Acts 8:1-13
Persecution Scatters Believers
Acts 8:14-25
Simon is Denied the Gift of Healing
Acts 8:26-40
Ethiopian Eunuch Evangelized by Philip
Acts 9:10-22
Ananias’ Availability
Acts 9:23-31
Barnabas’ Encouragement
Acts 9:32-43
Peter Used by God in Joppa to Heal Beloved Dorcas
Acts 10:1-8
Cornelius on a Mission for God
Acts 10:9-22
God’s Message to Peter through a Vision
Acts 10:23-33
Peter Meets Corneilius
Acts 10:34-48
Peter Preaches to Cornelius’ Household
Acts 11:1-18
Peter’s Defense to the Legalists
Acts 11:19-26
Barnabas Seeks Saul to Help with Discipleship
Acts 11:27-2
Antioch Believers Send Encouragement to Jerusalem
Acts 12:3-11
Continual Prayer Brings Results
Acts 12:18-25
God’s Judgment on King Herod
Acts 13:1-12
Paul Confronts a Sorcerer at Cyprus
Acts 13:4-12
Saul (Paul) Confronts a Sorcerer at Cyprus
Acts 13:13-25
Paul and Barnabas Say Farewell to John Mark
Acts 13:26-41
Paul Preaches the Gospel of the Resurrection
Acts 13:42-52
Gentiles are Receptive to Paul’s Message
Acts 14:1-7
Opposition in Iconium
Acts 14:8-18
Mistaken Identity in Lystra
Acts 14:13-20
From “God” to “Stoning” – Paul Still Committed to Preach
Barnabas Seeks Saul to Help with Discipleship
Acts 11:19–26
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Doug Whitt and his bride, Sylvia, were escorted to their hotel’s fancy bridal suite in the wee hours of the morning. In the suite they saw a sofa, chairs, and table, but where was the bed? Then they discovered the sofa was a hide-a-bed, with a lumpy mattress and sagging spr … More
As a result of Stephen’s martyrdom (8:1-2) the saints were scattered abroad, and some of them ended up in Antioch, the capital of Syria, which was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem (v. 19). As a result, many Jews heard the gospel, believed, and turned to the Lord (vv. 20-21). When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they decided to send Barnabas to Antioch to see what was going on (vv. 22-24). It was by the grace of God they sent the man they did. They might have sent someone of a rigid mind who made a god of the Law and was shackled by its rules and regulations; but they sent the man with the biggest heart in the Church. Barnabas had already stood by Paul and sponsored him when all men suspected him (Acts 9:27). Barnabas had already given proof of his Christian love by his generosity to his needy brethren (Acts 4:36-37).
The work in Antioch grew to the point Barnabas needed help, so he went to Tarsus and enlisted Saul (vv. 25-26). Saul (who became known as the apostle Paul) had only been converted about ten years when Barnabas brought him to Antioch. Barnabas was glad when he saw the Gentiles being swept into the fellowship of the Church, but he recognized that someone must be put in charge of this work. This person needed to be a man with a double background, a Jew brought up in the Jewish tradition, but one who could meet the Gentiles on equal terms. What Barnabas did for Saul needs to be practiced in our churches today. We need mature believers who will take time to enlist others and encourage them in their service for the Lord.
Application
We’re good at coming together for food and fellowship, and we enjoy that, but discipleship is more than that. Fellowship takes place with Christians in the church, but discipleship is to take place in the world in which I live and to the people around me.
Acts 11:19-26 (English Standard Version)
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