silas taught them the word of Jehovah, and the jailer and all his household got baptized.

Timothy was a young brother in the congregation at Lystra. His father was Greek, and his mother was Jewish. His mother, Eunice, and grandmother Lois taught Timothy about Jehovah from the time he was little.

When Paul visited Lystra during his second preaching tour, he noticed that Timothy really loved the brothers and was eager to help them. Paul invited Timothy to join him on his journey. Over time, Paul trained Timothy to be a fine preacher and teacher of the good news.

Holy spirit guided Paul and Timothy wherever they went. One night, in a vision, a man told Paul to come to Macedonia and help them. So Paul, Timothy, Silas, and Luke went there to preach and to form congregations.

In the Macedonian city of Thessalonica, many men and women became Christians. But some of the Jews were jealous of Paul and his companions. They rounded up a mob and dragged the brothers to the city rulers, shouting: ‘These men are enemies of the Roman government!’ Paul’s and Timothy’s lives were in danger, so they fled to Beroea during the night.

The people in Beroea were eager to learn the good news, and both Greeks and Jews there became believers. But when some Jews came from Thessalonica and stirred up trouble, Paul left for Athens. Timothy and Silas stayed in Beroea to strengthen the brothers. In time, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to help the brothers deal with the intense persecution there. Later, Paul sent Timothy to visit many other congregations and encourage them.

Paul told Timothy: ‘Those who want to serve Jehovah will be persecuted.’ Timothy was persecuted and imprisoned for his faith. He was happy for the opportunity to prove his loyalty to Jehovah.

Paul told the Philippians: ‘I am sending Timothy to you. He will teach you what it means to walk in the truth, and he will train you in the ministry.’ Paul knew that he could rely on Timothy. They worked together as friends and fellow servants for many years.

Paul’s third preaching tour ended in Jerusalem. There he was arrested and thrown into prison. In a vision during the night, Jesus told him: ‘You will go to Rome and preach there.’ Paul was taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea, where he spent two years in prison. When he was on trial before Governor Festus, Paul said: ‘Let me be judged by Caesar, in Rome.’ Festus said: “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you will go.” Paul was put on a ship bound for Rome, and two Christian brothers, Luke and Aristarchus, went with him.

At sea, they were caught in a violent storm, which went on for many days. Everyone thought that they were going to die. But Paul said: ‘Men, an angel told me in a dream: “Don’t be afraid, Paul. You will get to Rome, and everyone on the ship with you will be safe.” Take courage! We will not die.’

The storm raged for 14 days. Finally, land appeared. It was the island of Malta. The ship ran aground and broke into pieces, but all 276 people on the ship made it safely to land. Some swam and others held onto pieces of the ship and floated to shore. The people of Malta took care of them and built a fire to warm them.

Three months later, the soldiers took Paul to Rome on another ship. When he arrived, the brothers came to meet him. On seeing them, Paul thanked Jehovah and took courage. Even though Paul was a prisoner, he was allowed to live in a rented house while being guarded by a soldier. He stayed there for two years. People came to see him, and he preached to them about God’s Kingdom and taught them about Jesus. Paul also wrote letters to the congregations in Asia Minor and Judea. Jehovah truly used Paul to spread the good news to the nations.