06-02-2019 - Tagged... Does Your Name Reflect YOU?

EXPERTISE: A radiologist looked over the x-rays of a patient with multiple fractures and asked the technician about the cause. The tech noted the patient fell out of a tree. The doctor then asked why he was in a tree, and the assistant explained how his chart listed him as an employee of Bob’s Expert Tree Service. The radiologist glanced back at the x-rays and then said, “Cross out ‘Expert.’” Today’s Christian Living, May 2019, p.40

Acts 11:20 NLT

20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 11:20

11:20. The reference to Antioch in Syria prepares the reader for the importance of this city in the subsequent narrative. This city, one of many bearing the same name, was the third largest in the Roman Empire behind Rome and Alexandria. Located on the Orontes River 15 miles inland, it was known as Antioch on the Orontes. Beautifully situated and carefully planned, it was a commercial center and the home of a large Jewish community. In spite of the fact that it was a vile city, with gross immorality and ritual prostitution as part of its temple worship, the church at Antioch was destined to become the base of operations for Paul’s missionary journeys. The Roman satirist, Juvenal, complained, “The sewage of the Syrian Orontes has for long been discharged into the Tiber.” By this he meant that Antioch was so corrupt it was impacting Rome, more than 1,300 miles away.

Acts 11:21 NLT

21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

A 300 mile journey to the north by Barnabas and Paul

Barnabas, also from Cyprus (see 4:36 & 11:20

Barnabas was generous (4:37)

Barnabas was gracious (4:36 & 11:24)

Acts 11:22–24 NLT

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

Notice Barnabas:

Good Man

Full of the Holy Spirit

Full of Faith

Acts 11:25–26 NLT

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 11:26

Jesus’ disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. The ending “-ian” means “belonging to the party of”; thus “Christians” were those of Jesus’ party. The word “Christians” is used only two other times in the New Testament: in 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. The significance of the name, emphasized by the word order in the Greek text, is that people recognized Christians as a distinct group. The church was more and more being separated from Judaism