The First "Christians" at Antioch
The First “Christians” @ Antioch
The Church is spreading by the “Acts of the Holy Spirit”. In fact the proper reference to the book of Acts should be “Acts of the Holy Spirit” and not “Acts of the Apostles”. The Apostles were instruments who listened, obeyed and cooperated with the Holy Spirit of God. Last we saw Peter being instructed by the Holy Spirit to go to the Gentiles, the house of Cornelius and a new Church community was born in Caesarea. Peter’s obedience met opposition from Jewish believers in Jerusalem. 2”So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." Acts 11:2
Peter had to explain what happened and “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." Acts11:18.
The ministry to the Gentiles will continue at Antioch by the power of the Holy Spirit and we will see that the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch. Who is a Christian? Are you a Christian?
Acts 11: 19-30
19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. A couple of years have passed and now we are seeing the fruit of Stephen’s martyr (Acts 7). Those who were scattered because of persecution at that time are now spreading the “good news” wherever they went. Are you and I spreading the good news even in the midst of our persecutions and suffering? Many times we focus on telling people how much we are suffering and not even mention the “good news” of Jesus that is rich in our hearts.
2. The Jewish disciples were ‘telling the message only to the Jews” and then later it said “they began to tell the Greeks also”. What has happened for the change? Well Peter’s obedience had opened the door, so the Jewish disciples now believe it is okay to cross the racial barrier and minister to the Greeks. This again is the work of the Holy Spirit. We thank God that even in America today, the racial barrier has been broken by the Holy Spirit and we must continue the work the Lord had started. Will you today cross over and not hold back the ‘good news” to other races and people who do not look like you in social economic status?
3. When we obey the Holy Spirit and cross the man-made barriers, we see great results. “21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” The people of all races are now responding to the gospel of Christ. I thank God for the European missionaries who left their homes at great price to bring the gospel of Christ to Africa. I am a product of their obedience.
4. Notice the mention of Barnabas and his ministry of encouragement. “He (Barnabas) was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith”. It is the same Barnabas mentioned earlier in Acts 4:36 who sold his land to care for the saints. He is a man of character. We need men and women of character are faithful and committed to work of God.
5. Barnabas calls Saul (Paul) to come and help. They both stayed in Antioch for about a year to disciple the new believers in Christ. Most of Paul’s later missionary journeys would be launched from Antioch.
6. “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” vs.26b. It is believed that non-believers gave the disciples this name “Christians”. It was meant to be a put down on the disciple. Who is then a Christian? Literally, “Christians” means those “belonging to Christ”. It is an accurate description of any true believer in Christ. We belong to Christ. Are you proud to bear the name “Christian”? Do you belong to Christ?
7. The early Church was a caring and giving Church. Each gave “according to his ability” so that the saints who were going through famine could have something to eat. The Church took care of the members and that is the way it should be. We can’t leave this task to the government. May God help us to take care of our own in the Church.
The Holy Spirit is still at work in calling many to believe in Jesus Christ as the only savior of men and women all over the world. We must listen and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit if we call ourselves “Christians” and thus belong to Christ. Do you belong to Christ or to someone else? We do not own ourselves. We must live for the One who owns us. Amen.
The Church is spreading by the “Acts of the Holy Spirit”. In fact the proper reference to the book of Acts should be “Acts of the Holy Spirit” and not “Acts of the Apostles”. The Apostles were instruments who listened, obeyed and cooperated with the Holy Spirit of God. Last we saw Peter being instructed by the Holy Spirit to go to the Gentiles, the house of Cornelius and a new Church community was born in Caesarea. Peter’s obedience met opposition from Jewish believers in Jerusalem. 2”So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." Acts 11:2
Peter had to explain what happened and “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." Acts11:18.
The ministry to the Gentiles will continue at Antioch by the power of the Holy Spirit and we will see that the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch. Who is a Christian? Are you a Christian?
Acts 11: 19-30
19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. A couple of years have passed and now we are seeing the fruit of Stephen’s martyr (Acts 7). Those who were scattered because of persecution at that time are now spreading the “good news” wherever they went. Are you and I spreading the good news even in the midst of our persecutions and suffering? Many times we focus on telling people how much we are suffering and not even mention the “good news” of Jesus that is rich in our hearts.
2. The Jewish disciples were ‘telling the message only to the Jews” and then later it said “they began to tell the Greeks also”. What has happened for the change? Well Peter’s obedience had opened the door, so the Jewish disciples now believe it is okay to cross the racial barrier and minister to the Greeks. This again is the work of the Holy Spirit. We thank God that even in America today, the racial barrier has been broken by the Holy Spirit and we must continue the work the Lord had started. Will you today cross over and not hold back the ‘good news” to other races and people who do not look like you in social economic status?
3. When we obey the Holy Spirit and cross the man-made barriers, we see great results. “21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” The people of all races are now responding to the gospel of Christ. I thank God for the European missionaries who left their homes at great price to bring the gospel of Christ to Africa. I am a product of their obedience.
4. Notice the mention of Barnabas and his ministry of encouragement. “He (Barnabas) was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith”. It is the same Barnabas mentioned earlier in Acts 4:36 who sold his land to care for the saints. He is a man of character. We need men and women of character are faithful and committed to work of God.
5. Barnabas calls Saul (Paul) to come and help. They both stayed in Antioch for about a year to disciple the new believers in Christ. Most of Paul’s later missionary journeys would be launched from Antioch.
6. “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” vs.26b. It is believed that non-believers gave the disciples this name “Christians”. It was meant to be a put down on the disciple. Who is then a Christian? Literally, “Christians” means those “belonging to Christ”. It is an accurate description of any true believer in Christ. We belong to Christ. Are you proud to bear the name “Christian”? Do you belong to Christ?
7. The early Church was a caring and giving Church. Each gave “according to his ability” so that the saints who were going through famine could have something to eat. The Church took care of the members and that is the way it should be. We can’t leave this task to the government. May God help us to take care of our own in the Church.
The Holy Spirit is still at work in calling many to believe in Jesus Christ as the only savior of men and women all over the world. We must listen and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit if we call ourselves “Christians” and thus belong to Christ. Do you belong to Christ or to someone else? We do not own ourselves. We must live for the One who owns us. Amen.
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