Acts 11:19-26

    Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

 

    News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

 

    Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

 

It took a little while for Jewish believers to grasp that God was redeeming not only them, but everyone. Understandably so. But little by little, some of the Jews who had lived among Gentiles began to tell non-Jews the good news that the Judge of all men is also the Savior of all men. Jesus, the One we’ve offended by our sins, is the One who offers us a relationship with Himself. And non-Jews turned to Jesus. A lot of them.

 

Again, the church leaders wanted to confirm that what they were hearing about was actually the work of God. So they sent Barnabas. Caution is always best before saying that some new spiritual movement is actually from God. But notice the response when leaders have confirmed that God is truly at work: gladness, encouraging words to keep people following Jesus, and many more people brought to know their Lord.

 

Not only that, but Barnabas invested his life in these believers, and he called Saul along to do the same. For a year! And so the Jewish believers continued to invest in reaching out to the non-Jews, and the church grew. And there in Antioch, where Jews and Gentiles came together as the church, the disciples were first called Christians. Christ brought Jews and non-Jews together, and He became the name by which they were called. Our unity points people to Christ, because nothing else would or could unite us.

 

Father, at this point we’re suffering from a much smaller number of Jews in our midst. Lord, please bring them to you. And bridge the divides that exist between various Gentile cultures. Bring people who are totally different from one another together because of Jesus Christ – because His grace is poured out on us and we are now a part of His family. May those of us who know You value Jesus and His family above any earthly connections we have – national, cultural, familial. And may people see us united in Christ. May they join us. Bring in other Gentiles, but bring in many Jews again, too – Jews confessing that the God they have always professed is actually Jesus Christ! May the world know You.