Church At Antioch Series

Acts 11:19-30 Church at Antioch

11:19-21 Gospel and nations

11:22-24 Barnabas Ministry at Antioch

11:25-26 Believers named as Christians

11:28-30 Response of the Church during Calamities

Acts 11:19-21 Gospel reached many nations

The expansion of the Christendom to the Greek world or among the Greeks refers to the gentiles. The author of the book of Luke narrates that the persecuted disciples scattered all over the Greek world. They penetrated the nation with the word of God. Change of place had allowed them to talk about Christ. The disciples went to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch and witnessed only to Jews. But some disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene went down to Antioch and preached the Gospel to the Greeks. It is the beginning of evangelism by the unorganized disciples of Christ. Church has always seen an enormous growth by an unorganized and unpaid servant of God than the organized plans and executed Christian organizations or Churches. However, we cannot do away with the organized setup.

Acts 11:22-24 Barnabas Ministry at Antioch

The Apostles at Jerusalem heard the growth of the new believers at Antioch. The Church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas, a man of Holy Spirit and faith. He went to Antioch, and he encouraged the new believers and helped them to grow in Christ. The vision expanded further, and believers deep-rooted in Christ. Many new souls had added to the congregation. New identity developed in that City, spectacular growth been witnessed by the community and attested by the Government. Leaders appointed with the right attitude and spirit to the new congregations help them to grow. The wrong person could ruin the new ministry and its activities. A church should elect and appoint persons with a commitment to Christ, concerns for the soul, willingness to spare time, and use resources for the ministry.

Acts 11:25-26 Believers named Christians

The author makes a note of the friendship and fellowship enjoyed by Barnabas and Saul. It is interesting to note that Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Paul to Antioch. Then both of them spent over a year in teaching and instructing the new believers in Antioch. The believers had exhibited extensive identical characters and attitudes of Christ through their walk, talk, and conversation- publicly and privately. Their personal and public life is synthesized and witnessed by friends, relatives, and neighbors. Therefore, they called them Christians. The name Christian has come as a characteristic nickname to the followers of Christ.

Acts 11:27-30 Response of the Church during Calamities

Now we see that the Prophets and other gifted Christians from Jerusalem came to Antioch. There was a prophet named Agabus who prophesized on the future famine in the entire Roman World. The believers at Antioch had gathered relief materials and sent those bits of help through Barnabas and Paul to the region of Judea. Helping one another is the basic principle of Christianity. Sharing is an unavoidable demand of God. The God of the Old Testament repeatedly pronounced the importance of taking care of the needy, poor and neglected. Those who are in need to be taken care of by the blessed Christians. Haves may not help the have nots. But it's bounden the duty of the committed Christians to help such people to show the love of God in action.

Discussion:

1. Is it true that the persecution helps the Church to grow?

2. Discuss the Church planting ministry of our times.

3. How do we deal with the new believers, and what are their challenges?

4. Discuss the name Christian – religion, sect, or replica of Christ.

5. Discuss the relief work and Gospel activities.

(Please refer to the series of studies in ACTS on this website)