Acts 11:19-30--The Church in Antioch

Acts 11:19-30
English Standard Version
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The Church in Antioch
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

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Luke starts this section summarizing what we've seen and reminding us that not everyone has seen every part of the story unfold.  Many of the Jewish believers who were saved at Pentecost in Acts 2 have been scattered back to their homelands (part of God's plan to plant churches in all those places), but this means that they only understood the gospel was to be preached to the Jews.  They did not see that the gospel was to the Jew first, but also to the Gentile as we have had the benefit of seeing through the ministry of Philip to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch and of Peter and John to the Samaritans and Peter and the six brothers with him to Cornelius and his household.  The coming of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles believers was a turning point and this news needed to be shared with all the believers in all the world so that they knew that the gospel was not just for the Jew, but also for the Gentiles.  Who would go to take this message to them and to help them learn to share the gospel with those who were unlike them?  It was easier for a Jew to share the gospel with a Jew because they had the Law and the Prophets in common.  Even sharing with a Samaritan was easier because they at least had the Law in common as a starting point.  Yet, now, they will be asked to share the gospel cross-culturally not just to those inside their synagogues, but to their neighbors and relatives and to all who will listen everywhere in all places and in all times that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no man comes to the Father except through Him (see John 14:6, as this was the passage that the early Christians identified with--they were called Followers of the Way).

God is growing His Church in the midst of this persecution and one of the places that is seeing much growth is a multi-ethnic church in Syrian Antioch.  The news of their success in sharing the gospel was so well-known that the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to them to help instruct them (remember that Barnabas was a Levite and it was his job as a Levite to teach the word of God, especially the Law to the people).  Even though Barnabas was very successful in this work that he had been given, he sought to bring Saul of Tarsus alongside him, and he went to Tarsus to find Saul, whom we have not seen or heard from since the time of his conversion, and Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch with him where they ministered together for a year.  Why?  This is all part of God's plan as we'll see soon.  It was first in this congregation where the believers were called "Christians" (a name that has stuck since then), which means "little Christ."  They looked, acted and talked so much like Jesus that everyone said they were like little versions of Him.  Oh, that we too would be seen this way and known by this reputation by our friends and family and neighbors and all those we come in contact with.  This was meant to be derogatory and an insult used by the Romans to make fun of them, but they wore it as a badge of honor.  Yes, they were the once that were the Body of Christ that people saw doing and saying the very things that He was saying and doing when He was with us here during His earthly ministry.

The last part of this passage  tells us that God prepared His people for a coming time of famine.  By telling them ahead of time they could be like Joseph in the Old Testament and store up what was needed not only for themselves, but for provisions for the entire world.  However, the church in Antioch was specifically concerned about the brothers in Jerusalem and Judea, so they sent everything that they were able in the hands of Saul and Barnabas back to the elders there so that their surplus could be distributed to those that were in need.  This famine and persecution will be long-lasting in the area of Jerusalem and Judea and Paul will take collections among several of the churches to bring back with him to Jerusalem.

Luke is alluding to the fact that this church is going to be important in the story in the future, but we'll see that in coming chapters for this will be the congregation that sends Paul and Barnabas and others out on their missionary journeys.  For now they are receiving sound teaching from Saul and Barnabas and we will see that other leaders are being raised up in their church because by the time that the Lord calls for Saul and Barnabas to be set apart for the work He's calling them to do, they will be two of the five leaders in this congregation.  God will not leave His sheep without a shepherd.  We already see their heart inclined towards others though which is going to be key in their support of this work that God is calling Saul and Barnabas to because they will also be helping to care for all of these other churches around the world.