1. The inception of the Antioch church (11:19-21).
We come now to a major turning point in the book of Acts. In Acts 1:8 Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in all Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. We have seen how the gospel spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and now to the Gentile world.
As we look at the inception of the Antioch church I want us to observe three sub points in this first heading.
I. The blessings of persecution (19).
Chapter 11verse 19 picks up from where chapter 8 verse 4 left off. Let’s look at chapter 8:1-4. One of those “scattered” was Philip (8:4), and he witnessed to an Ethiopian and to the Samaritans. Now, we would learn of another …show more content…
Saul was out of the picture as recorded chapter 9. There was a plot to kill Saul, as a result, the Jewish brethren took him to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. From Gal 1–2 we gather that Saul was away for approximately ten years until Barnabas found him. Luke indicates the challenge Barnabas had finding Saul because of the verb he used, “look” (anazēteō) (a na za tay o) means to (seek out, search through, make diligent search) this implied Barnabas had to search intently to find Saul. (Same word used when Herod searched for the baby Jesus and when Mary and Joseph searched for the young boy Jesus). But why go so far away just to find Saul? Why not send to Jerusalem to get assistance or specifically ask for deacon Nicolas who was from Antioch? (Acts 6:5) Barnabas specifically needed Saul because he knew that God had commissioned him to minister to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15 …show more content…
A group of prophets came down (note the term, came down) from Jerusalem. Prophets had the gift of foretelling. The apostles and prophets played an important role in the early life of the church as they laid its foundation as seen in Ephesians 2:20. Speaking of the church Paul says, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone in whom the whole building being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” Having accomplished their work, the moved off the scene. In New Testament times, the prophets received their word directly from the Lord through the Holy Spirit; today believers receive the Word from the Bible because we have the completed Word of God. Beware of people who come to you and tell you God told them… or God told them to tell you. (Pastor who told opposition party they would win the election
We come now to a major turning point in the book of Acts. In Acts 1:8 Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in all Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. We have seen how the gospel spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and now to the Gentile world.
As we look at the inception of the Antioch church I want us to observe three sub points in this first heading.
I. The blessings of persecution (19).
Chapter 11verse 19 picks up from where chapter 8 verse 4 left off. Let’s look at chapter 8:1-4. One of those “scattered” was Philip (8:4), and he witnessed to an Ethiopian and to the Samaritans. Now, we would learn of another …show more content…
Saul was out of the picture as recorded chapter 9. There was a plot to kill Saul, as a result, the Jewish brethren took him to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. From Gal 1–2 we gather that Saul was away for approximately ten years until Barnabas found him. Luke indicates the challenge Barnabas had finding Saul because of the verb he used, “look” (anazēteō) (a na za tay o) means to (seek out, search through, make diligent search) this implied Barnabas had to search intently to find Saul. (Same word used when Herod searched for the baby Jesus and when Mary and Joseph searched for the young boy Jesus). But why go so far away just to find Saul? Why not send to Jerusalem to get assistance or specifically ask for deacon Nicolas who was from Antioch? (Acts 6:5) Barnabas specifically needed Saul because he knew that God had commissioned him to minister to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15 …show more content…
A group of prophets came down (note the term, came down) from Jerusalem. Prophets had the gift of foretelling. The apostles and prophets played an important role in the early life of the church as they laid its foundation as seen in Ephesians 2:20. Speaking of the church Paul says, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone in whom the whole building being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” Having accomplished their work, the moved off the scene. In New Testament times, the prophets received their word directly from the Lord through the Holy Spirit; today believers receive the Word from the Bible because we have the completed Word of God. Beware of people who come to you and tell you God told them… or God told them to tell you. (Pastor who told opposition party they would win the election