Antioch In Syria, The Gentile Centre

by J. Miller. | Category: The Growth Of The Fellowship | May 1959

Following upon the. defence of Peter before the brethren who were of the Circumcision in Judea as to his going in to eat with men who were uncircumcised, in which at that time he successfully quenched their opposition to his action, we are told that "when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life " (Acts 11.1-18). After this the Spirit, through Luke, takes up the theme of the scattering of the disciples from Jerusalem, which he had left off in Acts 8.4 to tell of the Lord's work in Samaria through Philip, and other matters consistent with the flow of his narrative. Those that were scattered "upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews." - Among them were "men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus" (Acf~I1. 19-26). Quite independently of the revelation which was made to Peter in Acts 10, these brethren seemed to be led of the Holy Spirit to speak the divine message to the Greeks. This is both an interesting and remarkable fact. The outward flow of the word of God was not here through the apostles, but through men who, no doubt, had been reached in Jerusalem through the preaching of the apostles. It shows how God may and can bless the preaching of His gospel through what we may call, if we are not misunderstood, ordinary men who arc filled with zeal for the furtherance of His work. This is encouragement for all who would serve the Lord. We are told that "the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord." It is evident from these words that these persons went further than simply believing on the Lord Jesus, they went on to bow to the Lordship of Christ; they believed and turned unto the Lord.

The report of this work of God reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas "as far as Antioch." These words are important as showing that Barnabas was not sent forth wholly to the Lord's work, as he was later when he and Saul (Paul) were sent forth by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13.1-8).

When Barnabas reached Antioch he was glad when he saw the manifestation of the grace of God in those who had been reached with the word, and he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they should abide with (Prosmenein) the Lord to whom they had turned. Barnabas we are told "was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit," and in consequence of his visit the church of God in Antioch was planted in fellowship with the church of God in Jerusalem and all other similar churches. This is clearly seen in the words, much people was added unto the Lord We have only to go back to Acts 2 to see the meaning of these words added unto the Lord

Verse 41 says, "They then that received his word were baptized

and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls." Again in verse 47 we read, "And the Lord added together (R.V. marg.) day by day those that were being saved." And yet again we read, "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women" (Acts 5.14). Such as were found in the churches of God were both added by the Lord and added to the Lord, to be subject to His authority and obedient to His word.

As the work of God grew it seems evident that Barnabas felt the need of a co-worker, so we are told, "And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul." He and Saul had earlier association in divine things, for when Saul came to Jerusalem from Damascus to become acquainted with Peter, and sought to join (to be glued to) the disciples, they were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple, it was Barnabas who took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared how he had seen the Lord in the way and had preached boldly in the name of Jesus at Damascus (Acts 9.26, 27). When he had found Saul he brought him to Antioch and for a whole year they were gathered with the church, which had been planted earlier on the coming of Barnabas from Jerusalem, and they taught much people. The effect of their teaching was manifestly seen in the lives of the disciples in the church in Antioch, for there the disciples were first called Christians. The word "called" here (Chrematizo) is frequently used in the New Testament of God for giving a warning or communication (Matthew 2.12, 22; Luke 2.26; Hebrews 11.7, etc.), but the word as commonly used by the Greeks ~ named persons because of the business in what they were engaged. In this sense it is used here; the disciples, as to their work, were viewed as Christ's ones, followers of Christ, that is, their behaviour and work were like His. It is used in a similar way in Romans 7.8 where an unfaithful spouse is called an adulteress. Her actions led to her being so called. See Acts 26.28; 1 Peter 4.16, where the word Christian is also used. The name Christian, by whomsoever coined, is not an opprobrious name, but a name to glorify God in, and not to be ashamed of.

Acts 11.27-80 shows how truly the church of God in Antioch was joined in fellowship with the churches of God in Judea, for when Agabus a prophet (Acts 21.10) signified by the Spirit that there was to be a great world famine, which came in the days of Claudius, the disciples in Antioch determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea. Let verse 80 be carefully noted that they sent the relief to the elders of the churches in Judea by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. Here we see the elders of the churches in Judea acting together in dealing with the supplies which had come to meet the distress of the needy in those churches. We see the churches of Macedonia and Achaia acting together in sending relief to the saints in Jerusalem at a later time (Romans 15.26; 1 Corinthians 18.1-4; 2 Corinthians 8.1; 9.2, 18). This acting together of churches and the elders of those churches in Roman provinces is one of the essential features of a people dwelling together and acting in

unity. The joint acting of elders is seen both in the nation of Israel and among God's New Testament people.

Acts 12 is largely taken up with the persecution of certain in the church in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa I, son of Aristobulus and Bernice, and grandson of Herod the Great (so called). He killed James the brother of John with the sword and imprisoned Peter. He would have killed him also to please the Jews, but by the earnest prayer of the church, and by an angel of the Lord, Peter was miraculously delivered. Herod in his wickedness, well pleased with himself, after he had made an oration, when the people said, "The voice of a god, and not of a man," was smitten by an angel of the Lord, "because be gave not God the glory" and was eaten of worms. A strange god that worms could eat! Thus was brought to an end his miserable life of intrigue and sin. Though Herod was eaten, the word of God grew and multiplied in the hearts of those who received it.

The last verse (25) of chapter 12 takes up again the story of Barnabas and Saul, who, when they had fulfilled their ministration of bringing relief to the disciples in the churches of Judea returned to DdIIIu~~U5 taking John Mark with them.

Acts 13 opens with recording the names of outstanding men, prophets and teachers, in the church in Antioch. These were Barnabas, then Symeon called Niger, which means black, perhaps one of the black-skinned Jews, Lucius of Cyrene, not Luke the beloved physician, the writer of the Gospel and the Acts, Manaen the foster-brother of Herod Antipas, the Herod who slew John the Baptist, and set at nought and mocked the Lord. Perhaps these men grew up as boys together, but how different the course they took and how different their end ! Last of the five is Saul, the least yet the greatest of all. These ministered to the Lord in the church in Antioch, and fasted. How the Holy Spirit spoke, whether by one of the prophets, or otherwise, we are not told, but His word was, "Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Paul was saved and called with a holy calling, not according to his works, but according to God's purpose and grace given him in Christ Jesus before times eternal (2 Timothy 1.9). He was separated unto the gospel of God (Romans 1. 1) even from his mother's womb, and now he with Barnabas was separated from his co-workers to be publicly seen and acknowledged as an apostle of the Lord, though, alas, some seemed to challenge his apostleship in his day, but none do so now (1 Corinthians 9.1; 2 Corinthians 12.11, 12; etc.). Two Greek words are used for "sent" in "they sent them away," and, "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit," etc. The former is Apelusan, to let go, a form of the verb Apotuo, Apo, from Luo to loose. It may be illustrated by a vessel putting to sea on a voyage, the ropes which held it being loosed from the quayside. The words "sent forth" are from the word Ekpempo, Ek, out of and Pempo to send, to dispatch on any message, embassy, business, etc. This word may be illustrated by a captain being sent out on a voyage by the ship owners, receiving full instructions as to the voyage when he sails. Thus it was that the Holy Spirit sent forth these two servants, who knew the business that they had to do under the control and power of the Holy Spirit. Then Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus having John Mark as their attendant (Huperetes, literally a species of rowers, but used also of an attendant on a magistrate or of a

synagogue, etc.).

J. Miller. | May 1959
The Growth Of The Fellowship