Acts 11:18 says, When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Those who heard Peter agreed with him and glorified God for bringing salvation to the Gentiles. Verse nineteen adds, Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. We see a positive result of the persecution of the followers of Christ. They were scattered abroad, going Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch. What the Jewish leaders had hoped to accomplish with the stoning of Stephen had the opposite effect. Verse twenty continues, And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. Those scattered preached the gospel wherever they went. Still, yet, not all understood what had been revealed to Peter, as they preached to the Jews only. They were doing what Jesus had instructed them to do, spread the gospel into all the world, but without the understanding that all the world meant everyone in the world, Jew and Gentile alike. When we reach out to a select group of people, the gospel can still be effective within that group, but it will be limited by our prejudices. Though doing what they understood God to have directed them to do, they were not doing all that God instructed them to do. We need to ensure that our understanding of God never takes the place of Who God is. Verse twenty-one states, And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. When Christians began to do what God had instructed them to do, a great number of people believed and turned to God through faith in Jesus Christ. If we witness in accordance with God’s command and under the leadership and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, great numbers of people should be saved by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Verse twenty-two adds, Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. When news of what was going on with Perter reached the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Peter, authorizing him to go as far as Antioch. Churches should want to know if good things are going on in other churches, but only to rejoice with them and never to attempt to limit their work, unless we know without a doubt that they are teaching or preaching something other than the gospel. Verse twenty-three continues, Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Barnabas was a good man and when he came to them, he saw the evidence of the grace of God in their lives, and he was glad and exhorted them all that with a dedicated heart they should serve the Lord. When we see evidence of the Holy Spirit at work today, we should rejoice and exhort those whom the Holy Spirit is calling to hold on to their faith in Jesus Christ. Verse twenty-four says, For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit who had put his faith in Jesus Christ. Because of the preaching and teaching of Barnabas, many people were added to the church. Of course, just being a good man does us no good spiritually if we are not a born-again Christian, which is really the only kind of Christian that there is. Verse twenty-five adds, Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: Then, Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul and bring him back with him. Barnabas could have basked in his success, but I think he knew it was God's success and not his. Even if we are being successful in reaching people for God, we must never think that we are the one bringing about the results. We must never feel that we are alone in doing God's work. Verse twenty-six continues, And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. When Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, they spent a whole year assembling with the church and taught many people. We must reach the lost, but we must also ground the church in the teachings of God. We are told that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. I have heard some people say today that they don't call themselves a Christian, but simply a follower of Christ or a disciple of Christ, but since the early church accepted the name, even when it was used in derision by the world, I think we are safe in identifying ourselves by the name Christian. Verse twenty-seven says., And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. Verse twenty-eight adds, And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. We are told prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, revealed to them, through the Holy Spirit, that there was to be a great dearth throughout all the world. Though we in America really have never suffered a great lack as a nation as a whole, much of the world today is not as fortunate. Even here, many, many people suffer from a lack of the necessities of life. During the reign of Claudius Caesar, this great dearth came to pass for the early church. Verse twenty-nine continues, Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: When they heard about the need, the disciples collected an offering, with each giving according to his ability, to send to the brethren which dwelt in Judea. When we hear of Christians anywhere who are in great need, we need to give freely and joyously according to our ability to help them. Verse thirty concludes, Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. The donation was sent by Barnabas and to the elders of the churches. If we collect an offering to help others, we need to place it in the hands of the leaders of the church. The lack of material needs was just the beginning of the persecution to come. Conditions begin to go badly for the new church. I think it is safe to say that anytime the church starts to flourish the world is going to take notice. When that happens, those who oppose Christ and His people are going to do everything they can to stop the growth of the church.
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