The Church in Antioch

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

February 24, 2021

The Church in Antioch

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.

Acts 11:19

Read: Acts 11:19-30       

Today’s passage took place approximately twelve years after Pentecost. As I read the opening verse, I recalled Joseph’s statement in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” The persecution that followed the martyrdom of Stephen was used for good by God to proclaim the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

(On January 31, I shared in my Zoom Sunday School class how God was using the persecution of Christians in China for the good of extending His Kingdom. You can watch a short video of pastor Wayne Cordeiro’s story of teaching in an underground church in China on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iwf7rmA1y9M )

In Chapters 2, 4 and 5, we saw how the disciples had everything in common. In today’s passage we see a little different take on the hospitality and generosity of the New Community of Believers, or the Christians as they were called in Antioch.

“The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.” (v.29)

The Apostle Paul later affirms this in 2 Corinthians 9:7,

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

My Takeaway: Barnabas is described as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (v.24) I can think of no finer epitaph.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.