1. The Gospel Spreads (vv.19-21)
The incident with Cornelius is a major one within the book of Acts as Cornelius is presented as a prime example of the gospel being received by Gentiles. But in many ways the incident is at least as significant for what it meant for Peter as he grappled with the issue of Gentiles and their acceptance by the Lord. In that context, the incident will be used to help resolve a huge problem for the early church in chapter 15.
In terms of reaching out to Gentiles, this current passage is at least as significant as the Cornelius incident. It may well have begun before Peter's encounter with Cornelius (see v.19) and, in terms of numbers and the future significance of the church at Antioch, it is extremely important.
Which makes it very interesting that this expansion to the Gentiles is not an organised mission but takes place naturally as the church scatters following the death of Stephen. In Acts, missionaries are sent out by churches and work to a clear plan but that needs to be set alongside what we see here of these early believers sharing the gospel as they went.
The calling and responsibility to reach out to others is not the preserve of pastors, evangelists and missionaries; it is a whole church calling and we each have a responsibility to take it to heart. These early believers shared the gospel naturally, as they travelled, as they set up home, as they worked. And this was the norm, not the exception.
All of which is a great challenge to us. Yes, we need to plan as a church how to reach others; yes, we need to support others in mission both at home and abroad. But our work doesn't stop there. The whole way we live should invite questions about our faith and it should be our aim and delight to share the gospel with others in ways that are natural.
Notice, too, that their witness was natural in what they shared with others. These believers mixed with non-Jews, many of whom had perhaps no knowledge of the Jewish faith. Their approach was not to convince them that Jesus was the Messiah, as had been the case with Jews. Rather, they told them "the good news about the Lord Jesus" (v.20). They started where their hearers were, which is always a good thing to do.
But Luke makes it plain that their witness was a success because of one decisive factor: "the Lord's hand was with them" (v.21). That is the reason why "a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord" (v.21). We are responsible for sharing the gospel in the most appropriate way but people will only be saved and churches established as the Lord is pleased to work in their hearts. It's the same today.
2. The Church Supports (vv.22-24)
As the gospel spreads among the Gentiles, one of the big questions is, How will the church in Jerusalem react? When Philip preached in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to authenticate the work. Given that these are Gentiles, will they be react with suspicion and try to suppress what is going on?
What they do is send Barnabas to them. Maybe he went, in part, to authenticate the work but notice this time they only send one man not two; he isn't an apostle, he is a native of Cyprus, as were many of these believers, and he was a man of exceptional spirit, warm and encouraging.
This doesn't smack of control but of contribution, not suspicion but of support to this young church. The church at Jerusalem was the original one and the apostles were the authentic witnesses to the Lord Jesus. But that doesn't mean they must control everything that happens. It is the Lord Jesus who directs the mission; they are his co-workers.
Perhaps the greatest thing the church at Jerusalem ever did for their brothers and sisters at Antioch was send Barnabus to them. He is an outstanding example of a what a Christian is and of what a church-worker should be. He isn't jealous of their work nor does he want to take it over; he rejoiced in the work and encouraged them to keep going and remain true to the Lord. His concern was not to make them Jews through circumcision but to strengthen their Christian life and witness.
Luke's description of him is very telling: "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith" (v.24). It is for that reason that he was active in both exhortation and evangelism and made a success of both. Only the Lord can save and strengthen his people but his delight is to use people like Barnabus in that work. We have much to learn from a man like him.
3. Laying Foundations (vv.25,26)
One of the attractive features of Barnabus is his recognition that he doesn't have all the gifts necessary to help this church; he needs help in the task, so he goes on a long 200-mile round trip to bring Saul to help him in the work.
We're going to look at the work they did together but we must notice the significance of what Barnabus did in fetching Saul. He recognised the Lord's call to Saul and the gifts he'd been given. What an encouragement to Saul that must have been!
And this action was also going to be, in God's providence, of immense strategic significance for the whole progress of the gospel. It is from Antioch that Barnabus and Saul will be sent out by the church into further mission. Who knows how God may use us and our seemingly small actions?
So what work did they do at Antioch? "For a whole year [they] met with the church and taught great numbers of people" (v.26). People had been saved and a church established in this vast city (the third city of its times). But they needed to be taught.
As Gentiles with no OT background, they needed to learn of how the Lord's plan to bring salvation into the world had been enacted through the Jewish nation and the coming of Jesus as the promised Messiah. This was a task that Saul was well suited for and perhaps explains why Barnabus chose him.
Mission is not just about gaining converts. In the Great Commission, the Lord Jesus spoke of making disciples and teaching them to obey God's commands (Mt. 28:19,20). That task remains today and in some places the need is acute.
4. Fellowship From Afar (vv.27-30)
But being taught truth is one thing; all truth needs to be lived out. And at Antioch it was. Notice 2 things here:
i) Known as Christians - Antioch was famous for nicknames and the early church wasn't spared the wit. Believers were called Christians, probably a derogatory name but one that helpfully distinguished believers from the city's Jews. What it clearly shows is that these early believers were known as people who followed the Messiah. They had taken on board what they had been taught and lived it out.
ii) Genuine Fellowship - A famine was predicted and it is certain that the believers in Jerusalem would suffer greatly. So the church at Antioch rises to the occasion to try to help their brothers and sisters, and they do so without coercion or a sense of competition but "each according to their ability" (v.29).
In Rom. 15:25ff, Paul shows how Gentiles who have benefited from the spiritual blessings of the Jews should share their material blessings with them. Here is a church doing exactly that.
What a testimony they are to the grace of God! And in that they both challenge and encourage us to live real Christian lives, to the glory of God. Will we rise to the occasion too?
