THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ANTIOCH

Acts 11:19-21 Now they, which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 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. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (Also, see Vss. 22-30).

After the persecution and death of Stephen, fear for their own lives came upon members of the New Testament church that was first founded in Jerusalem. Although this was an attempt by the Jewish zealots to prevent the spreading of the gospel of Christ, it ultimately served to scatter and disburse Christianity throughout the world. It is evident that the followers of Christ, although they fled from impending persecution, they did not flee from their new covenant relationship with Christ and their dedicated service to His cause to bring salvation to others. The lesson text tells us that, to avoid persecution, they fled to many other cities, provinces, and countries, including Phenice, a harbor city located on the southern side of the island of Crete (See Acts 27:12). They also fled to Cyprus, a large island located in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, and to Antioch, the large capital city of the Roman province of Syria.

It is evident that the gospel preachers that originally went into Antioch were not fully aware that God's plan of salvation was to be extended equally to the Gentile nations, because here, it is said that, they preached the word (of God) to none but unto the Jews only. It is evident that, those coming to Antioch to preach the word of God, were members of the body of Christ. They were probably converted, baptized and added to the church of Christ at Jerusalem, and may have fled from there because of the persecution that prevailed in this city.

However, others came to Antioch from Cyprus, noted above, and from Cyrene, both a province and a city located in the northern area of Africa known as Libya. Both were Greek speaking areas, and therefore, when these Christian men came to Antioch, they spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. The word here translated Grecians, carries the meaning of Jews living in foreign countries whose national language was Greek. However, most bible scholars seem to agree that the word used here should be translated Greeks, or Gentiles. If this is not the case, these verses appear out of sequence since the previous chapter is given to proving that God's gospel message of salvation must be preached to all people, both Jew and Gentile. The conclusion in the lesson text must, therefore, mean that preaching the Lord Jesus in Antioch by the Christian men that came from Cyprus and Cyrene, was the full gospel of salvation through Christ Jesus offered to all people, both Jew and Gentile. The result of their preaching was that a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Verses following the lesson text tell us that when the leaders of the church, which was at Jerusalem heard of the church, planted in Antioch, they sent forth Barnabas to visit them. With the church at Jerusalem having just learned that salvation through Christ Jesus must be offered to both Jew and Gentile, the mission of Barnabas was, not only to witness their work, but also to confirm that the gospel message of salvation was being preached to all people of the world. And, Barnabas, who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. That is, when he was assured that the complete gospel message of God was being taught to all people, he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith - that is, Barnabas, having just come from the church at Jerusalem, had full knowledge of God's will. And by his preaching, much people was added unto the Lord at the church of Christ in Antioch.

Barnabas was probably impressed at the rapid growth of the congregation of God's people in Antioch. With so many new Christians that had been converted from paganism, he, more than likely, recognized their need for additional instruction in the complete will of God, in order that they may grow in knowledge and faith. Because of this need, Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul, and finding him, brought him back to Antioch that he could teach this young congregation. For a year they, both Barnabas and Saul, assembled with them and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.