Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
In our last post, Peter was vindicated by the Holy Spirit for inviting the first Gentiles into the church. This move of the Spirit will continue in Antioch. Maybe not at first, as the disciples are preaching to the ‘Jews only’ in verse 19 and the ‘Grecians’, or Greek-speaking Jews in verse 20, but Antioch will eventually become the launching pad for missions.
Give us understanding and fill us with your Holy Spirit, Father, as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 11:19-30
19 ¶ Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Phenice is a harbor on the southern coast of Crete. Paul will sail by Phenice on his way to Rome before getting caught in a storm, pushed off course, and shipwrecked on the little island of Melita (Malta), just south of Sicily.
The island of Cyprus, where Barnabas was from (Acts 4:36), will be visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, and by Barnabas and Mark on their second missionary journey.
Antioch of Syria, not to be confused with Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14), was a great city, the third-largest in the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria. Located on the River Orontes, 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean coast and approximately 300 miles north of Jerusalem, Antioch will become the new center of church activity, particularly missions activity.
According to Wiersbe, there were at least sixteen different Antiochs in the ancient world, but Antioch in Syria was head and shoulders above the rest. It was known as the ‘Queen of the East’ and ‘Antioch the Beautiful’. The main street was more than four miles long, paved with marble, flanked on both sides with marble colonades, and well-lit in the evening. With its cosmopolitan population and its commercial and political power, Antioch presented the church with an exciting opportunity for evangelism. (1)
Antioch was a wicked city. They worshiped the pantheon of Roman gods, but as a Hellenistic city, their primary patrons were Apollo and Daphne. This added another element of opportunity for evangelism. If you want to see a move of the Spirit, I recommend going somewhere where there are lots of sinners to evangelize — dirty sinners who love to rebel against God. For years, the church in Southern California has thrived in this sort of environment.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Cyrene was a Greek city on the Mediterranean coast of Northern Africa (modern-day Libya), SSW of Crete. We will meet more Christians from Cyrene when we reach Chapter 13.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 ¶ Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
The church leaders in Jerusalem were proactive. Realizing the new believers in Antioch needed discipling, they sent Barnabas — the perfect man for the Job. Barnabas took note of the grace of God working in the lives of the new believers and exhorted them to cleave unto the Lord. Exhortation is not to be confused with rebuke. You might say he ‘encouraged’ them by pointing them to Jesus. When you love Jesus and set your heart on Jesus, you do not need the law. The law is for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. (I Tim 1:9, 10)
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Barnabas was proactive as well. Realizing how much work there was to do, he knew the perfect man to call for help, Saul of Tarsus. Barnabas was open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He knew Saul had a special call on his life. (Acts 9:15)
D L Moody said, “It is better to put ten men to work than to do the work of ten men.” According to Wiersbe, many of Moody’s assistants went on to become successful Christian workers in their own right. (2)
I have heard various explanations for where the label ‘Christian’ came from; everything from being an insult to meaning ‘little Christ’. As far as I can tell, calling the disciples ‘Christians’ simply associated them with Christ, similar to how the term ‘Jesus people’ was applied to some in recent history. I recall being in Zimbabwe when a Shona lady called us “Jesus people.” She did not mean it as an insult, but not exactly a compliment either. I sure took it as a compliment, though. There is certainly no one else I would rather be associated with.
27 ¶ And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11:19-30
I believe the gifts of the Spirit are still active in the Church, but prophecy is a rare gift. I have a prophetic ministry, but I have never made a prophecy. In 2020, I posted a video from pastor Dana Coverstone of Kentucky, who shared dreams he thought may be prophetic, but he never claimed to be a prophet. I took a wait-and-see approach, which I continue to do. (I Thess 5:20)
In the early church, however, Agabus was just one of many prophets. He will appear again later in Acts and prophesy concerning Paul’s arrest. The prophecy of Agabus forewarned the church, so they were prepared to send relief where it was needed when the prophecy came to pass. The trip to distribute help to the church in Jerusalem will be Paul’s second trip to Jerusalem since his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. The first time they attempted to kill him. (Acts 9:29) He will fare a little better this time, as far as we know.
Verse 29 seems to be the inspiration for Marx’s maxim “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” Of course, when the Christians did it, it was a voluntary offering out of the goodness of their hearts. (II Cor 9:7) When Marx said it, he meant a coerced mandate by the state, or as Kipling put it: “Robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul.”
According to Dr Halley, we have reached 44 AD in our timeline now, based on events in Acts 12, as historians have identified the death of Herod taking place in 44 AD. Paul and Barnabas returned from Jerusalem to Antioch at the end of Acts 12. We are therefore about twelve years out from the resurrection of Christ. A lot has happened so far, with a lot more to come.
Father, we have great opportunities presented to us in our day just as they did in the early church. We pray for You to fill us with the Spirit as You did them, that we may serve You with pure hearts and gather fruit for your Son, as they did. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
1. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol 1, pp 448, 449.
2. Ibid.