With just four more Sundays to go in Year 1 of the Narrative Lectionary, we turn finally to Romans AKA Paul's Letter to the Church in Rome. In all the other letters, Paul writes to a congregation or person he knows well. But Paul has never been to Rome and doesn't know anyone there. This week we will look at the Salutation and Greeting portions of the letter in which Paul introduces himself and the mission to which he has been called.

Last week we looked at the story of Peter being challenged in a vision (that soon became reality) to include Gentiles as the disciples share the good news of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:1-17, 34-48). In this week's story, the Holy Spirit continues to lead the early church in this direction. Paul and Barnabas are chosen (after a time of prayer and fasting) to begin preaching to Gentiles in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). They travel to Lystra and after Paul heals a man who has never been able to walk, the crowd speculates that Paul must be Zeus and Barnabas must be Hermes (the messenger god) and want to offer sacrifices to them. Paul is horrified at this development and tries to convince them that he and Barnabas are ordinary mortals. It is God who is the source of healing and new life.