The Church at Antioch

MEMORY VERSE: “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” —Acts 11:21

Acts 11:19-30

STEPHEN was the first disciple to be killed by the enemies of the cross, but in connection with his death there arose a general persecution of the brethren, which caused them to be “scattered abroad.” Some of them went as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, but wherever they went they preached the Gospel of Christ. At first they witnessed only to the Jews, but when some of them reached Antioch they witnessed also “unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.”

Our memory verse relates the result of this witness to the Grecians, who were Gentiles—“a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” The news of this good work reached the brethren in Jerusalem, who sent Barnabas, apparently to learn more about the situation. To have Gentiles coming into the fellowship of the brethren was something new at that time, and there were some Jewish converts in Jerusalem who had certain misgivings about it.

When Barnabas saw firsthand what was taking place, he was glad, for he could see the grace of God working. Of Barnabas it is written, “He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” The brethren at Jerusalem had sent the right brother. One less filled with the Holy Spirit and controlled more or less by his Jewish prejudices might not have been so enthusiastic over what he found in Antioch.

Barnabas displayed his lack of prejudice and fear at the time the converted Saul of Tarsus went to Jerusalem and sought fellowship among the brethren there. The brethren as a whole held aloof from Saul, or Paul, until Barnabas sponsored him.

Soon Paul’s life was threatened in Jerusalem and the brethren sent him to his birthplace, Tarsus. And now, with the work of the Lord flourishing in Antioch, and more help needed, Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul. Paul accepted the opportunity of service. “And It came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

The word “Christian” is used in the Bible only three times. King Agrippa said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:28) Peter wrote, “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (I Pet. 4:16) And then there is the text in our lesson in which we are informed that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

The name may have been given to the disciples by non-disciples. Peter’s statement, “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed,” suggests that there was ignominy attached to the name at that time. In any case, it did not seem to be in general use among the brethren themselves. It does not appear in any of the salutations opening any of the epistles. The word “Christ” means “anointed one,” and of course the word “Christian” could be construed to mean one who, through Christ, has received the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Since the days of the Early Church the word “Christian” has come to signify almost anyone who is neither a heathen nor a Jew. Jesus, in explaining a parable, declared the “good seed” to be “the children of the kingdom.” (Matt. 13:38) This suggests that Jesus’ disciples are imbued with the Gospel of the kingdom and are witnesses to that kingdom. This separates them from all others. This name is characteristic only of those who are inspired by the hope of the messianic kingdom and their hope of living and reigning with Christ in that kingdom.

The Lord’s people in every part of the age have manifested the spirit of sacrifice. Indeed, they have been a people devoted to the laying down of their lives sacrificially in the Lord’s cause. They have recognized that an important aspect of the divine cause has been to bear witness to the truth and to nourish with the truth those who show interest in the message. This was certainly true in the church at Antioch.

Nevertheless, at times there are material needs of the brethren which should be noted and cared for. This also was true at Antioch. When Agabus, a prophet of the Lord, announced that a great “dearth,” or famine, was coming upon the land, the disciples at Antioch responded by sending of their substance to the brethren in and about Jerusalem. Every man contributed according to his ability, and relief packages were dispatched to Jerusalem by Barnabas and Paul. The church at Antioch was indeed a group of noble disciples of Christ.

QUESTIONS

What was one of the results of Stephen’s martyrdom?

What was Barnabas’ impression of the work of the Lord in Antioch?

Should Christians be concerned over the material needs of their brethren?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |