Hand of the Lord

Acts 11:19-30

preparing me to ministry

When we are doing what God commands he protects us.

When we do what God commands he grows us.

When others hear what God is doing, they want to join.

God provides the resources for growth.

God grows us to serve of others.

Acts 11:19–30 ESV

19 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. 20 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. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 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, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 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. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 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). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Antioch

Location - 300 miles north of Caesarea Maritima

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible Antioch

named after the Syrian emperor Antiochus

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible Antioch

Phoenicia - Is the region north Galilee and Samaria and south of Syria

Cyprus i is an island region in the mediteranian

Cyrene is a port city of of Africa on the other side of Egypt

Remember the Hellenists were Greek speaking Jews.

To the ends of the earth

Acts 11:21 ESV

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

When we are doing what God commands The Hand of God protects

The Church in Antioch came about because of the persecution of the Church

These early Christians were part of the dispertion

Psalm 118:15–16 ESV

15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, 16 the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

Psalm 145:16 ESV

16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Exodus 13:3 ESV

3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.

Psalm 138:7 ESV

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

This is similar to the prophecy in Micah

Micah 4:10 ESV

10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

God Promised that they would be sent out of Jerusalem where he would redeem His people.

Acts 11:22–27 ESV

22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 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, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 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.

Because of their faithfulness and the Hand of God - News of the church in Antioch came back to Jerusalem

God sent a servant from Jerusalem

God brought to them Paul and his Testimony

Acts 11:27–30 ESV

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 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). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

God uses the church in Antioch to provide for other churches, starting in Jerusalem.

what isour takeaway

When we do what God commands the hand of God grows us.

When others hear what the Hand of God is doing, they want to join.

The Hand of God provides the resources for growth.

The Hand of God grows us to use in service of others.