Acts 11:19-26 The church at Antioch

Acts 11:19-26 The believers in Antioch begin to witness to Gentiles, and many become Christians as well. Although there is no direct causal relationship between Peter's experience with the Roman centurion in Caesarea, and what subsequently happens in Antioch, we cannot rule it out. Perhaps the men who began sharing the gospel with Gentiles in Antioch had heard of what happened to Peter, and gotten the word that the church leadership in Jerusalem had agreed. In any event, they found a welcome response to the Gospel in the Gentiles in Antioch. Naturally, and appropriately, the church leaders in Jerusalem wanted to understand what was happening, so they sent Barnabas to investigate.

          Barnabas has popped up twice already, first in Acts 4:36 where he participated in the initial generosity of the early church by donating the proceeds from the sale of some land. Then in Acts 9:27 he was the one who introduced Saul to the apostles after his conversion. Although never mentioned as one of the apostles or deacons, he was evidently trusted by them. It is recorded here that he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith.  When he investigated the conversion of Gentiles in Antioch, he encouraged them all to continue to purpose in their heart to The Lord. Then he went to find Saul, who had been sent off to Tarsus previously, and brought him to Antioch. And then he and Saul spent considerable time teaching the believers in Antioch.

          In retrospect, we understand the great insight that Paul had into the truths of Christianity. As discussed above, this was the result of the confluence of several factors. But at this time, how did Barnabas know that Saul had this great wisdom? We can only infer that the Holy Spirit must have told him that these new believers needed instruction and that he (Barnabas) should recruit Saul to help him teach them. And the fruit of Barnabas' hearing and obeying is probably the thirteen books of the New Testament that Paul wrote, as well as all of the churches that were established throughout the Mediterranean world as a result of Paul's missionary trips. Whenever we encourage another in ministry, in the Holy Spirit, we cannot foresee the fruit that may come from it. But God does, and hence all we can do is be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and then rejoice when we see that fruit being borne.

          The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.  The term 'Christ' is the Greek word for the Hebrew word 'Messiah' which has the meaning of one who is anointed. So the learners, the disciples, in Antioch were called the ones who were anointed, following Jesus who was the anointed one. There are two aspects to this. First, they were identified with Jesus, as followers of Him, although it is interesting that they weren't called the Jesus people. Perhaps this is because the second aspect is that the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which rested on Jesus, also rested on them. Whether this moniker came from outsiders who recognized this attribute, or was taken on internally within the church, we don't really know. But it is fitting that the defining characteristic of those who followed the teachings of Jesus was that they were anointed as He was. Would that that were true today.