Here in chapter 11 the early church faces a new challenge. Things are about to change. God is causing a new move toward the whole Gentile world of the Roman Empire. God is no longer only dealing with Jews and a few Gentiles, but the gospel message will spread throughout the Gentile world. The early church will be transformed from a Jewish sect to a new religion. It is the birth of Christianity’s spread throughout the world.

There are times in our life when we must come to grips with something new. There may be changes that we have never had to face before. And because of it, we may be hesitant and timid. But we should not dread change, but look at it as a new opportunity. New challenges are occasions for God to reveal his hand of blessing to us. Let us embrace these changes with faith. We will see how the early church responded to these changes in the way the gospel message was about to be preached.

In this section we see the early church called Christians for the first time. Here is a little list I ran across. A Christian is ....

One who is Saved (2 Tim. 1:9)

One who is Sealed (Eph. 1:13)

One who is Seated (Eph. 2:6)

One who is Sanctified (1 Cor 6:11)

One who is Secure (John 10:28)

One who is Separated (John 17:16)

One who is Sustained (2 Cor. 9:8)

One who is a Son of God (Rom. 8:14)

One who is a Saint (1 Cor 1:2)

One who is a Servant (Col. 3:24)

One who is a Supplicant (1 Tim. 2:1)

One who is a Soldier (2 Tim. 2:3)

One who is a Stone (1 Peter 2:11)

One who is a Sheep (1 Peter 2:25)

One who is a Steward (1 Peter 4:10)

One who is a Sufferer (1 Peter 4:16-19)

One who will See the Lord (1 John 3:2)

In Acts 8:1-4 we saw how the early church scattered from the persecution of Saul. Chapter 11 continues that story of the scattering. The events of chapters 8-11 may have all been happening generally at the same time instead of in strict chronological order. From the persecution which came about after the stoning of Stephen many of the believers traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. At first, when they went to these areas, they spoke only to the Jews. But God was beginning to set events in motion which would transform the way his gospel was going to be spread. While the events recorded in verses 19-21 were occurring, the miraculous transformation of "Saul the Persecutor" to "Paul the Apostle" was taking place in Acts chapter 9.

Little did these scattered believers know that the man from whom they fled for their lives was being trained by God for a great work ahead of him. But first, some preparation needed to be done in Paul’s life, and in an area where God would use Paul as the "Missionary to the Gentiles." That preparation was being done in the city of Antioch.

Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. In spite of its beauty and fame, it was a vile city with rampant immorality. It was this city that God chose to become the center of the early Gentile ministry and the launching point for Paul’s three missionary journeys.

Who were these men that introduced the gospel message to Antioch? Their names are not given. In Acts 13:1 some of the leaders of the Antioch church are mentioned. Among them are Simeon that was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen. So perhaps these were some of those original men from Cyprus and Cyrene who were bold enough to preach for the first time to the Gentiles.

Certainly there must have been others. It is interesting that their names are not recorded. God used anonymous men to begin one of the great works of the church. God is looking for anonymous people today to do his work. Those who are not interested in fame or a title or recognition, but who are willing to share the gospel message to those who are trapped in sin and immorality. God is looking for those who are willing to train the children, who are willing to encourage the hopeless, and minister to the weak and hurting. God is looking for people who are willing to share Christ’s message and love with others. Your name may never be recorded in a book here on earth, but volumes will be written about you in the heavenly scrolls. Allow God to use you to reach others. Be willing to go to a new group of people. Be willing to take on a new challenge.

The Jerusalem church heard about this great move of God, and wanted to help by sending an Apostle who would be able to teach them in the way of Christ. So they chose Barnabas. Why Barnabas? Notice that this new work was begun by men from Cyprus. Barnabas was also from Cyprus. So these men would have something in common with him. In other words, he spoke their language.

Also, Acts 4:36 tells us that Barnabas’ name was really Joseph. The Apostles in Jerusalem had named him Barnabas which meant "Son of Encouragement." What a testimony of a man’s character. We see this character displayed when he came along side the newly-converted Paul when all the other disciples were afraid of him, and we see it again later when Barnabas opposes Paul over not taking the young minister John Mark with them on the Second Missionary Journey. It seems Barnabas may have not been a great orator, but he was a son of encouragement. He knew how to help people and encourage them in their faith. He was exactly what this new church in Antioch needed.

Barnabas could have wondered about this assignment. It seems he may have been a rich and prominent person. Here he is coming to the sin capital of the Roman Empire. He could have looked down at these people, he could have been tempted to be upset about leaving the important work of the church in Jerusalem. But that was not his character. This verse tells us he was glad to see the grace of God working in the lives of these people. He was ready to face this new challenge.

He was willing to roll up his sleeves and get to work. He begins his ministry by encouraging them in their faith. He taught them the foundation of serving Christ – remain faithful and be steadfast. That message is still for us today. If you are discouraged over new circumstances in your life or changes that have occurred, listen to Barnabas’ message for you – remain faithful to God and be steadfast in your faith.

What were the results of this ministry of encouragement? The church grew mightily. Let us have churches today that encourage and not condemn, that show love and not criticism, that will help and not turn away. There are so many that are hurting today. They are searching for answers. But too many churches don’t have the time to reach out a hand of help and nurture.

Many churches today want people to clean up their lives first before coming to their church. But Antioch was a city full of sin. Their pagan practices included ritual prostitution as part of their temple worship. These people were enslaved by evil desires. They needed to hear the message that God loves them. And that is the message they heard. They came to hear Barnabas, and this verse says a large company was added to the Lord.

Let us fill our church with sinners – with drug users, harlots, thieves, and murderers. We don’t ask them to clean up their lives before entering this sanctuary. But the invitation is open – come, all you who are weary and burdened down with the struggles of life. Come, all you who are not worthy, who are entrapped by sin or crippled by problems. Come, all you who cannot make yourselves clean and who cannot stop in your sins. Come to Christ. You cannot clean up yourselves, and we cannot clean you up, but Christ can. Come to his cleansing fountain which will wash away those evil desires and clean you from all your failings. Come to the One who will set you free. Come to him dirty, and he will clean you up. Come to him miserable and he will fill you with joy. Come to him empty and he will fill you with his presence. Come to him lonely and he will be your friend. Come to him, all you sinners of Antioch, and Rome, and California, and Merced.

The church began to grow. Barnabas recognizes that he’s going to need help. Who does he turn to? He turns to an outcast, a man who was rejected by many of the disciples. In fact, he turns to the man who initiated this persecution in the first place. He turns to the very man who caused the scattering which resulted in believers coming to Antioch to establish the church there.

What a change of events! God used Paul to scatter the church so that Antioch could become the head of the Gentile mission work. And who did he use to be one of its ministers? He chose the very person who caused all the turmoil in the first place. How miraculous is our God. The evil person who begins the persecution becomes the pastor of the church which is a result of his persecution!

Is anything too hard for God to do? What challenges are you facing? What changes have occurred in your life? Trust God. He knows exactly what he is doing. We may not understand it at first, but as we place our trust in him we will see how difficulties may be changed into opportunities, just as the early church witnessed persecution transformed into ministry.

And what was the result of this new ministry team? They built the church. In Antioch something truly remarkable occurred. For the first time, followers of Christ were no longer considered part of Jewry. They were no longer classified as a sect of the Jewish faith. For the first time they became recognized as "Christians" – followers of Christ. Christianity was about to spread throughout the entire Roman Empire.

How did all this come to be? Because of Paul? Because of Barnabas? Because of those anonymous men from Cyprus and Cyrene? Or because of Paul’s persecution of the church? Whatever difficulty you are facing, don’t look at it as a change for the worse, but rather as an opportunity for a new challenge. Look what God did with Antioch? He turned the persecutor into the minister and the persecution into the beginnings of Christianity. What new challenge has God given you? Into what will he change your present troubles? Put your faith in God. He knows exactly what he is doing in your life. And it is wonderful.

Footnotes:

This study on Acts 11:19-26 ©1998 by David Humpal. All rights reserved.

All scriptures unless otherwise noted are from the Revised Standard Version © 1971, A. J. Holman Company

A Christian Is from Pulpit Helps, March 1979, Scocaster, December 4, 1994