Acts 11:19-30

I. Seven Themes

God the Father orchestrates (Acts 5:38-39)

Through Christ, who lives and rules

Through the empowering Spirit

Causing the word to multiply

Bringing salvation to all

Forming the church which

Witnesses to the ends of the earth

II. Forming the Church

The People of God

The First Mover

God’s Plan

Through His Son

By the power of the Spirit

Church is built upon God’s will and his word, the message of salvation

God acts in and through his people.

Stage 1: Restoring Israel (1-7)

Stage 2: Assembling Outcasts (8-12)

Stage 3: Welcoming Gentiles (13-28)

Assembling Outcasts (8-12)

God assembles people on the margins of Israel. The glory of the temple will no longer be restricted to Jerusalem.

Isaiah 56:8 “The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.””

Isaiah 16:4 “let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,”

Philip

Samaritans (Acts 8:8 “So there was much joy in that city.” )

Symbol: Northern Israel

Separated Socially, Geographically, and Religiously

John 4:4 “And he had to pass through Samaria.”

Mount Gerizim

1 Kings 12:16–20 (ESV)

And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents. But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.

Israel’s north and south are reintegrated.

Ezekiel 37:16–17 ““Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.”

Acts 8:14–17 “Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.”

Holy Spirit

Jewish witness of the Samaritans receiving the Holy Spirit. The Jews see God’s love for the outcasts, and gathers them into the newly forming church.

Ethiopian eunuch

Gender and Ethnic Inclusion

Non-Men between the male-female binary.

Ethiopian - a black man and Eunuch

Jeremiah 13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.”)

Leviticus 21:20 “or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles.”

Deuteronomy 23:1 ““No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord.”

Isaiah 56:3–5 “Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.”

Jesus

Saul

Symbol: Great Enemy of the Church

Ezekiel 1:26–28 “And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”

Acts 9:5 “And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Jesus is revealed as the one on the throne.

Welcomed into he new community

Acts 9:17–19 “So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.”

Peter

Cornelius and Household

Symbol: God-fearer/Gentile

Visions of Cornelius and Peter (Acts 10:1-16)

Spirit’s leading (Acts 10:19-20)

Spirit is poured out on Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:17-48)

Antioch

Acts 11:26 “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.”

The church is a third race; it does not obliterate distinctions but draws people together under the banner of Christ the Lord.

Acts 13:1 “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

A Hellenized Jew from Cyprus

A Pharisee from Tarsus

Two black men from the south

North African

High-Society

Isaiah 56:8 “The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.””

III. The Antioch Chronicles (11:19-15:35)

A. The Spread of the Gospel to Antioch (Acts 11:19-21)

Acts 11:19–21 “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. 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.”

Persecution Scatters Believers (v.19)

Following Stephen’s martyrdom, believers spread to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.

Acts 8:1–3 “And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”

Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.

Antioch of Syria was the third-largest city (300,000 to 600,000) in the Roman world after Rome and Alexandria.

Capital of the East

Hellenistic culture that was founded by Seleucus I about 300 B.C.

Many Jews lived in the city.

The suffering of some leads to the word going further from Jerusalem. Therefore, the Lord is sovereign over events to accomplish his desired will.

They initially shared the gospel only with Jews.

The Gospel Reaches Gentiles (v.20)

Some believers from Cyprus and Cyrene preached to Hellenists (Greeks/Gentiles).

Cyprus - island

Cyrene - region of N. Africa

God’s Blessing on Evangelism (v.21)

The hand of the Lord was with them.

Signs and wonders as well as proclaiming the gospel

A Mission not originated by the leadership of the Jerusalem church.

A great number believed and turned to the Lord.

The need for mature leader to guide this growing church.

B. Barnabas Sent to Antioch (Acts 11:22-24)

Acts 11:22–24 “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.”

The Church in Jerusalem Sends Barnabas (v.22)

The Jerusalem church hears of the Gentile conversions.

Barnabas is sent to assess the situation.

Matthew 16:18–19 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.””

Barnabas Encourages the New Believers (v.23)

He sees the grace of God at work and rejoices.

He encourages them to remain steadfast in faith.

From Cyprus

Acts 4:36 “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,”

Acts 9:27 “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.”

Barnabas’ Character and Impact (v.24)

Why Barnabas was sent.

He is described as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.

Like Stephen

Acts 6:5 “And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.” Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”

Full of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:17–19“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,”

Full of Faith

deep and abiding trust in God and Christ

Many more people are added to the Lord through his ministry.

C. Saul (Paul) Brought to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26)

Acts 11:25–26 “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 Seeks Out Saul (v.25)

Barnabas travels to Tarsus to find Saul (Paul).

Galatians 1:17–24 “nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.”

Galatians 2:1 “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.”

A Year of Teaching in Antioch (v.26)

Barnabas and Saul stay in Antioch for a year, teaching many people.

Galatians 2:11 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”

Strengthening the church and teaching the people

Believers are first called “Christians” in Antioch.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. Χριστιανός

Χριστιανός

One Associated with Christ. They were distinguished from Jews who are not followers of Christ. This term is a partisan term that is not ethnic but religious.

Mark 3:6 “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” Mark 12:13 “And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.”

c. Antioch is the establishment of the mother church for the mission to the Gentiles.

D. The Antioch Church Provides for Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30) Acts 11:27–30 “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. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”

A Prophecy of Famine (v.27-28)

Prophets from Jerusalem visit Antioch.

predicting the future

Agabus predicts a severe famine across the Roman world during Claudius’ reign.

AD 44-45

Empire wide

Egypt was the breadbasket for the whole region. Famine in Egypt produced food shortages elsewhere.

grain hoarding

inability of the poor to purchase food at the current price

Began to affect Judea in 46.

The Church in Antioch Responds (v.29)

The disciples give according to their ability to support believers in Judea.

Acts 2:44–45 “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

Acts 4:32–34 “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold”

1 Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”

2 Corinthians 8:3 “For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,”

Every church around the world is a sister congregation, and when they are in trouble we owe it to God and ourselves to alleviate their suffering.

Aid Delivered by Barnabas and Saul (v.30)

The relief is sent to the elders in Jerusalem.

Second visit of Paul to Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1)

This is the first place in Acts where Christian elders are mentioned.

Barnabas and Saul are chosen to deliver it.