Acts 11:1-11:30
Today is Mother’s day. I believe the traditional thing to do is to give a message to mothers. For two reasons, I have decided mostly not to do this. First, we have been going line by line through the book of Acts, and we are currently up to Acts 11. As you will see, mothers don’t figure in real prominently in Acts 11. (They don’t figure in at all.) Second, I thought it might be more appropriate to address today’s message more to those people who mothers have to put up with, their husbands and children.
We are in Acts 11. Recall that last week’s passage looked at the remarkable way in which the Gospel, the good news about the saving work of Jesus Christ, came to the non-Jewish world. One thing that strikes me about Acts 11 is that it is filled with examples of God, godly behavior. Although this is really not the primary purpose of this passage – it is part of the narrative of the history of the early church, first and foremost, it also serves as a source of godly examples to follow. Thinking about this brings to mind Hebrews 12:1-2.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2
So as we go through Acts 11 today, I will highlight some of the examples of godliness I see, and apply it especially to those who are children of or husbands of mothers. As we talk through the “action points,” remember that we do all good things by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who truly is the One who “wrote” our faith and is the One who makes it become more perfect.
The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." – Acts 11:1-3
From the point of the Jewish believers, was this wrong? Yes. Gentiles were “unclean,” at least, they thought so, based on their “traditions.” It was unlawful to associate closely with Gentiles, especially to the point of sharing food.
What about from the point of view of Peter? This response, if it were me, would have been a shock. It was not presented in a way that was polite or seeking discussion. Generally speaking, if you goal is to have a fruitful discussion with someone, this is not the way to begin. “You did a terrible thing!” is the tone of the message. If Peter didn’t see this coming, how do you think he felt? Perhaps disappointed. Betrayed. Hurt.
What are some natural ways to respond? By fighting back. “You big bunch of nincompoops! You don’t even know what happened, and here you are criticizing and attacking me!” Is this what Peter does? No…
Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' – Acts 11:4-7
"I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. – Acts 11:8-10
You can see here that Peter is relating everything precisely as it had happened. He does not hold anything back, including his contradictory phrase, “Surely not, Lord!” And notice the lack of “fire” in his response. Peter is calm, cool, and collected.
A first application: Always respond to queries gently.
When you come home an hour later than you said you would, and she says, “Why were you so late!” Respond gently. If you don’t have an excuse, don’t make one up. If you are not late, if you came home at the exact time you had previously agreed to, respond gently. Lay out the facts, if you decide it is worth it. Sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes it is better to apologize, even if you aren’t wrong. Mothers need to be cut a little slack now and then. And if the Mother in your life attacks you for something seemingly out of the blue (although it rarely is truly out of the blue), take a deep breath, and don’t attack back.
"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' – Acts 11:11-14
When Peter says “these six brothers also went with me,” he is talking about people right there in the room with him. These six brothers also went with me. This makes them witnesses. (I suppose, going back to my previous example, if you actually weren’t late because you had come home when previously agreed, it might help if you have witnesses to that discussion.)
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" – Acts 11:15-17
This is so powerful! First, Peter makes the comparison – “what happened to these Gentiles is exactly what happened to us!” Peter’s response is so personal. This is from his point of view. In many ways, “Who was I to think that I could oppose God?” is the exact opposite of “Surely not, Lord!”
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." – Acts 11:18
What a godly response! Their previous assumptions about Gentiles have just been shaken to the core, and yet, when they see this is God’s doing, God’s work, God’s plan, they rejoice and praise God.
A second application: Praise God for the sudden turns in the road.
When you get home from work and you are greeted with “Dinner is burnt!” praise God and think of Plan B. When you are told, “No, you can’t watch that movie,” praise God and find something else to do. You will make the Mother in your life much happier by doing this.
Now 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. Some 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. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. – Acts 11:19-21
Isn’t it fascinating how God works? The persecution in connection with Stephen refers to the persecution that began with the stoning of Stephen. Who was the bad guy most associated with this persecution? Saul (also known as Paul)! And this passage says that some of those who had to flee for their lives now began sharing the gospel with the Gentiles in Antioch.
Antioch was a city with a reputation. In the world today, some of the cities with a similar reputation is Amsterdam. Why Amsterdam? It is known as a city where prostitution and illicit drug use is legal. Bangkok might be another such city. It is also known for prostitution.
Antioch began around 300BC and was built by Seleucus I, one of the rulers who took over parts of the global empire built up by Alexander the Great. Seleucus’ father was named Antioch, and Seleucus built many cities and named each one Antioch. This Antioch was known as the Syrian Antioch and had a population of about half a million people. It was a part of what is now Turkey.
Antioch was considered #3 in the world’s greatest cities, behind Rome and Alexandria. As I said, it had a reputation. The reputation was for its immorality. The world’s center of the cult of Artemis and Daphne was 5 miles away, a day’s short walk. This cult was heavily based on the even more ancient cult worship of Astarte. The cult was famous the world over for its ritual prostitution, in effect re-enacting the story of how Artemis (also known as Apollo) tried to rape Daphne, who took refuge by turning herself into a laurel tree. The temple of Artemis and Daphne was in the center of a large laurel grove.
Antioch was known for its licentiousness, its gambling, and many other vices. It was so known for loose living that anywhere in the Greek world, a person who was living a sinful, out-of-control life was said to be acting like an Antiochan.
(By the way, the picture is of a tomb in Antioch dating from the time of the early church.)
It is fascinating to me that out of all places in the world at that time, the Jewish Christians began reaching out to the Gentiles (it says the Greek ones) and sharing the gospel with them. It reminds me of when Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector.
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." – Matt. 9:9-13
So what does it say happened? It says “The Hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of them believed and were turned to the Lord.” Turning implies repentance. Repentance means “turning.” These were people who became believers and started living for Christ instead of for themselves. It means that they began to forsake their sinful practices and living lives pleasing to God. Multitudes of them were doing this.
And of course, the only reason multitudes were doing this is that the Hand of the Lord was with those Jewish believers who were sharing the gospel with them. Nobody becomes a Christian without the Hand of the Lord. It is so clear to me it is the same Lord, the same Jesus, whose heart was revealed in Matthew 9. He had come to call sinners to Him, and here in Acts He was still calling sinners to Him. Today He still calls sinners to Him.
News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When 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. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. – Acts 11:22-24
I’m not sure anyone in the Bible (except for Jesus, of course) gets a more glowing description than Barnabas does in Acts. Remember that his real name was Joseph, described as a Levite from Cypress. In Acts 4, we see that he sells a field he owns and gives it to the disciples to use as they see fit. Barnabas became his nickname. It means “Son of Encouragement.” He was known for encouraging whoever he came in contact with. It was Barnabas who got the believers in Jerusalem to accept Saul after he became a believer. Here in Acts 11, Luke simply gushes with praise of Barnabas. “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” May we all develop such reputations!
The passage says that when he arrived in Antioch, he saw the evidence of the grace of God and was glad and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Let me just say here and now that when I look at the mothers in this church, I see the evidence of the grace of God, and I am glad. I see children being raised up to know and love the Lord at an early age. It is easy to become accustomed to this and think it is no big deal. But it is a big deal. It is a huge deal! I want to praise you mothers here today for this! You are not relying on Sunday school to help your children learn about God once a week, but are taking personal responsibility for your children growing up to love the Lord. You are doing things with them daily to help them come to know Jesus and live for Him. I look at your children and I see the evidence of the grace of God, and I am glad.
And so if I have one piece of advice for you Mothers this Mothers’ Day, it is to remain true to the Lord with all your hearts. Your lives are busy ones as you basically have multiple full-time jobs. In your business, make sure to make time for the Lord. Find ways to have daily personal quiet times, praying and reading God’s Word.
And for those of us who the Mothers have to live with, I have a third application. Help Mothers remain true to the Lord.
How do we do this? One way is by praising them when you do see the grace of God in them and in their children. One way is by helping them to have quiet times. Quiet times generally need to be quiet. Avoid interrupting them with questions that can wait. (And nearly all questions can wait.) Let us all be Barnabas’s to the Mothers in the church. It is a spiritual gift, the gift of encouragement, but we are called to do it, whether it is natural to us or not. Encouragement is like food – it fills us up, but only for a time, and then we need more of it.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and 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. – Acts 11:25-26
Barnabas had now seen that in Antioch, many Gentiles were coming to God. Furthermore, they were cultural Greeks. Who better than Saul to help them grow to maturity in Christ? Saul, of Tarsus, a Greek city, had a Greek background himself. And Saul had shown he was not afraid to share the gospel boldly, without regards to his personal safety or any other consequences. And, I am certain, it was the Holy Spirit who laid it on Barnabas’ heart that Saul was the perfect man for the Gentiles of Antioch.
The way the Greek here is worded, it seems that finding Saul was not an easy task. It took searching. This is years after we have last heard about Saul. What has he been doing? The passage does not say, but I have no doubt he was quietly growing in faith, probably working as a tentmaker, being prepared by God for the work at hand.
And so Barnabas and Saul worked together, teaching and helping the new believers to grow to maturity in Christ. So many people were “living changed lives for Christ” that they began to impact the culture around them. People started noticing them. It was the nonbelievers around them who likely gave them the name “Christ-ians,” meaning Christ Followers, or Jesus People.
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One 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.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. – Acts 11:27-30
This famine is mentioned and confirmed in other documents, by Orosius, by Suetonius, and by Tacitus. It probably took place in AD 47, and may have lasted several years. Barnabus and Saul became gift-bearers and they brought an offering to Judea in preparation for the coming famine. What strikes me about this is the level of maturity we see now in Antioch. The Antioch believers, mostly non-Jewish, are helping to give to the Jewish believers in Judea. This is the work of God. There is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free – all are one in Jesus Christ. Eusebius, an early historian of the early history of the church, mentions Sanctus, a believer tortured for his faith in Christ. His tormentors asked him his name, and his answer was “I am a Christian.” They asked him what nation he belonged to, and his answer was “I am a Christian.” They asked him what city he lived in, and his answer was “I am a Christian.” “Are you a slave or a free man?” “I am a Christian.” Whatever they asked him, this was his answer. This made his tormentors angry and they tried harder to break him down, but he would give no other answer. He died while saying “I am a Christian” one last time.
We too are simply Christians. Let us build one another up, let us encourage one another, in Christ. Especially this Mothers’ Day, let us especially remember the Mothers in the church and do practical things that help them to remain fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that the hand of the Lord would be on us and enable us to do this.
We are in Acts 11. Recall that last week’s passage looked at the remarkable way in which the Gospel, the good news about the saving work of Jesus Christ, came to the non-Jewish world. One thing that strikes me about Acts 11 is that it is filled with examples of God, godly behavior. Although this is really not the primary purpose of this passage – it is part of the narrative of the history of the early church, first and foremost, it also serves as a source of godly examples to follow. Thinking about this brings to mind Hebrews 12:1-2.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2
So as we go through Acts 11 today, I will highlight some of the examples of godliness I see, and apply it especially to those who are children of or husbands of mothers. As we talk through the “action points,” remember that we do all good things by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who truly is the One who “wrote” our faith and is the One who makes it become more perfect.
The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." – Acts 11:1-3
From the point of the Jewish believers, was this wrong? Yes. Gentiles were “unclean,” at least, they thought so, based on their “traditions.” It was unlawful to associate closely with Gentiles, especially to the point of sharing food.
What about from the point of view of Peter? This response, if it were me, would have been a shock. It was not presented in a way that was polite or seeking discussion. Generally speaking, if you goal is to have a fruitful discussion with someone, this is not the way to begin. “You did a terrible thing!” is the tone of the message. If Peter didn’t see this coming, how do you think he felt? Perhaps disappointed. Betrayed. Hurt.
What are some natural ways to respond? By fighting back. “You big bunch of nincompoops! You don’t even know what happened, and here you are criticizing and attacking me!” Is this what Peter does? No…
Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' – Acts 11:4-7
"I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. – Acts 11:8-10
You can see here that Peter is relating everything precisely as it had happened. He does not hold anything back, including his contradictory phrase, “Surely not, Lord!” And notice the lack of “fire” in his response. Peter is calm, cool, and collected.
A first application: Always respond to queries gently.
When you come home an hour later than you said you would, and she says, “Why were you so late!” Respond gently. If you don’t have an excuse, don’t make one up. If you are not late, if you came home at the exact time you had previously agreed to, respond gently. Lay out the facts, if you decide it is worth it. Sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes it is better to apologize, even if you aren’t wrong. Mothers need to be cut a little slack now and then. And if the Mother in your life attacks you for something seemingly out of the blue (although it rarely is truly out of the blue), take a deep breath, and don’t attack back.
"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' – Acts 11:11-14
When Peter says “these six brothers also went with me,” he is talking about people right there in the room with him. These six brothers also went with me. This makes them witnesses. (I suppose, going back to my previous example, if you actually weren’t late because you had come home when previously agreed, it might help if you have witnesses to that discussion.)
"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" – Acts 11:15-17
This is so powerful! First, Peter makes the comparison – “what happened to these Gentiles is exactly what happened to us!” Peter’s response is so personal. This is from his point of view. In many ways, “Who was I to think that I could oppose God?” is the exact opposite of “Surely not, Lord!”
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." – Acts 11:18
What a godly response! Their previous assumptions about Gentiles have just been shaken to the core, and yet, when they see this is God’s doing, God’s work, God’s plan, they rejoice and praise God.
A second application: Praise God for the sudden turns in the road.
When you get home from work and you are greeted with “Dinner is burnt!” praise God and think of Plan B. When you are told, “No, you can’t watch that movie,” praise God and find something else to do. You will make the Mother in your life much happier by doing this.
Now 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. Some 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. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. – Acts 11:19-21
Isn’t it fascinating how God works? The persecution in connection with Stephen refers to the persecution that began with the stoning of Stephen. Who was the bad guy most associated with this persecution? Saul (also known as Paul)! And this passage says that some of those who had to flee for their lives now began sharing the gospel with the Gentiles in Antioch.
Antioch was a city with a reputation. In the world today, some of the cities with a similar reputation is Amsterdam. Why Amsterdam? It is known as a city where prostitution and illicit drug use is legal. Bangkok might be another such city. It is also known for prostitution.
Antioch began around 300BC and was built by Seleucus I, one of the rulers who took over parts of the global empire built up by Alexander the Great. Seleucus’ father was named Antioch, and Seleucus built many cities and named each one Antioch. This Antioch was known as the Syrian Antioch and had a population of about half a million people. It was a part of what is now Turkey.
Antioch was considered #3 in the world’s greatest cities, behind Rome and Alexandria. As I said, it had a reputation. The reputation was for its immorality. The world’s center of the cult of Artemis and Daphne was 5 miles away, a day’s short walk. This cult was heavily based on the even more ancient cult worship of Astarte. The cult was famous the world over for its ritual prostitution, in effect re-enacting the story of how Artemis (also known as Apollo) tried to rape Daphne, who took refuge by turning herself into a laurel tree. The temple of Artemis and Daphne was in the center of a large laurel grove.
Antioch was known for its licentiousness, its gambling, and many other vices. It was so known for loose living that anywhere in the Greek world, a person who was living a sinful, out-of-control life was said to be acting like an Antiochan.
(By the way, the picture is of a tomb in Antioch dating from the time of the early church.)
It is fascinating to me that out of all places in the world at that time, the Jewish Christians began reaching out to the Gentiles (it says the Greek ones) and sharing the gospel with them. It reminds me of when Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector.
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." – Matt. 9:9-13
So what does it say happened? It says “The Hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of them believed and were turned to the Lord.” Turning implies repentance. Repentance means “turning.” These were people who became believers and started living for Christ instead of for themselves. It means that they began to forsake their sinful practices and living lives pleasing to God. Multitudes of them were doing this.
And of course, the only reason multitudes were doing this is that the Hand of the Lord was with those Jewish believers who were sharing the gospel with them. Nobody becomes a Christian without the Hand of the Lord. It is so clear to me it is the same Lord, the same Jesus, whose heart was revealed in Matthew 9. He had come to call sinners to Him, and here in Acts He was still calling sinners to Him. Today He still calls sinners to Him.
News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When 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. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. – Acts 11:22-24
I’m not sure anyone in the Bible (except for Jesus, of course) gets a more glowing description than Barnabas does in Acts. Remember that his real name was Joseph, described as a Levite from Cypress. In Acts 4, we see that he sells a field he owns and gives it to the disciples to use as they see fit. Barnabas became his nickname. It means “Son of Encouragement.” He was known for encouraging whoever he came in contact with. It was Barnabas who got the believers in Jerusalem to accept Saul after he became a believer. Here in Acts 11, Luke simply gushes with praise of Barnabas. “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” May we all develop such reputations!
The passage says that when he arrived in Antioch, he saw the evidence of the grace of God and was glad and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Let me just say here and now that when I look at the mothers in this church, I see the evidence of the grace of God, and I am glad. I see children being raised up to know and love the Lord at an early age. It is easy to become accustomed to this and think it is no big deal. But it is a big deal. It is a huge deal! I want to praise you mothers here today for this! You are not relying on Sunday school to help your children learn about God once a week, but are taking personal responsibility for your children growing up to love the Lord. You are doing things with them daily to help them come to know Jesus and live for Him. I look at your children and I see the evidence of the grace of God, and I am glad.
And so if I have one piece of advice for you Mothers this Mothers’ Day, it is to remain true to the Lord with all your hearts. Your lives are busy ones as you basically have multiple full-time jobs. In your business, make sure to make time for the Lord. Find ways to have daily personal quiet times, praying and reading God’s Word.
And for those of us who the Mothers have to live with, I have a third application. Help Mothers remain true to the Lord.
How do we do this? One way is by praising them when you do see the grace of God in them and in their children. One way is by helping them to have quiet times. Quiet times generally need to be quiet. Avoid interrupting them with questions that can wait. (And nearly all questions can wait.) Let us all be Barnabas’s to the Mothers in the church. It is a spiritual gift, the gift of encouragement, but we are called to do it, whether it is natural to us or not. Encouragement is like food – it fills us up, but only for a time, and then we need more of it.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and 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. – Acts 11:25-26
Barnabas had now seen that in Antioch, many Gentiles were coming to God. Furthermore, they were cultural Greeks. Who better than Saul to help them grow to maturity in Christ? Saul, of Tarsus, a Greek city, had a Greek background himself. And Saul had shown he was not afraid to share the gospel boldly, without regards to his personal safety or any other consequences. And, I am certain, it was the Holy Spirit who laid it on Barnabas’ heart that Saul was the perfect man for the Gentiles of Antioch.
The way the Greek here is worded, it seems that finding Saul was not an easy task. It took searching. This is years after we have last heard about Saul. What has he been doing? The passage does not say, but I have no doubt he was quietly growing in faith, probably working as a tentmaker, being prepared by God for the work at hand.
And so Barnabas and Saul worked together, teaching and helping the new believers to grow to maturity in Christ. So many people were “living changed lives for Christ” that they began to impact the culture around them. People started noticing them. It was the nonbelievers around them who likely gave them the name “Christ-ians,” meaning Christ Followers, or Jesus People.
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One 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.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. – Acts 11:27-30
This famine is mentioned and confirmed in other documents, by Orosius, by Suetonius, and by Tacitus. It probably took place in AD 47, and may have lasted several years. Barnabus and Saul became gift-bearers and they brought an offering to Judea in preparation for the coming famine. What strikes me about this is the level of maturity we see now in Antioch. The Antioch believers, mostly non-Jewish, are helping to give to the Jewish believers in Judea. This is the work of God. There is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free – all are one in Jesus Christ. Eusebius, an early historian of the early history of the church, mentions Sanctus, a believer tortured for his faith in Christ. His tormentors asked him his name, and his answer was “I am a Christian.” They asked him what nation he belonged to, and his answer was “I am a Christian.” They asked him what city he lived in, and his answer was “I am a Christian.” “Are you a slave or a free man?” “I am a Christian.” Whatever they asked him, this was his answer. This made his tormentors angry and they tried harder to break him down, but he would give no other answer. He died while saying “I am a Christian” one last time.
We too are simply Christians. Let us build one another up, let us encourage one another, in Christ. Especially this Mothers’ Day, let us especially remember the Mothers in the church and do practical things that help them to remain fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that the hand of the Lord would be on us and enable us to do this.
No comments:
Post a Comment