Participate in God's work of grace
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In this verse in the beginning of the book, Jesus clearly stated that the Holy Spirit will empower His disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, we see how the disciples witnessed about Jesus in Jerusalem from chapter 2 to 7. From chapter 8, we see the gospel spreading throughout Judea and Samaria as persecution arose in Jerusalem. In chapter 10 and the first part of chapter 11, we see that the gospel was preached to Gentiles for the first time. That was in Caesarea, which was in Samaria. This marks the end of the record of the movement of the gospel in Judea and Samaria.
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.
Today’s passage started by reminding us of the persecution that arose. I think this is Luke’s way of informing his readers that this is the beginning of a new section. The section on the movement of the gospel in Judea and Samaria has concluded. He will now focus his attention of the movement of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch are located north of Samaria. The gospel is moving forth beyond Samaria. We should also take note that once again the breaking of new grounds in this next phase of mission was not done by any apostles. It was an organic and dynamic movement that happened as people were fleeing persecution. Believers simply kept sharing wherever they went to. Being Jews from Jerusalem, they focused on sharing only with Jews. Even though God had already began a work among the Gentiles, but these Jewish believers still did not participated in sharing to the Gentiles. It is possible that they were yet unaware of what happened through Peter in Caesarea.
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.
However, God’s plan to reach the Gentiles could not be stopped. The “Hellenists” in this verse means Greek speaking Jews. However, in other translations like NIV, the word “Greeks” is used instead of “Hellenists”. This is because out of all the available copies of Greek manuscripts of Acts, some have the word for “Hellenists” and others have the word for “Greeks”. Looking at the context and flow of the story in Acts, I think most likely Luke meant “Greeks”, not “Hellenists”.
So, these men who were not from Jerusalem, were more open to preach about Jesus to the Greeks. And God’s favor was upon them. The result was that many came to faith.
God’s plan will always prevail even if we hinder God’s work because of our prejudice or ignorance.
God’s plan will always prevail even if we hinder God’s work because of our prejudice or ignorance.
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.
It is a little strange that the church in Jerusalem decided to send a representative to investigate what was going on in Antioch. Why they didn’t send Barnabas to Phoenicia and Cyprus? It is even more strange that Luke said that because Barnabas was glad and exhorted them when he saw the grace of God because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Isn’t it normal to be glad and encourage people when we see the grace of God at work? Why would Barnabas need to be a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith to do that? I think these verses really serve to highlight how groundbreaking it was for these men to preach the gospel to the Greeks. Barnabas understood God’s heart to reach the Gentiles through the Cornelius incident. He was a good man with the eyes of faith to see God working out His plans instead of doubting the grace of God because of racial prejudice.
God is always working out His plan to reach the nations. We need to participate in His work with eyes of faith instead of doubt.
God is always working out His plan to reach the nations. We need to participate in His work with eyes of faith instead of doubt.
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.
Barnabas, with his eyes of faith, remembered Saul whom he met a few years ago in Jerusalem. He remembered that Saul was a bold evangelist who was fluent in Greek. So, faced with the tremendous growth of the church in Antioch, he got Saul to help him. The result of their ministry is that a great many people was taught by them. This is the third time in this passage that talked about a great number of people. It is a clear emphasis that the Gentiles were very receptive towards the gospel. I think that’s why the disciples there were called Christians, which means followers of Christ. If the disciples in Antioch were mostly Jews, there was nothing new, there were already Jewish disciples for many years. They were simply known as the people of the Nazarene sect. The Greeks would be the ones who would use the Greek word “Christus” to describe the Anointed One. So, it is likely that the Greeks in Antioch identified those among them who became followers of Jesus as Christians.
When we see God at work, invite skillful people who are passionate for God to join in the work.
When we see God at work, invite skillful people who are passionate for God to join in the work.
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.
The passage ended with more people coming from Jerusalem to support the work. After hearing the prediction of a coming famine over all the land, these Gentile believers actually took up an offering to send to the Jewish believer in Judea. They exercised the unity in Christ that we can see in chapter 2, where the church shared and made sure that there was no lack in the family of Christ. The Holy Spirit worked in these Gentile believers in the same way as how He transformed the lives of the believers in Jerusalem.
All who are in Christ are one family in Christ. Loving one another is a sure sign of the work of the Holy Spirit.
All who are in Christ are one family in Christ. Loving one another is a sure sign of the work of the Holy Spirit.
As we learned today, God will always fulfill His plans. We should participate with faith and encourage others to do the same. We should also respond to the work of the Holy Spirit by loving one another in the body of Christ. Let’s pray.
