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Home , 1 Peter 4, Acts 26, Antioch of Pisidia

THE GREAT ADVENTURE The city of is the focused location in this text. There THE SPREADS were at least 16 Antioch’s so be careful not to confuse this Derek Westmoreland :19-26 HBC 1-6-19 Antioch with another one, such as Antioch of which is referred to in :14. The Antioch addressed in Acts 11, Turn to: was the capital of , about 300 miles north of . In , we studied that Peter, the apostle was called by God to leave Joppa and go to . There he encountered The Antioch mentioned in Acts 11:20 had a population of Cornelius and his household. Peter preached the gospel and the 500,000 people. It was the third largest city in the Roman family was saved. This opened the door to the gospel going to Empire, following and . …The main street the Gentiles without reservation. Now, we look at Acts 11 and was more than four miles long, paved with , and lined on find the gospel going to multiple Gentile populated locations. both sides by marble colonnades. It was the only city in the This occurred due to the severe persecution in Jerusalem. ancient world at that time that had its streets lighted at night. Right now, the sanctuary consists mostly of Gentiles, therefore It was a city known for luxury and culture. All kinds of people we great reason to be thankful for what takes place in this text. traveled there. They had numerous baths and gambling establishments. They were also a political power; but the Title: Pray: viewed the city as a haven for wickedness. It was a

I. THE GOSPEL SPREADS BY FORCE city where Greek, Roman, and Syrian deities were honored. Adapted from Warren Wiersbe Verse 19- So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made In spite of the fact that it was a vile city, with gross immorality their way to Phoenicia and and Antioch, speaking the and ritual prostitution as part of its worship, the church word to no one except to Jews alone. at Antioch was provided with a great opportunity for The martyrdom of Stephen (:59) and the persecution of evangelism. The ministry to the Gentiles that began in Caesarea the Jerusalem church scattered the Christians and therefore was now taking place in Antioch. spread the gospel. Many who scattered made their way to the province of Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus, and city of Who were these Christians in verse 20 and how were they Antioch. different from the Christians mentioned in verse 19? The When the Jewish Christians arrived in these areas, they did not scattered Jewish Christians in verse 19 will only share the gospel keep the truth of to themselves; they instead spoke the with fellow Jews. The Jewish Christians in verse 20 are sharing truth of Christ Jesus. However, they only did so to their fellow the gospel with Jews and Gentiles. Why the difference?

Jews. Notice the end of verse 19, speaking the word to no one The soul-winners relocated from different places and we except to Jews alone. therefore infer that they had different abilities. II. THE GOSPEL SPREADS TO THE GENTILES Those who proclaimed the gospel to Gentiles, came from Verse 20- But there were some of them, of Cyprus and Cyprus and Cyrene. Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the was from Cyprus (:36). Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. Simon, who carried the cross for Jesus, was from Cyrene (Luke 23:26). These men were Hellenistic Jews. What does that mean?

The Hellenistic Jews, who were considered outsiders for they the dependable, spiritual, and faithful Barnabas to investigate. were not natives of Jerusalem. They were raised speaking Greek Barnabas, being from Cyprus, went and was encouraged by rather than Aramaic. The native Hebrews spoke Aramaic. the new Gentile believers. In return, he encouraged the new believers. Here in Acts 11, we discern that the native Hebrews from Jerusalem did not share the gospel with the Gentiles. They were What was the result of their ministry and the exhortation by reluctant to do so, for the apostles in Jerusalem had not done Barnabas? so and they had a language barrier. The Hellenistic Jews from (verse 24) considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. Cyprus and Cyrene knew the . Many were saved before Barnabas arrived in Antioch. Many more were saved after Barnabas arrived in Antioch. Now what was the result of the gospel being preached to the Gentiles? IV. THE GOSPEL DEMANDS DISCIPLESHIP Verse 21- And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large Matthew 28:18-20- And Jesus came up and spoke to them, number who believed turned to the Lord. saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on As verse 21 states, “a great number” of sinners repented and in earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, repenting they believed. baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded :8, …you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the The new Christians in Antioch needed to be taught. earth” is now being fulfilled. The believers were being witnesses in Jerusalem, but also in Judea and Samaria. Now, the gospel is The ministry of Barnabas in Antioch began to outgrow him. beginning to extend beyond Judea. What was happening in Antioch was beyond what he had expected, or beyond what he could handle, or both. Regardless of III. THE GOSPEL TESTIMONY SPREADS FAST the reason, he went for help. He personally sought and enlisted Verses 22-24- The news about them (the news about the Jewish Saul of which we often refer to as the apostle Paul. Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene that had relocated to Verses 25-26a- And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and Antioch) reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and entire year they met with the church and taught considerable witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage numbers; them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he According to :5, the deacon Nicolas was from Antioch. was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And Barnabas could have recruited him to help equip the church. considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. Barnabas could have recruited any of the original apostles; yet The church of Jerusalem served as the mother church to all new Barnabas called on Saul. Barnabas had befriended Saul in works. The leaders in Jerusalem felt an obligation to shepherd Jerusalem (:26–27) and had formed a strong bond. In all believers and to hold the new churches accountable to the addition, Saul was a perfect fit for the work in Antioch for he was true gospel. Sadly, the mother church in Jerusalem had a Jew by birth, a Greek by culture, and a Roman by citizenship. failed to evangelize the Gentiles in their own city. After Saul of Tarsus was perfect to minister to those in Antioch! He hearing of the awakening among Gentiles in Antioch, they sent

had all the credentials and all the training necessary to instruct He was never referred to as a Christian by what he said about them. himself. He was referred to as a Christian by what he said to others Barnabas realized it was better for him and Saul to do the work about Jesus Christ. then for him alone to do the work. We must realize the power of sharing responsibility; sharing ministry. ILLUSTR. – Two men that worked alongside one another at a factory for 20 years. One man went to church over the holidays Saul taught in Antioch for a full year. What we have as the New and was gripped by the Holy Spirit. He repented of his sin and Testament is what Paul was proclaiming to the people of Antioch. received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The next day he went

V. THE GOSPEL BRINGS FORTH CHRISTIANS to work and began sharing the gospel with his co-worker. As he Verse 26b- and the disciples were first called Christians in was sharing the co-worker stopped him and said, “you know I Antioch. am a Christian right? I have been a Christian for over 25 years.” The word “Christian” is only found three times in Scripture. Here The new believer was shocked and dismayed! He wondered why in Acts 11:26 along with :28 and :16. You might his co-worker never told him of his need for Jesus. The co-worker think the word “Christian” was started by the followers of Christ said, “I have intentionally focused on being trustworthy, in Antioch, but it was actually started by the non-believers in compassionate, dependable, and a good person to work with in Antioch. It was the pagans that labeled the followers of Christ as the hopes that you would see that I was different.” The new Christians. believer obviously had not recognized his need for Jesus by watching his co-worker and he was hurt that his co-worker never The suffix ian means “belonging to the party of.” Those cared enough about his soul to share the wonderful news of Jesus belonging to Christ took on his title along with the ian on the end with him. to declare that they were devoted followers of Christ. The man at the factory tried to share the gospel without words. This definition is in agreement with the command of Jesus in It doesn’t work and it doesn’t work because it leaves out a key Luke 9:23 where He says, … “If anyone wishes to come after Me, component of what the teaches us to do. he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. In Antioch, the Christians were those that the lost identified as Unfortunately, today the term “Christian” has been reduced to devoted, zealous, uncompromising followers of Jesus Christ. what one identifies him or herself with; instead of another seeing Those in Antioch that were referred to as Christians were those the devotion of Christ in another and referring to that devoted that were known to talk about Jesus. follower as a Christian. St. Francis of Assisi wrote a quote that I used to have displayed. Please understand what I am saying: It is a quote that impacted me. It reads, “Preach the gospel at all In Antioch, a man that went to the church on Sunday, worshipped times, if necessary use words.” the Lord, then went to work on Monday; but never talked about This was used in my life to help me see the importance of holy Jesus, never told his co-workers about Jesus; would never have living. Living a life that is submitted to the authority of Christ. been referred to as a Christian. After a while though, I heard a preacher preach on evangelism and he referenced this quote and then quoted the Bible.

Romans 10:14-15,17- …How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?15 …Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!” …17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. It is always necessary to use words. You can’t preach the gospel without words. Romans 10:14,17- …How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? …17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Will you tell them? If you lived in Antioch, would you be referred to by the lost as a Christian? Would the lost say you are one who has told them the gospel of Jesus Christ that they may believe?