Acts - Chapter 11
In chapter 11, we see the reappearing of Saul when Barnabas was given oversight at the Church at Antioch. He was in need of assistance in leadership, so he brought back Saul from Tarsus to help him in the ministry of the church. It was in Antioch where the believers/followers of Jesus were first called Christians.
The Book of Acts Chapter 11
In chapter 10, the Apostle Peter went into the home, ate and stayed for a few days with Gentiles while in Caesarea, which violated the Law of Moses. There Peter ministered to Gentiles who, upon hearing the Gospel, came to the Lord, were baptized in the Holy Spirit, and were baptized in water. The Gospel had officially come to the Gentiles and the news had spread fast - all the way over to Jerusalem. The apostle knew that when he returned to Jerusalem, he would have to contend with this issue with the other apostles and disciples of Jesus because, up to this point, all believers in Jerusalem were Jews and no ministry had gone out to the Gentiles at all, believing it to be a sin to even associate with a Gentile.
Acts 11:1 NKJV Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, 3. “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
Negative news always seems to travels much faster than good news. In this case, the news of Peter eating and lodging with Gentiles reached the apostles and disciples of Jesus expediently, and was considered bad news. When they heard what Peter, who was Jesus' leading apostle and head over the church before he turned it over to James, ate and stayed in the home of a Gentile, they were appalled and greatly offended. It was as if Peter had turned against his own people and the Mosaic Law when he ate with those uncircumcised Gentiles. What kind of leadership was he protraying? Had he left his faith?
- Sharing a meal together with Gentiles was a special sign of compromise because it is in the sharing of a meal where fellowship goes on, and that was considered a betrayal of one's Jewish values and in violation of the Mosaic Law. They were to remain separate from these heathens.
-
Fortunately, and wisely, Peter took with him six believers to Caesarea, so they became his witness as to his motives and purpose.
So Peter went on the defense and spoke out to his Christian brethren.
Peter's Defense
4. But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5. “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6. When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8. But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9. But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10. Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11. At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12. Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13. And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14. who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.” 16. Then I remembered the word of the Lord how He said, "John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 17. If therefore God gqave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
Only to repeat chapter 10, Peter told the believers what happened to him in Joppa with the vision God gave him, along with his visit to Cornelius' home in Caesarea.
18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
God's grace was upon those believer who listened to Peter speak. They then realized God was now giving Gentiles an opportunity to repent of their sins, accept Jesus, and follow after him as well. They too now have the right and privilege to receive eternal life. God is no respector of persons.
19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Fled to Antioch
Antioch (Syrian) was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem and about 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Antioch was the third greatest cityin the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria, known for its business and commerce, but also for its immorality.
Following the stoning of Stephen, the Jerusalem believers, and even many throughout Israel rose up in fear, and most of them fled to other cities far enough away to where they felt safe. They traveled to Phoenicia, the Island of Cyprus, and as far north as Antioch.
The believers who fled Jerusalem preached the Gospel wherever they traveled. Because they left Israel where the Hebraic Jews spoke only Aramaic, with only a few elitists speaking Hebrew, these Hebraic Jews ended up in Greek cities or towns where they dealt with a language barrier in communicating to their new neighbors. Regardless, they still preached to the Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews living in a Greek culture) who were practicing Jews, but Greek in every other respect. As a result, the Church grew with many coming to believing and trusting in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
- Hellenistic Jews developed out of the Diaspora (exiles) 600 years prior when the Jews were taken captive in Jerusalem and exiled to other nations.
Jewish believers had an aversion to preaching to any Gentile. It was so imbred in them to stay away from the Gentiles, and even though God was showing the discipes to go into all nations, Jews still only associated with other Jews. With the Hebraic Jews reaching out to Hellenistic Jews, this opened the door to targeting their evangelism to the Gentiles. As such, Gentiles began to come to believe and trust in Jesus in Antioch as well. As the church grew in Antioch, more leaders were needed to minister to these new believers.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 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.
Barnabas Seeking Out Saul
While the Church in Jerusalem had grown smaller because of persecution, believers were leaving the city in groves. Many of the leaders, however, were still left in the city to oversee the head Church in Jerusalem. Since good leadership was needed in Antioch, the apostles and church leaders at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to assist the leaders in Antioch.
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
The time was 43/44 A.D.
After sizing up the needs within the Antioch Church, Barnabas chose to find Saul, whom he had helped several years ago. If you recall from earlier teachings, it was too dangerous for Saul to stay in Jerusalem. As such, he was sent back to his hometown of Tarsus, of which was only a short distance from Antioch. There he stayed in obscurity until Barnabas sought him out and then brought him back with him to help in the ministry at the Church at Antioch.
The believers in Jesus had been called many names up to this point - believers, disciples, saints, brothers, withesses, followers of the Way, Nazarenes, and now in Antioch the unbelievers started referring to them as Christ-i-ans, meaning followers of Christ. It was done mockingly as unbelievrs jeered these followers of Christ. In time, the believers chose to take it on as a badge of honor, and proudly claimed themselves as Christians.
From this point on, we will refer to the believers in Christ as Christians.
For the next year, Saul and Barnabas worked together with the other church leaders in Antioch to build up the new believers so that they could grow and mature in the things of the Lord. Thus, the Church at Antioch became a strong church. As such, the Church at Antioch became a center of great teaching and preaching. Some of the teachers were Barnabas, Saul, Peter, when he was came to Antioch, Ignatius and others. This combination of powerful teaching and preaching became known all over the Christian world.
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Relief to Judea
29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Because Agabus was respected as a prophet of God, the people took him seriously, thus the believers in Antioch began collecting for those who were in need in Jerusalem.
Practical Application
It is not only scriptural to help other believers in need, as we have to give, it is also commanded.
History validates that during the reign of Claudius, it was marked by a succession of bad harvests and scarcity in various parts of the empire, which incuded Judea.
Click here for Acts - Chapter 12
God bless!
Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com
Written by Pastor Joyce A. Erickson
Believers Bible School, Founder https://believersbibleschool.com/