The Power of the Gospel

Acts 11:19–26 CSB

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Mankind has come up with some great ideas throughout the history of the world.

Computers

Electricity

Penicillin

Automobiles

Concrete

Wheel

A/C

Mankind has had some great ideas from the beginning.

But the greatest idea that has ever been shared with mankind is none of these. Because it didn’t start with man; it started with God.

The greatest idea that has ever impacted the human race is the Gospel.

Gospel - “Good news of Jesus Christ.”

This was all God’s idea. It wasn’t a back up plan; it was the plan of redemption from eternity past.

The end of Acts 11 is all about what happens when you let the Gospel lose!

“The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose and it will defend itself.” - Augustine

In Acts 11, the Gospel is let loose on the world.

We should be thankful for Acts 11, because the reason we are in a NT church in 2024 is because of Acts 11!

1. The Gospel is unstoppable and will advance regardless of obstacles.

Acts 11:19 CSB

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

You would think that the “scattering” of the disciples in Acts 11 would have hindered the cause of the Gospel, but it did the exact opposite.

Instead, the Gospel starts to spread like a wildfire…even in the midst of persecution.

Here’s an example: On October 6, 1536, William Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake for translating the Scriptures into English for the common man. He was accused of heresy and given an opportunity to recant, but used his last words to pray with a loud voice, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” The prayer was answered in part when 3 years later, in 1539, Henry VIII required every parish church in England to make a copy of the English Bible available to its parishioners.

Why is the Gospel unstoppable? Because it is alive!

There were 11 Roman Rulers from 27AD - 4th Century that tried to destroy Christianity.

Nero

Vespasian

Domitian

Trajan

Hadrian

Marcus Aurelius

Maximus the Thracian

Decius

Valerian

Diocletian

Constantius and Galerius

And guess what? Not a one of them succeeded.

Nobody has ever succeeded because it is a failed effort from the start. You can not stand against the Gospel.

2. The Gospel shines the brightest in dark places.

Acts 11:20–21 CSB

20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

The Gospel goes to Antioch.

It’s important for us to understand Antioch.

Antioch was a city of 1/2 million people.

It was 300 miles north of Jerusalem.

It was the 3rd greatest city in the Roman Empire (Rome, Alexandria, Antioch)

It was known for its business and commerce, but also its wickedness.

Antioch was to the world what NYC is to America. It was the “melting pot” of all different types of pagan practices. Including temple prostitution and others.

Antioch was one of the darkest places in the ancient world.

And you would think they would not have much success at such a pagan place. Yet, the opposite happens!

John 1:5 CSB

5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

The amazing thing about light is that darkness does not have the power to extinguish it.

Illustration: “Did you see that? When the light shines, the darkness has no choice but to flee.”

When we take the light of the Gospel into the darkest of places, something amazing happens! The light shines brighter and purer than ever!

3. People doing true Gospel ministry need an “encourager” not a “critic.”

Acts 11:22–24 CSB

22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

The first thing the church at Jerusalem does is send them Barnabus - whose name means “the son of encouragement.”

He goes to share in their joy.

Notice they didn’t send in Gordon Ramsey or Robert Ervine. (Explain)

Where are the church encouragers of 2024? Too many times we have become the critics.

As Gospel people - any time we see our church or people doing the Gospel ministry we should come along side them and encourage them in their work.

4. Gospel preparation years are not wasted years.

Acts 11:25–26 CSB

25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

We have two areas here that are preparation years:

1) Saul has been in Tarsus for 12 years.

After Barnabus comes, he decides that he needs his old friend Saul to join him.

The only problem is, Barnabus doesn’t know exactly where Paul is.

The word “searched” in vv. 25 has an insinuation of a “manhunt.”

Barnabus is going to find Saul and bring him back to Antioch.

Heres the question - what has Saul been doing for 12 years? Answer: he has been preparing. Some would say “He should have been busy!” And I bet he was, however, Saul was spending time for 12 years getting ready for what God was going to do through him.

2) Barnabus and Saul stay for an entire year with the church at Antioch.

“Couldn’t they have been doing more missions work in that year?” Sure. But they find the importance of using this entire year to get a good foundation for the gospel in the church at Antioch.

Don’t count your years of preparation for the ministry as wasted years.

Illustration - Met people in seminary - I can’t wait until I’m done so I can do some actual ministry.

“Wait a minute, these preparation years are important. You are doing actual ministry!”

5. The power of the Gospel turns us into “Christians.”

Acts 11:26 CSB

26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

We get a new nickname here. We are called “Christianos” - literally “little Christs” or “of the party of Jesus Christ.”

It is interesting because the name “Christian” only appears 3x in the N.T. (Here in our passage,

Acts 26:28 (CSB)

28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”

1 Peter 4:16 (CSB)

16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.

Taking this name (Christians) means we have surrendered to the power of the Gospel and freely chosen to be identified with Christ.

People are not made Christians by believing in God. Christians do believe in God, but that does not make them Christians.

Authentic Christianity (3), 213

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

What makes someone a Christian then? They have believed in the Gospel and partaken of it as their own.

You don’t actually have the power to become a Christian. It is the power of the GOSPEL that makes you a Christian.

Soldiers in Roman armies would identify themselves by adding -ian to their general’s name.

Caesar would be Caesarian.

Our general is Christ. Therefore, we are Christians.

My questions is - if you identify as a Christian, are you truly obeying the general?

Conclusion:

Have you experienced the life changing power of the Gospel?

Are you being salt and light with the Gospel in a dark world?

Are you a Gospel encourager?

Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it, and make it worth $6,000—that’s genius.

Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars—that’s capital.

Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and make it worth $20.00—that’s money.

A mechanic can take material that is worth only $5.00 and make it worth $50.00—that’s skill.

An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth $1,000—that’s art.

God can take a sinful life, wash it in the blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity—that’s the Gospel.