The Growth of Church 11:19-30

Key themes in this passage:

Antioch becomes the central place for missionary work in the Gentile world.

The disciples are called “Christians.”

Paul and Barnabas are the new leaders in this narrative for spreading the Gospel message.

11:19 – Luke connects this incident with chapter 7 where Stephen was killed by those who hated him (and other believers). However, notice the “work of the Holy Spirit.” God is using this event of Stephen’s death, and the persecution of that time to reach out to more people with the Gospel message.

Verse 19 says that people were scattered because of the persecution that started because of Stephen. But that scattering was a good thing. In fact, people ran away because of fear, and they reached Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the “word” to Jews!

Verse 20 says that some people came from Cyprus and Cyrene, both mostly Gentile regions (though there may be some Jews), and proclaimed the good news about the “Lord” Jesus Christ.

Notice here, the Gentiles came to share the Gospel with the Gentiles, and also, they did not call Jesus Christ as The Messiah, but as Lord.

This is important because, the Gentiles would not understand Messiah, the Jewish way of addressing Jesus Christ, or the Anointed One. Gentiles addressed him as Lord. This also indicates the shift of how the Gospel is reaching out from Jerusalem to the Gentile world as stated in Acts 1:8.

In verse 21, Luke connects a phrase with God’s working mighty things in the Old Testament. The phrase, The Lord’s hand was with them meant that God is the one who was at work! He was using these people to accomplish His great task! Because God was with them, a large number of conversions are taking place.

Also, because of God’s great work in Antioch, that place has become a center of the church’s mission to enter into the Greco-Roman world.

The Coming of Barnabas 11:22-26

Now, the Church in Jerusalem heard about the news v.22. (News reached the church!). Antioch was about 310 miles from Jerusalem. However, the word reached Jerusalem. When the Church in Jerusalem heard this great news, they sent Barnabas to travel “as far as Antioch.”

Recall what the Church in Jerusalem did when they heard that the Samaritans were believing in the Lord. They sent Peter and John to pray over them, and when they were praying the Holy Spirit fell on them (meaning, they were filled/baptized with the Holy Spirit). (8:14).

When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he saw the “grace of God,” that is, the salvific work of God. People are saved because of the grace of God that is derived from the love of God towards humanity.

So, Barnabas saw that and was encouraged (Barnabas was called as “son of encouragement in 4:36; here he was encouraged by witnessing the act of God). He then exhorted other believers to remain true to the Lord. Why?

The purpose is stated in verse 24 – for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. The result of Barnabas' ministry was more people coming to the Lord.

Aren’t we supposed to encourage one another to be faithful, true, and devoted to the Lord? We know what the Bible is saying, but are we doing it? We must all encourage one another to live an upright life.

After Barnabas' ministry in Antioch, he went to look for Saul (v. 25), and found him; and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. There, they taught to a large number of people, and also the disciples were called Christians at Antioch – A new identity to these people!

This is how the Church of Antioch has become a headquarters for missions to the Gentile world.

The Harmony of Church Crossing Boundaries (11:27-30)

The prophet Agabus came from Jerusalem to Antioch (while Barnabas and Saul were ministering there) and predicted a famine that will affect the entire Roman world.

Notice that this prophet was a Christian, and his prediction was attributed to the Holy Spirit. So, he did not speak gibberish but spoke of a famine that would come soon. Two things he said: The famine would be severe, and that would be throughout the world.

The severity of the famine was known through what Josephus wrote; that was caused by grain shortage and harvest failures. The phrase “throughout the world” could mean the known world at that time.

Luke notes that the famine occurred during the reign of Claudius. Clad was an emperor from AD. 41-45. During that time, Egypt, known for its grain had extreme shortages, and the supply was scarce.

Queen Helena, who converted to Judaism, sent aid to the people in Jerusalem by purchasing grain from Egypt. Josephus says, “Under these procurators that great famine happened in Judea, in which queen Helena bought corn in Egypt at a great expense, and distributed it to those that were in want, as I have related already;”[1]

What was the reaction of the disciples when they heard this report? Helping one another. 29-30 shows that these believers made a decision to act in support of their fellow brothers and sisters living in Judea. Each believer gave what they can, and this was carried out by Barnabas and Saul.

What can we learn from this passage?

God empowered the mission of the Church.

The Lord’s hand was upon the Church, the body of believers, and therefore, there was a noticeable conversion of people, which stemmed not only from God’s blessing but also from the effective work of the disciples. Barnabas also played a role in the growth of the Church because he was “full of the Holy Spirit” (11:24).

The mission of the Church is carried out by devoted, dedicated, and godly men.

What did the church leaders see as the most important thing during their time? Edifying the Church; the growth of the Church, which resulted from preaching Christ.

The mission of the Church reached new locations because of teamwork.

Reaching out to communities needs teamwork. Barnabas brings back Saul for work in Antioch. And the result of the teamwork is wonderful. In fact, Jesus sent his disciples in pairs (Mark 6:7).

We have also noticed cross-cultural ministry. The mission of the Church reaches across the cultural and ethnic boundaries. It takes dedication and abandonment of a self-centered attitude, and a transformed life to reach across the boundaries.

[1]Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. 1987. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson.