( Remember)The Hand of the Lord
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord
The first seven chapters of Luke’s account in Acts describe how the first Christian church remained firmly Jewish and based in Jerusalem. As that block of writing ends, Luke introduces Saul, the one who drove many Christians, and thus a large segment of the church, out of Jerusalem (see Acts 8:1–4). As Luke thought out the book he intended to write, he knew he wanted to describe in detail how Saul, who would become known as Paul, took the good news to what is now Turkey, Greece, and Italy (see Acts 13–21). Acts 8 through 12 serve as a necessary transition between the Jewish, Jerusalem-based church and the more ethnically diverse group which had Antioch as its headquarters.
Chapters 8, 10 and 11 show how God helped the church gradually open its arms to embrace increasingly diverse people: Samaritans—people committed to the God of the Old Testament, although they worshiped in a manner different than that of the orthodox Jews; the Ethiopian eunuch—perhaps a proselyte (a full convert to Judaism), at minimum, a God-fearer (a Gentile strongly attracted to Judaism, even if not a full convert); a collection of Gentiles, led by Cornelius (who was certainly a God-fearer)—this first evangelistic outreach to Gentiles had been specifically engineered by God himself.
First, Antioch was outside Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, where Jesus had ministered. Second, Antioch was, even by modern standards, an urban center. Joppa may have had a few hundred or maybe a thousand residentsJerusalem had perhaps fifty thousand, while Antioch was home to as many as five hundred thousand people! Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, ranking only behind Rome and Alexandria (in Egypt). Antioch was a city known for its love of pleasure and luxury. Its temple to the goddess Daphne involved ritual prostitution.3
How did a small-town Jewish church end up in urban, Gentile Antioch? The story here goes back to the martyrdom of Stephen. Luke again refers to the story of those scattered by the persecution that followed Stephen’s death (11:19). The scattered Christians took the gospel in various directions. Luke mentions evangelists traveling southeast to Phoenicia, west to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and north to Antioch (see 11:19). At first, these evangelists offered the news of the Messiah only to those who were expecting His arrival—the Jews. Antioch had its large pocket of Jews, part of the dispersion (see chapter 6 of the commentary). The first Christians in Antioch came from its Jewish community.
Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks [Gentiles] also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus (11:20). This move toward Gentiles was overwhelmingly significant. This was the church’s first deliberate move toward Gentiles. In its previous ministry among non-Jews, Cornelius the Gentile had made the first move (at God’s instigation). (There may have been a large time gap between the establishment of “Antioch First Church” [see 11:19] and “Antioch Second,” which included Gentilessee the additional notes at the end of this chapter of the commentary.) Although God had not specifically instructed this move, He showed His approval by the fruit it bore: A great number of people [from the Gentiles] believed and turned to the Lord (11:21b).
Once again, word of new and different converts traveled. Even without telephones and e-mail, the word of a Gentile church in Antioch reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem (11:22). The leaders there had perhaps learned a lesson, after criticizing Peter’s work among Gentiles. They were not so quick to condemn, but they still acted cautiously. They decided to send one of their own to check out this situation and verify its validity.
The Jerusalem church could not have chosen a better representative than Barnabas. He had already shown his worth by his generosity (see 4:36–37) and open-mindedness (helping Saul to enter the fearful Christian leadership groupsee 9:27). Barnabas sized up the Antioch situation, noting its present value and potential for the future. He discipled the new believers
Who was it? None other than Saul. As an educated Jew, who had been raised in a Gentile city, but who was now fiercely loyal to Jesus, Saul was especially well suited. In the Barnabas-Saul partnership, they could accomplish two goals. Of course, Saul could help disciple the Gentiles. But at the same time, Barnabas could mentor Saul, as Saul developed his own rich potential.… So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people … (Acts 11:26).
The other residents of the city noticed a real difference among the believers. This group of “Jesus people” became so distinct that those around them coined a new name for the believers. The pagans of Antioch first called those who had joined Barnabas and Saul the “Christ-ones” or, as we say today, Christians (11:26).
As you consider this passage again, note the wonderful balance manifested in Antioch: evangelism and discipleship; ministry to spiritual and physical needs; listening, speaking, and doing; and a variety of ministries shared among many people who both gave and received. Such balance does not come easily. It is a sign that God is truly at work.
