Acts can be divided into 2 parts, chapter 1-12 and chapter 13 to the end. In other words 13:1 is the turning point. From here the second part of Acts begins. As I have said in the past, Acts is acting out Acts 1:8.
As this verse, Acts 1:8, states up until now Jerusalem has been the center of the work. Also Peter and the apostles played the major role in the spread of the Gospel among the Jews. From here on the center changes from Jerusalem to Antioch. Peter no longer plays the major role, but Paul becomes the center person. Also the Gospel is spread to the ends of the world. From chapter 13 on the second part of Acts begins which is especially looking at the spread of the Gospel worldwide. Today let’s look at 3 aspects of how this evangelism began.
- 1. The unity of faith (vs. 1)
First let’s look at the faith of the Antioch church which was used by the Lord in world evangelism. We can see the start of the Antioch church in 11:19 and on. The Antioch church had just started and still was a young church. However Barnabas and Paul taught them for over a year and they grew quickly. This young church already had prophets, teachers, and leaders. Just by looking at the leaders mentioned here we can see that this Gentile church in Antioch had a variety of people in its flock.
The first person that is introduced is Barnabas. He has appeared several times up to now. I 4:36 we were told that he was a Levite born in Cyprus and that his name means a person who encourages. The fact that he sold land and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet tells us that he was a man of deep faith. In 9:26, 27 we are told that when Paul was converted, Barnabas encouraged the Jerusalem church to accept Paul into the fellowship of the church when Paul tried to enter the Jerusalem church. Then 11:23 we are told that when the Antioch church was born, the Jerusalem church sent him to the Antioch church. He encouraged them to stand firm in their hearts and to stay joined to Christ. Barnabas did the central work in the Antioch church. If Barnabas wasn’t there, the Antioch church would have not grown so fast.
The next person to be introduced is Simon called Niger. He was called Niger because he was a Negro from Africa. To think that the Gospel had spread to Africa, we can realize that his dedication was huge.
Next is Lucius of Cyrene. Cyrene is a town in Northern Africa. According to 11:20, those men who came from Cyrene to Antioch “began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.” He was able to think creatively and do things that other people hadn’t thought of doing before.
Next is “Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch)” (1) He was the foster brother or intimate friend of Herod Antipas. He was probably from a high class home.
Last is Saul. He is from Tarsus. He was a strict Jew. He was strong in the law. He was a disciple of Gamaliel, the most famous Jewish teacher of his time. In other words, Saul was an elite Jew for his age. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there, when he met the Lord. He was amazingly converted. After he became a Christian, he spent some time in his hometown Tarsus. Then Barnabas sought him out and brought him to the Antioch church to be a spiritual leader there.
Looking at these people we can see that the Antioch church was made up of many different people from many different places and backgrounds, many different positions and level. However, they overcame these differences and had an unity of faith. Also within the leaders there were no apostles. The Antioch church is leading the way in world missions. Just because you have top people in the church does not mean that you can do missions. Just because the church has people that are the same, doesn’t mean that you can do missions. The Antioch church was made of people that believed that they had been called together by the Lord. They had such faith so that all sorts of human problems could be overcome,
II. The call to world evangelism (vs. 2)
We don’t know whether the Antioch church had wanted to do world evangelism or not. It wasn’t because someone had the idea, and they met and talked about it as a church and decided to do so. It was because the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work that God had called them to.
We aren’t told how the Holy Spirit told them, but the important thing is that they were told “while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting.” (2) Before too when Jesus gave the great commission, they were on the mountain worshipping. God calls us to world mission when we are worshiping the Lord.
Here they were not just worshipping, but they were fasting too. Fasting in the Bible is usually related to prayer. In verse 3 they are together as a set. This is because food is a necessary thing of life. By stopping it for a while we are able to concentrate on God, and put all of our heart into prayer. The same is meant when it is said that they were worshipping and fasting. By fasting they were concentrating on God and really putting their hearts into the worship. We too by worshipping and concentrating on God we are able to hear the Holy Spirit talking to us through the word of God.
What the Holy Spirit is saying was very astounding. The Holy Spirit was saying to send out Paul and Barnabas who were the main leaders in the Antioch church. It was like saying to send out the main pastor and missionary from the Antioch church. However, this is who God had called. Without a calling from God, we can’t be separated and give our life to the Lord.
When Paul was converted, he had already heard the words that the Lord was calling him. (9:15, 16) However, before that became a reality, he had to wait a long time. However, that was not wasted time. During that time Paul reconfirmed that calling, the church came to trust him more, and the church recognized his gifts. This process is extremely important. All things work perfectly in God’s timing.
III. Together with the church’s prayer. (vs.3)
After the church heard the Holy Spirit’s command to set apart Paul and Barnabas for World missions, they “Fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (3) That was not an easy thing for the Antioch church to do. These were the 2 central people in the Antioch church. There were probably some people who didn’t think it was necessary to send them out. There were probably others who thought that they should send someone else. However, they sent them out because the Holy Spirit had told them to do so. When a church does what God tells them to do, then God blesses the church.
When the church sent out Paul and Barnabas, they fasted and prayed, “they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (3) First they fasted and prayed. They concentrated on God and worshipped him. It was also a way of suffering with the missionary. The church was not just sending them out, but they were suffering with them. They were praying for them. They were not just sending them out, they were a part of their ministry. This was a blessing not only for Paul and Barnabas, but also for the church and for the people that they were sent to.
We too want to have this experience. This year from this church there will be a family sent out to do world missions. This is an excellent opportunity for our church to have such an experience. By sending out, the church is blessed.