Everyone Can Tell The Good News

Jesus had said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What happens in chapter 13 is the disciples take the gospel to the final frontier, “the ends of the earth.” I don’t think it is exaggerating to compare this historical event to Columbus discovering the New World or man walking on the moon. This event transformed Europe’s barbarians into the leaders of civilization and gave us Bach, Beethoven, Isaac Newton, and the greatest invention in history—the Guttenburg Press. Because these believers took the good news to people in other areas we are worshiping the Lord Jesus today.

What does the power of the gospel compel believers to do?

XXV. SEND OUT MISSIONARIES (ACTS 13:1-3)

For almost 2,000 years the power of the gospel has changed individuals, communities, and even nations. We are so convinced of the power of God to change people’s lives and remove their sin that believers have been compelled to send out missionaries. When you see the glories of Western civilization it can be traced to a prayer meeting at a church in the region of Syria, about 300 miles north of Jerusalem.

Antioch was the Roman headquarters for the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. It was a cosmopolitan city of Greeks, Jews, Romans and Syrians. It became the home of Gentile Christianity.

The diversity of this church is seen in its leadership. We know that Barnabus was a Levite from Cyprus (4:36). Simeon called Niger (black) was presumably a black African. Lucius of Cyrene definitely came from North Africa and Manean, a close friend of Herod Antipas, was from the upper crust of society. Of course, there is Saul, latter called Paul, who was a devout Pharisee from Cilicia. These five men symbolized the cultural and ethnic diversity found in Antioch. They served the church as prophets and teachers.

The church is worshiping the Lord and fasting. Fasting is never pictured in the Bible as a discipline unto itself. It is always connected to something else. We’re not instructed to fast for fasting sake. Fasting is taking a negative action in order to participate in a positive action. They were fasting in order to worship God. They are fasting in order to give themselves more fully to God. They are fasting in order to discover God’s will.

It is in that atmosphere that the Holy Spirit is able to speak to the church. The Holy Spirit reveals his will that he has a purpose for Barnabus and Saul. We don’t know how the Holy Spirit revealed his will, just that he did. That’s the divine work.

The human work was for the church to set these men apart to this work. The church is to commission these men to go to others and tell them about the Savior. The church symbolizes that commissioning by laying hands on these men. They fast and pray some more to intercede for God’s power and presence to be on these men as they begin this missionary journey.

Finally, they let them go. They knew God had called these men serve him elsewhere. They were the finest the church had and they didn’t try to hold to them selfishly.