Opening: Do you like to go to new things – restaurants, stores, attractions,
gadgets? Or do you like to wait “until they get all the bugs worked out”?
Scripture: Read Acts11:19-30.
Insights:
- There are two Antiochs in the New Testament:
1.
Antioch
in Pisidia (modern Turkey) was visited by Paul and Barnabas on the First
Missionary Journey (see Acts 13:14).
2.
The
one in today’s passage is Antioch in Syria, 300 miles north of Jerusalem. With the
exception of Jerusalem, Antioch of Syria played a more important role in the
early church than any other city. After Rome and Alexandria, Antioch was the
largest city in the Roman world. In Antioch, the first Gentile church was
founded, and Paul used the city as his home base during his missionary
journeys.
- We met Barnabas back in Acts 4:36-37. He was called the “Son of Encouragement” and he clearly lived up to his name in today’s passage. Not only did he encourage the growing Gentile believers, he was led to get Saul to help him. It had been 9 years since Saul escaped from Jerusalem and went back home to Tarsus (see Acts9:30). For a possible timeline of Paul, see http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/paul/timeline.cfmhttp://www.blueletterbible.org/study/paul/timeline.cfm.
- Here in Antioch is where we get our name: Christians. Christian means “These Christ-folk.” It was intended as a contemptuous nickname; but the Christians took it and made it known to the entire world. By their lives they made it a name not of contempt but of respect and admiration and even wonder.
- The church in Antioch learned to give through the leadership of Barnabas. These Gentile believers supported their fellow believers in Judea and sent the offering to Jerusalem. Claudius was Roman emperor from 41-54 AD.
Life
Questions:
- Who has been an encourager for you, someone who has helped you reach farther in your faith than you thought possible? Is there someone you are encouraging now? Who knows if that person might become a Paul? Only one way to find out, right?
- Giving to people in need was practiced very early in the Christian movement (see Acts4:34-35; 6:1). How are you doing in your giving to help needy persons?
Prayer
Focus: That we live up to our name – Christ folk!
