A MISSIONARY CHURCH

Passage: Acts 11:19-30

Key verse: 20

NIV

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed(A) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,(B) spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus(C) and Cyrene,(D) went to Antioch(E) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news(F) about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them,(G) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.(H)

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas(I) to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,(J) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.(K) 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(L) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.(M)

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus(N) to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples(O) were called Christians first(P) at Antioch.

27 During this time some prophets(Q) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus,(R) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.(S) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)(T) 29 The disciples,(U) as each one was able, decided to provide help(V) for the brothers and sisters(W) living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders(X) by Barnabas(Y) and Saul.(Z)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Church in Antioch

19 (A)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[a] also, (B)preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And (C)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed (D)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 (E)the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord (F)with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, (G)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people (H)were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to (I)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 (J)Christians.

27 Now in these days (K)prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named (L)Agabus stood up and foretold (M)by the Spirit that there would be a great (N)famine over all the world (this took place in the days of (O)Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, (P)to send relief to (Q)the brothers[b] living in Judea. 30 (R)And they did so, sending it to (S)the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 11:20 Or Greeks (that is, Greek-speaking non-Jews)
  2. Acts 11:29 Or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Seeds scattered by persecution (19-21)

After Stephen's death, persecution of Christians intensified. They scattered, preaching the gospel wherever they went. God pushed them to obey his world mission command. Some who went to Antioch in Syria found prepared Gentile hearts. They preached the good news, and a great number of people believed.

2. The ministry of Barnabas (22-29)

Barnabas was a man with the heart of Jesus. He had eyes to see God's work in Antioch, and he encouraged the Gentile believers. He knew that they needed Bible study, so he went to Tarsus and got Saul. He could share a fruitful ministry with someone more able than himself. Together, he and Saul taught the Bible to them for a year, and God blessed their ministry. Perhaps it was Barnabas who taught them responsible stewardship and sacrificial giving (4:36-37), and planted in them (and in Paul) a sense of missionary responsibility. There the Christian church broke out of Judaism.

Prayer: Lord, help our church to be like the church in Antioch. Raise up men of encouragement and Bible teachers like Barnabas.

One Word: Marks of a missionary church