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Antioch: Our 1st Centure Example In The 21st Century
Antioch: Our 1st Century Example In The 21st Century
Acts 11:26 – And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people; and in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
According to Acts 11:26, The Disciples where called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Question: What was it about the saints in Antioch God bestowed this divine privilege upon them? God bestowed this upon them because of their zeal and ability to evangelize the lost for the Lord, even in the midst of persecution (Acts 11:19-20 – Meanwhile those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen had traveled as far away as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without delivering the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] to anyone except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on returning to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, proclaiming [to them] the good news (the Gospel) about the Lord Jesus). When we do the will of the Lord in preaching the gospel and evangelizing the lost, then God will always be with us (Acts 11:21 – And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him). When we do the work of the Lord in our own geographical location, then word will spread to other congregations and many faithful brethren would want to identify with those of like precious faith (Acts 11:22 – The rumors of this came to the ears of the church (assembly) in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch). When we put God first, even during our trials, God will always send someone to encourage and exhort us (Acts 11:23 – For he was a good man [good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and influenced by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the Lord).
After being declared Christians, what began to happen next in the journey of the church in Antioch? Upon hearing the need of the saints in Judaea, they were determined to send relief to the elders of the church there (Acts 11:27-30 – And during these days prophets (inspired teachers and interpreters of God’s divine will and purpose) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the Holy Spirit that a great and severe famine would come upon the whole world. And this did occur during the reign of Claudius. So the disciples resolved to send relief, each according to his individual ability [in proportion as he had prospered], to the brethren who live in Judea. And so they did, sending [their contributions] to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul). According to Acts 11:27-30, the following truth is revealed: A Working Church Is A Giving Church!
Antioch’s ability to listen to the Holy Spirit and their zeal to evangelize the lost was not limited to a particular locality, but rather they sent out preachers to evangelize the lost throughout the world (Acts 13:1-4 – Now in the church (assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired teachers and interpreters of the will and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away. So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from [that port] they sailed away to Cyprus). The evangelists sent out by Antioch had no problem rebuking religious error (Acts 13:14-52). When Christians stand for truth, we can expect opposition (Acts 14:19-20 – But some Jews arrived there from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the people and won them over, they stoned Paul and [afterward] dragged him out of the town, thinking that he was dead. But the disciples formed a circle about him, and he got up and went back into the town; and on the morrow he went on with Barnabas to Derbe). They made it a priority to educate, encourage, and establish congregations of our Lord (Acts 14:22-23 – Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed and ordained elders for them in each church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had come to believe [being full of joyful trust that He is the Christ, the Messiah]).
When error was taught in their midst, what did they do? In Acts 15:1, they dealt with it by sending objective Christians from Antioch to go to Jerusalem to discuss this matter. Why? They believed this group to be faithful and right with God for they sent relief to them in chapter 11. The one teaching the doctrine was from Judaea. Only the truth can make us free (John 8:32 – And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free). When error was practice in their midst by brethren with oversight, what did they do? In Galatians 2:11-21, the practiced was called into question by way of the light of the scriptures. Notice Antioch was a good church, but even good churches have its problems. However, our God will always be bigger than all of our problems.
Finally, it is important to point out the following:
The Word “Christian” Is Only Found In The Bible 3 Times (Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16)
Acts 11:26 has already been identified in this article, but what about the other 2 passages of scripture? In Acts 26:28, the Bible reads, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small task to make a Christian of me [just offhand to induce me with little ado and persuasion, at very short notice].” Also, in 1 Peter 4:16, the Bible reads, “But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy to suffer] in this name.”
Since knowing the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch, let us look at the word "Christian" in the light of Antioch's example and ask ourselves,
"Have we been persuaded to be the type of Christians the disciples in Antioch were?"
AND
"If we are suffering, are we suffering as a result of doing the things Antioch has done?"
