A Devotional

Antioch: You Heard It Here First
Wouldn’t we all want to have the moniker after our name of “the encourager?”
What a wonderful gift from God it must be to have the ability to ignite in others
a passion for action in God’s service and bolster faith? Barnabas was just such
a man. The Bible describes him as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of
faith.” Acts 11:24 Often we hear in scriptures of his many missionary journeys
with Saul.

Saul first steps onto the Biblical page at the stoning of Stephen. Scripture says,
“And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named
Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen he called out, ‘Lord Jesus receive my
spirit.’ And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord do not
hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this he fell asleep. And Saul
approved of his execution. And there arose that day a great persecution against
the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of
Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made
great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering
house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to
prison. Now those who were scattered about went about preaching the
word.” Acts 7:54-8:4

Saul’s persecution ends up being a catalyst for spreading the Gospel even
further into Judea and Samaria and eventually leads to his own conversion on
the road to Damascus. God has a way of using even the worst situations to sow
good into the world. Later, as a completely changed man, Saul begins to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeks out the disciples now to join them
and not to persecute them. “And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted
to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe
that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles
and declared to them how on the road to Damascus he had preached boldly in
the name of Jesus.So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching
boldly in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:26-28

Barnabas is soon sent to the church in Antioch, which had become a significant
location in the growing faith following the death of Stephen. This is due to the
fact that the majority of those who were scattered by the persecution of Saul
were preaching the good news of Christ Jesus (the Bible says) as far
as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch but to just the Jews. However some of them,
men of Cyrene and Cyprus, spoke to the Hellenists about Jesus in Antioch also,
and scripture says that, “the Hand of the Lord was with them, and a great
number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of
the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came
and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all to remain faithful
to the Lord with steadfast purpose… and a great many people were added to
the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found
him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and
taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called
Christians.” Acts 11:21-26

Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Saul back to Antioch with him, perhaps
to show his new friend the joy in the Lord that was to be found that stemmed
from the tragedy of his past, and to encourage him to be part of growing its
future. These men of Cyrene and Cyprus were ones that were scattered by the
persecution that began with the death of Stephen, and yet, Saul is brought in to
work alongside them in converting the Hellenists or Greeks as we know them
now. Scriptures say that by the grace of God, their teaching reached a great
many people, the first “Christians.” Saul, who became the apostle Paul, came
full circle in building what he had tried to break. God uses even our
weaknesses and sinful moments to shine forth His love and faithfulness to us.
The disciples were afraid of Saul remembering only his sin– his approval of
Stephen’s stoning, his ravaging of the church and his hunting down and
imprisoning of men and women of the faith. However, God used it as an
opportunity to spread His Word and His people farther. God also used
Barnabas to befriend, support, and encourage a man that he saw utterly
changed on the roadside to Damascus. Like Barnabas and even Saul, let us
pray that our eyes be open to encouraging others to join us in that joy in
knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior!

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made
perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” ~2 Corinthians 12:9
Submitted by Rachel Linkswiler