The Great Movement of the Gospel to Antioch Acts 11:19-30

After Peter defends his ministry in connection with the conversion of Gentiles in the home of Cornelius (Acts 11:1-18), the gospel has now penetrated to Antioch, where there was a great movement of the gospel.  In verse 19, we discover that Stephen’s martyrdom results in the spreading of the gospel to Gentile lands – Phoenicia, Cyrus, and Antioch.   The reference to Antioch in Syria helps us to understand that the church in Antioch will become the base of operations for Paul’s missionary journeys (v. 20).  As a result of the preaching of some unnamed believers, a great number of Gentiles in Antioch believed and turned to the Lord (v. 21).  Upon hearing about the great moving of the Spirit of God in Antioch, the mother church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas, the son of encouragement (Acts 4:36), to Antioch (v. 22).

Barnabas, a great selection from the Jerusalem church, could only attest to and marvel at the great work that God was doing in Antioch!  True to his wonderful nickname, son of encouragement, Barnabas encouraged the believers (v. 23).  There were three significant things said about Barnabas: “he was a good man, he was full of the Holy spirit, and he was full of faith” (v.24).  These are characteristics that every believer should possess! As a result of Barnabas’ tremendous ministry of exhorting (preaching and teaching) the church grew, and Barnabas knew that he needed an assistant.  Knowing that he needed help, Barnabas sent for Saul, who was living in Tarsus (v. 25; Acts 9:30).  Barnabas and Saul will minister a full year in Antioch, teaching a great number of people.   The church grew mightily at a great rate (v,26; Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1; 9:31; 11:21, 24).

It is interesting to note that the disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch (v. 26; Acts 26:28; I Peter 4:16).  The term Christians was not a term used to ridicule the believers, but a term that emphasized that the believers were followers of Christ!  The final section of Acts chapter 11, records an incident resulting in a general famine that affected the Jerusalem church.  Saul, who once brought havoc to the church in Jerusalem, is now seen bringing relief to the Jerusalem church affected by the famine (vv. 27-30).

May God Bless!