Scripture: Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11:19-30 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Peter immediately encounters criticism from the circumcision sect of the Hebrew church for eating/socializing with uncircumcised men. So Peter counters by recounting what transpired leading up to baptizing the Gentiles. Peter then drives home his defense to the circumcision party: If God has given them the same gift of the Holy Spirit as we received when we professed faith in Christ, then who am I to stand in the way of God’s will? While Peter’s argument momentarily silenced his interrogators, after pondering his brilliant closing remark, they concluded, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Now that Peter had convinced the apostles and brothers that the Gospel is for the Gentiles, today’s reading marks Luke’s transition to the spread of the Gospel to Gentiles beyond Judea. First, he reminds his readers that with Stephen’s martyrdom and resulting persecution, Jewish converts dispersed beyond their Judean borders to Phoenicia (the region of modern-day Syria and Lebanon), the island of Cyprus, and Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey). Initially, they shared the Good News with Hellenist Jews only. But some from Cyprus and Cyrene (modern-day Shahhat, Libya) came to Antioch and spoke to Hellenists (Gentiles). As a result, a significant number became Christ followers.
When the news reached the elders in Jerusalem, they commissioned Barnabas, a native Cyprian, to Antioch. Pleased with what he saw, Barnabas encouraged them to remain steadfast in faith and purpose. With the church expanding rapidly, Barnabas sought Saul in his hometown of Tarsus and convinced him to join the effort in Antioch, where they discipled the new converts for a whole year. During this time, Jerusalem prophets came to Antioch to edify the church. One of them, Agabus, led by the Spirit, foretold a worldwide famine (which occurred during the reign of Claudius). So the Antiochan disciples decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Luke also notes that everyone in the Antiochan church gave according to their ability and that this church marks the first fellowship where its disciples were called Christians.
Takeaway: This first Greco-Roman church thrived under the solid leadership of missionaries from Northern Africa (Cyrene), the Middle East (Jerusalem), and Eastern Europe (Cyprus). The Cyprus connection is fascinating. While we do not know when Barnabas relocated from Cyprus to Jerusalem, Luke tells us he joined the early-developing fellowship of Jerusalem converts and set an example of generosity and care for his fellow believers (Acts 4:36). Burdened to share the Gospel with his loved ones, Barnabas would have likely visited his homeland at some point. And perhaps Stephen’s martyrdom and the ensuing dispersion of Jersusalem converts would have provoked such a visit. Whether or not this is true, we see here that Cyprians paid it forward by sending missionaries.
As the church expanded, key leaders ensured its growth would extend beyond numbers to spiritual maturity. And one key element was the purse. With the Jerusalem church sending Barnabas (who had modeled generosity by donating the proceeds from the sale of land to support the welfare of its fellowship), he would connect with fellow Cyprians and coalesce an outreach to help Judeans suffering from the famine. The leadership wisely did not impose an amount for relief but encouraged its members to give according to one’s ability.
Saul’s contribution as a well-educated rabbi, schooled by the renowned Pharisee Gamaliel, would be the apologetic teaching of the Gospel based on messianic prophecies and its fulfillment in Christ. His letters further illustrate that he would forthrightly communicate the Gospel’s imperative to self-sacrifice time, talent, and resources. Speaking of time, it’s worth noting that Saul and Barnabas did not merely pay a visit but invested an entire year to ensure the Antiochan church and its leaders were maturing in their love for and obedience to the Lord.
Our takeaway? The Antiochan church provides a model for church growth. Whether a church plant or revitalization, its leaders must thoughtfully coalesce a team that shares a common vision and purpose, and whether the team members intend to make the church their new home or can only commit for a season, they must work together to champion each others’ gifts—not allowing egos to get in the way. Also, the intake of funds must have an outward focus. Healthy churches tithe their offerings beyond the fellowship and encourage all members to give from their time and resources “according to their ability.”
Our part? Whether or not we serve on the leadership team, beyond extenuating circumstances warranting leaving a fellowship in the short term, we must persevere through the ups and downs and do our part to model the generosity of time and resources. We must also resist comparing our gifts and contributions and focus more on where we can best serve and give according to our abilities. Finally, we must deepen our knowledge of the Father and Son’s grace and love for us as the foundation of our giving. Otherwise, we will become resentful when others are unappreciative of our sacrifices.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who gave his all for us. And we thank you for those of the early church who sacrificed their time and resources to ensure the church’s welfare for future generations. Still, we struggle to give our time and resources consistently. There is a part of us that does not wholeheartedly trust in your generosity. So we sometimes hoard the blessings. With this in mind, would you please help us grow in our love for you and mature in understanding your grace so that we might generously and joyfully give according to our abilities? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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