Acts 11:19-30: The Gospel in Antioch

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1)     vv. 19-20 – The city of Antioch

A)   Map – Antioch was founded by one of Alexander the Great’s generals around 300 BC. Seleucus moved the capital of his government from Babylon to Antioch. The goal of this project was Hellenization, which was the bring the Greek way of life to the rest of the world.

B)    By the time we get to Acts 11, it is the 3rd largest city in the Roman Empires (after Rome and Alexandria).

1)     It is a huge urban hub with between 300,000-500,000 people.

2)     It was called the Queen of the East.

3)     Its population was made up of Greeks, Syrians, Phoenicians, Jews, Arabs, Persians, Egyptians, and Romans.

4)     This was one of the only ancient cities with streetlights.

(a)   Not even Rome had this.

(b)   It was a 24-hour city of commerce and social life.

C)    It was saturated with paganism.

1)     One ancient author called Antioch “the abode of the gods.”

2)     There were temples to Zeus, Apollo, Poseidon, and Tyche (TY-kee – goddess of luck and prosperity).

3)     Worse, there was a cult center 5 miles south in Daphne set up for the worship of Apollo and Artemis (and via syncretism, the Syrian goddess, Astarte).

4)     It was most famous for the religious prostitution associate with worshiping these gods.

5)     An ancient writer, Juvenal, talked about Antioch and her main river, the Orontes, to describe how eastern values were corrupting Roman culture.

(a)   He had a famous saying, “the sewage of the Syrian Orontes has for long been discharging itself into the Tiber.”

(b)   He referred to foreign whores and barbarian harlots who plied their trade at the circus.

D)   Antioch was a big city, and generally not a good place that was empty of moral goodness.

2)     Lesson #1: God often does things we don’t expect in ways we would never imagine.

A)   cf. 8:1-2 / 11:19ff. – By all appearances, the persecution of the church was a measurably bad thing. Who wants to do that?

B)    With hindsight, we can see how God is easing us into this:

1)     Acts 6 – There are Hellenistic widows.

2)     Acts 8:1 – The Gospel goes to the Samaritans.

3)     Acts 8:26ff. – An Ethiopian Eunuch (note: an individual).

4)     Acts 9 – Saul of Tarsus.

5)     Acts 10 – Cornelius (note: a whole family of Gentiles).

6)     Acts 11:20-21 – And now we’re in Antioch, and unnamed disciples are teaching “Hellenists” (ESV note: Greek-speaking non-Jews).

C)    God starts this thing up with unnamed people.

1)     “Luke surprisingly does not disclose the identity of these individuals. This is because his focus is on the church in Antioch, the growth of the word, and showing that Gentile inclusion was broader than Peter’s experience with Cornelius. Some of the most significant kingdom work is spread by unknown witnesses.”[1]

D)   vv. 21-22 – The church in Jerusalem heard about this, and you can imagine their reactions, “What! We should probably check this out.”

3)     Lesson #2: We can see a how-to, or a What to do now situation in the text.

A)   v. 20 – “preaching the Lord Jesus.”

B)    v. 21 – “a great number who believed turned to the Lord.”

C)    vv. 21-22 – Barnabas had eyes to see that this was the Lord’s work.

1)     cf. Ex. 7:4-5; 9:3 – Sometimes people don’t recognize “the hand of the Lord.”

2)     POINT: This is not just something cool that’s happening. It’s God’s will, and more, God’s work.

3)     Francis Chan on God working: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1589717245425606

D)   v. 23 – Barnabas was glad.

1)     Barnabas was the right man for this job:

(a)   Remember that was called the “Son of Encouragement” (4:36).

(b)   He brought Paul in (9:26-28).

(c)   v. 24 – “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

2)     What we do NOT see:

(a)   Jealous

(b)   Competition

(c)   Territorial behavior

(d)   Ownership disputes

(e)   cf. the works of the flesh: enmity, strife, jealousy, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy

3)     He was that people were turning to Jesus, and he was glad about that (i.e. vv. 21b, 24b).

E)    v. 23 – He exhorted them”

1)     Def. (BDAG)

(a)   “To ask to come and be present where the speaker is”

(b)   To urge strongly, appeal to, urge, encourage

(c)   To make a strong request for something, implore, entreat

(d)   To instill someone with courage or cheer

(e)   “In several places it appears to mean simply treat someone in an inviting or congenial manner…, invite in, conciliate, be friendly to, or speak to in a friendly manner.”

2)     “he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose”

(a)   Trans.

(i)    NASU – “he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord”

(ii)  NKJV – “he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord”

(iii)          NIV – “he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts”

(b)   A message like this is especially important in a city like Antioch where there are a thousand things to distract you from your mission and purpose.

F)    vv. 25-26a – Cooperation

G)   v. 26b – The formation of community (a local church family).

1)     cf.

(a)   v. 22 – “the church in Jerusalem”

(b)   v. 26 – “For a whole year they met with te church and taught a great many people.”

2)     “That the Jerusalem community is called the church testifies to a growing self-identity as a community…”[2]

H)   vv. 27-30 – Participating in the bigger work.

1)     v. 29 – “relief” is diokonia (service)

4)     v. 26b – “in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

A)   The people of Antioch had a problem:

1)     What are these people?

(a)   Antioch was filled with Greeks, Syrians, Phoenicians, Jews, Arabs, Persians, Egyptians, and Romans.

(b)   It’s easy enough to know the difference between Jews and Gentiles.

(c)   But these new people were composed of BOTH Jews and Gentiles who were from Jerusalem, Cyprus and Cyrene (v. 20), Saul from Tarsus.

(d)   Yes, they are Romans and Jews, but they are also something else?

2)     They serve a Lord named Jesus?

(a)   There are tons of temples and opportunities to worship whatever god you want right here in town, and yet they don’t participate in any of that.

(b)   They encourage each other to stay faithful to HIM with all your heart.

3)     They have formed this family network called a church.

4)     And they invite other people to be a part of it.

5)     And this network is bigger than just here. They all pool their money together to help other ones of “these people” in Jerusalem.

B)    What even are these people?

1)     The culture noticed that they spend their money differently.

2)     They acted differently.

3)     They associated with different kinds of people.

4)     And they obsessively talked about a guy named Jesus.

C)    They’re Christians! Followers and servants of Jesus Christ.

1)     “The name is significant because it shows that it was the identification with Jesus as the Christ, as the Messiah, that people noticed. It also suggests that a separate identity is emerging for this group, which earlier was appealing to Jews only.”[3]

2)     “In sum, we see the emergence of another key community, engaged in mission, instruction, discipleship, and caring for other communities in need. Word and deed again are side by side. The summary could hardly do a better job of showing a vibrant church at work, performing the essential tasks of a community so visibly that outsiders note who its members are.”[4]

D)   QUESTIONS

1)     If I worked with you, would I notice that there was anything different about you?

2)     If I scrolled through your social media, what would I say that you are? What do you obsess over?

(a)   Are you a Republican?

(b)   Are you an athlete?

3)     Or would I have to conclude – That’s a Christian!

[1] Schreiner.

[2] Bock.

[3] Bock.

[4] Bock.