Antioch, Barnabas, and Saul
Acts 11:19-30
Acts Series: Part 22
By Dave Redick

So the sprawling city of Antioch, influential in the Roman Empire as well as a citadel of heathenism's debasing influences, was about to experience the life-changing power of the Gospel and would become a center of evangelistic activity by Christians for years to come.

Introduction

A small factory that had been in business only a couple of years had to cease operations when a vital piece of machinery broke down. The firm's own mechanics worked and worked but couldn't get the thing running again. Finally, in desperation, they called the company that built the machine. All the company mechanics were busy at the time but it happened that one of the designers of the machine was in the office that day. They asked if it would be alright to send him out to take a look at the equipment. "That would be fine. We're desperate," was the immediate answer. When the machine's designer arrived, he looked the situation over for a few minutes and then took a hammer and tapped the machine in a certain spot and it started right up. The watching mechanics were surprised, but the biggest surprise came when the bill for services was submitted. The designer charged $500 for his services. The plant owner hit the ceiling and demanded an itemized bill. That was no problem. The designer submitted a written, itemized bill which read: "$10.00 for hitting machine; $490.00 for knowing where to hit it."

Much like a designer who knows precisely where to hit the machine to make it work, God, who designed all of us, knows us like no one else. He provides wisdom in His word that is just right for the occasions and issues we face in our lives. And guess what? He doesn't send a bill. Rather, He has placed the wisdom we need within the pages of His written word and made it available to all at no cost other than the time and diligence needed to comprehend it.

Each Sunday we gather together and open this book, God's word, the Bible, seeking wisdom from the Designer. Who better than He knows precisely what we need at just the right moment for life's many circumstances. It is a wise person who listens closely when the word of God is opened, read, and taught.

It is with a healthy spiritual anticipation of gaining more of the wisdom of the Designer that we go again to our series we've been working on called Acts of the Apostles. We're in chapter 11 and this morning we'll consider verses 19-30 in a message that I've called, for lack of a catchier title, Antioch, Barnabas, and Saul.

The verses we'll consider today describe the founding of the first great Gentile church - the church at Antioch - a church that played a key role in the early history of Christianity.

There are three key names in verses 19-30 that are important to our understanding of the rest of the book of Acts. To help remember them, you might take a pencil and circle each one as I point it out. In verse 19 you'll find the first - a city named Antioch. The other two names are people. Please circle Barnabas in verse 22 and Saul in verse 24. As we progress through this passage, I will call your attention to the things you need to know about each of these. Also, as I point these out, we'll look at several important lessons that pertain to Christian living that I think you'll find helpful and practical. Let's begin in verse 19.

19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

Luke has just finished describing the conversion of the first Gentiles (the household of Cornelius) in chapter 10 and the first half of chapter 11. We talked about it in last week's message. He now doubles back to Chapter 8, verse 1 where he picks up the thread of the story of the death of Stephen and the resulting dispersion of the disciples. To remind you of that passage, I'll reread Acts 8:1.

8:1 And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Often we don't get the opportunity to see why God allows such things as the suffering and persecution of His people. Here is a case where we can see at least part of the reason why. This persecution caused the spread of the faith. As one commentator put it: "Persecution, in breaking up communities, diffuses their spiritual contents, as when the box of precious [perfume] is broken and a sweet [smell] is diffused abroad." I don't imagine the early disciples considered it quite so poetically - nonetheless, that is what was happening.

These persecuted Jewish Christians left Jerusalem and made their way into the surrounding Judea and Samaria. From there, as Luke tells us here in chapter 11, they went into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Phoenicia was northwest of Palestine and was an important trade center. Cyprus was that large island in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea, and Antioch - well that is one of the key names I want to highlight.

1. Antioch

Luke mentions Antioch six times in verses 19-30. The reason is this: Antioch became the center of Gentile evangelism in the period of Christian history that Luke covers, just like Jerusalem was the center of Jewish evangelism. In today's language we would say that Antioch became Paul's "sending church." Its missionary activities are still the model for missionary work today. From Antioch Paul launched three missionary journeys. Luke here lays the groundwork for the founding of this great church.

Remember, up until the conversion of Cornelius, roughly the first ten years of the church, the only Christian converts were Jews. Now though, with word getting out that Peter had baptized Gentiles with the approval of the Apostles at Jerusalem, non-Jews were hearing the gospel message as well.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

An interesting side note is the wording here about what they were preaching to these "Greeks" or Gentiles. They were "preaching the Lord Jesus." Back in Acts 5:42, when their audiences were Jewish, we are told that they were "preaching Jesus as the Christ." While the message to both Jews and Gentiles was virtually the same, the emphasis was different when it came to the initial preaching. The proof to the Jew was Jesus' credentials as Messiah. So they preached Jesus as the Christ. The Gentiles knew little about the Jewish Messiah or Jewish prophecy. The proof to the Gentile was Jesus' position of power and authority as Lord of the creation. So they preached Jesus as Lord. We should always take into consideration where the audience is who hears the gospel and present first those parts of the story most relevant to them.

There were actually five cities with the name "Antioch" in New Testament times, all named after the emperor Antiochus. Two of them appear in Acts. This was Antioch of Syria. Josephus tells us that it was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, surpassed only by Rome and Alexandria. As a large city it contained many of the characteristics of large cities today.

William Barclay describes Antioch this way:

"She stood near the mouth of the river Orontes, fifteen miles from the Mediterranean Sea. She was lovely and cosmopolitan; but she was a byword for luxurious immorality. She was famous for her chariot-racing and for a kind of deliberate pursuit of pleasure which went on literally night and day; but most
of all she was famous for the worship of Daphne whose temple stood five miles out of the town amidst its laurel groves. The legend was that Daphne was a mortal maid with whom Apollo fell in love. He pursued her and for her safety Daphne was changed into a laurel bush. The priestesses of the Temple of Daphne were sacred prostitutes and nightly in the laurel groves the pursuit was re-enacted by the worshippers and the priestesses. "The morals of Daphne" was a phrase that all the world knew for loose living. It seems incredible but nonetheless it is true that it was in a city like this that Christianity took the great stride forward to becoming the religion of the world. We need only think of that to be reminded that no situation is hopeless."

Antioch was a "free city" meaning, among other things, that the people were free to worship in whatever way that pleased them. For a time, at least, the Christians who lived there were spared persecution.

So the sprawling city of Antioch, influential in the Roman Empire as well as a citadel of heathenism's debasing influences, was about to experience the life-changing power of the Gospel and would become a center of evangelistic activity by Christians for years to come.

These early forerunners who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles from Cyprus and Cyrene were very successful as they preached in this wicked city.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

Note in this verse that Luke describes turning to the Lord as a separate act from believing. Such a turn must follow belief if there is to be salvation. We call that turn repentance and it involves a reorientation of one's life away from the direction of sin and toward God. This is yet another passage that shows us that belief alone was not the aim of the earliest gospel preaching.

22 And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

That brings us to the second name I wanted you to notice.

2. Barnabas

We've already been introduced to this man on several occasions in Acts. Barnabas first appeared as one who brought the proceeds of the sale of a tract of land he owned and donated it for use among the needy Christians of Jerusalem (4:36). Later we saw this man, who was nicknamed "the Son of Encouragement," reach out to Saul of Tarsus, after the former persecutor had become a Christian. Barnabas brought Saul into the circle of fellowship in Jerusalem when the Christians would have nothing to do with him (9:27).

Here we see him again in the service of the church, this time dispatched to Antioch by the Apostles at Jerusalem to help this new Gentile church get on its feet.

Question: Was Barnabas an apostle? (Watch out. This might be a trick question.) The answer is both "yes" and "no." Let me explain.

In Acts 14:14 we read these words: "But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things?"

In this verse Barnabas is called an apostle. But was Barnabas one of the original twelve apostles of Christ? No. The word "apostle" means simply "one sent." In that general sense anyone sent is an apostle. In the Bible the specific meaning of the term "apostle" is seen in who is doing the sending. The twelve (and Paul) were apostles of Christ. Barnabas, and several others mentioned in the New Testament were apostles of the churches. There is a significant difference. The twelve had a special, foundational position in the church which included the ability to impart special miraculous powers due to their office as apostles of Christ. Those who were sent by the churches did not fit this more specific use of the word "apostle." They didn't have such broad ranging authority and power. Understanding this is very important.

Actually, in this wider sense, even Jesus is called an Apostle in the New Testament. Hebrews 3:1 says, "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession." In the sense used here, Jesus was an apostle sent to us by God.

Barnabas proved to be an excellent choice for the Jerusalem church to send. Besides his gift as an encourager (something all new Christians need), he was also from the same place as the preachers who started the work in Antioch. According to Acts 4:6, He came from Cyprus. I love the way Luke describes this man, Barnabas.

23 Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

What a fine man this Barnabas was! Luke tells us he was "a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith." That is the kind of person new Christians need to be exposed to. We would say today that Barnabas was authentic. He was real. His testimony was genuine. The greatest thing a new Christian needs besides knowledge of God and His word are genuine Christians around him who are living the life and not just playing games. When a new Christian is taught that he must put Jesus first in his life, he needs to see his teacher doing the same. When he is told that he must sacrifice for Christ he needs to see others who are paying the price as well. Barnabas was that kind of man.

Verse 23 says he "began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord." One of the great things a Christian can do to remain true to the Lord is to serve with a "resolute heart." The word translated "resolute" there means literally "a setting forth or proposal of intention." The Greek word is prothesis. Pro means "to set forth" and thesis well, you know what a thesis is. It is a statement of purpose. The idea is setting forth one's purpose to be true to Jesus, no matter what.

Interestingly, the word is translated several times in the King James Version New Testament as "shewbread," with reference to the bread that was eaten by the priests in the Old Testament temple which was "set forth" before the Lord each Sabbath day.

If you are going to remain true to the Lord you don't just hope you can be faithful or say you'll be faithful to Him if everything works out alright. Such an anemic approach to the faith is so timid as to be nearly useless. Rather, you boldly "set forth" your intentions to be faithful for all to see. Faith is no halfway, hope-so issue. Reluctance to be open about one's intentions can lead to apostasy. Have you taken a bold, out-in-the-open, resolute stand for Christ or is your purpose in serving Him tentative or conditional?

Perhaps the best Biblical illustration of a resolute heart is Joshua's great statement: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15).

3. Saul

It is important to know Saul and Barnabas because they play such a key role in evangelizing the Gentiles in the remainder of the book of Acts. The church at Antioch sends them out when we get to chapter 13.

But we're jumping ahead. At this point Saul is up in Tarsus, his home town. He is yet to be called into service by the church. (Recall that the church was reluctant to accept him after his conversion because he had been such a violent persecutor.) Though he was forgiven, they did not trust him.

25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26a and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

It isn't immediately evident here but about six years passed between the time of Saul's conversion and the time when Barnabas went looking for him and brought him back to Antioch. That is significant. Remember, Saul had been on the wrong side of things. He had been a great persecutor and killer of Christians. Even though he was initially accepted by the church in Jerusalem after he became a Christian, it was with great hesitancy. Trust would need to be built between Saul and the Christians.

Saul had a shameful past, and though he was forgiven by the Lord, there was still the issue of his notorious reputation to live down.

Here's a question for you: How does a Christian overcome a shameful past? Saul did it and went on to be the greatest evangelist the world has ever known. How did he do it? What can we learn from him that might help Christians today who have things in their past they are ashamed of and others know about?
Please turn with me to Galatians 6. Galatians was written by Paul, who used to be Saul, the great killer of Christians. The key word for the sixth chapter is restoration. It deals with restoring people to fruitfulness in the Lord. I haven't time for the whole chapter, but look with me at a few verses.

1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

That verse states the purpose of this passage - the restoration of people who have sinned. As you progress through the passage, verses 2-6 deal with the attitudes of the restorer. Finally, verses 7-10 deal with the person needing restoring. If you know someone with a shameful past, these words can be a Godsend and are an important part of that wisdom we referred to in the beginning of this sermon - that ability to hit the machine in just the right spot.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Here Paul lays out the cold, hard facts: We reap what we've sown. God doesn't take away the natural results of things we may have done in our past. The drug addict whose brain is damaged will continue to have a damaged brain. The father or mother who has neglected their children in their early years will have to deal with the consequences when they become teenagers and young adults. It has to be that way - otherwise people would mock God saying He doesn't mean what He says when he warns them of the consequences of sin.

But then Paul, the man who called himself in First Timothy, the "foremost of all" sinners, tells us how to deal with a shameful past.

9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

The key words there are "in due time." How many years were there between Saul's conversion and Barnabas' coming to get him to serve at Antioch? Six years.

When you have a shameful past, the advice from one who knows both as an inspired apostle of Christ and from personal experience is this: Don't lose heart in doing good. All of the things you have sown will eventually be reaped and you can go on with a normal life, if you don't grow weary and quit.

This is tremendous advice, the answer to the question of how to overcome a sinful past. If you struggle with this yourself or know someone who does, master this passage. Come to understand it and apply its teaching.

Psalm 19:7 says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul..." This passage holds the things you need to be restored. Read it. Study it. Live it. Do it!

Let's get back to Acts 11 now and finish our passage.

26b And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

I wish I had time to elaborate on that name, "Christian." I don't but I will say this, if the Christians at Antioch could wear it proudly, so can we. Peter would later write in 1 Peter 4:16, "but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God."

The name "Christian" is an honorable, noble, godly name. We should wear it with pride.
Oh, by the way, did you notice that Barnabas didn't lay hands on anyone to pass on the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit as was the case when Jerusalem sent Apostles of Christ? That is because he was not an apostle of Christ and he couldn't pass on the gifts. Note also in the next verse that prophets had to be sent from Jerusalem. Had Barnabas been able to impart the miraculous gifts, he could simply have laid his hands on some of those at Antioch to produce prophets. Sending prophets from Jerusalem would not have been necessary.

27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

The fact that Saul was trusted with this sum of money to take to Jerusalem is further indication that "in due time you shall reap" as I've already pointed out.

Conclusion

Before we leave for home this morning, let me ask you a couple of things:

First, are you living with a resolute heart toward God? If you are, that's great. If not, why not make up your mind to do so today? Let the people around you know that you are a Christian.

Second, if there are things in your past for which you are ashamed; take advice from the king of shameful pasts, Saul of Tarsus who later became Paul the Apostle: Keep going. Do what is right. You will eventually reap all the results and life can return to what it ought to be. Persist in laying down layer upon layer of good behavior. It will pay off. God has said so.

If this advice is relevant to you I could send you a bill: $10 for the sermon and $490 for knowing what to say. But I really can't lay claim to that. The advice is free. I got it straight from the same Bible you carry. It is great advice that will pay off for you - if you apply it. If you don't it isn't worth a nickel.

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

[Archive]    [Home]   [Comments]   [Search]