"Antioch Activity"

EPISODE 133

Get Busy in Christ’s Work

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Sometimes it’s hard to see how anything positive could come from a difficult situation. When we found an angry mob of Jews who murdered Stephen in Acts 7, how could that possibly wind up being a good thing? Surprisingly, his death spread the good news of Jesus as no event had before!

“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” (Acts 11:19).

So as the new community of Christ’s followers scattered, Luke records in Acts 11 the bustling activity — far from Jerusalem — in a city called Antioch.

Continued Growth

“But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:20-21).

Though the church scattered far from where it began, the work didn’t stop or suffer. Many continued Christ’s charge to share their faith with anyone — anywhere — who would hear (Mark 16:15). And that’s what we see in Antioch with some unnamed disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene. The Lord was with them as they preached, and their work flourished as a result.

So, are you sharing the good news with the world as they did?

Spending the Time

“So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 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 Christians” (Acts 11:25-26).

Barnabas and Saul treated the Lord’s work more like a marathon than a sprint. They realized that growth takes time! And finding such fertile soil as we see in Antioch, why not spend a whole year working there? And this receptive city was the origin of our commonly used title, “Christian.”

So, are you spending the time needed to encourage others as Barnabas and Saul did?

Supporting the Saints

“So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30).

Here we’re introduced to a recurring theme throughout many of Saul’s (a.k.a. Paul’s) letters — the famine in Judea. And what an encouraging scene to see these disciples providing financially for their relief! These Christians in Antioch were such an outstanding example of love and concern for others, one which we’d do well to follow today!

So, are you concerned enough about disciples abroad to help them out during their time of need?

May God help us be as active as Antioch. And let’s invest our time in preaching and caring about the growth of the kingdom wherever we are today!