The Momentum of Testimony
The rise of the Church amongst the Gentiles happens in Antioch and is achieved by God working through relationships between His followers. God works through people, no matter how small, and no matter how different or insignificant their gifts and abilities appear to be. When ordinary people testify to God’s work in their lives, to those they know and love, and those they don’t yet, God builds momentum from what He’s done in them to radically affect others. Sharing testimony and gifts is how God builds momentum in the growth of His Kingdom. A small testimony goes a long way.
Scripture
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Acts 11:19-30 ESV Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. [20] But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. [21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. [22] The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [23] When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, [24] for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. [25] So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] 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. [27] Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. [28] And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). [29] So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. [30] And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Bible Study Questions
Persecution carries the Gospel
Jesus warned His disciples about persecution. Countless Christians have and are still suffering terrible persecution but God does not waste their suffering. How did God use the persecution of Stephen and Saul’s attempt to ravage the Church?
Acts 11:19 ESV Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Acts 8:1-3 ESV And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on 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. [2] Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. [3] But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Matthew 10:19-23 ESV When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. [20] For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [21] Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, [22] and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [23] When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
A Great Many receive the Gospel from men of Cyprus and Cyrene
While the initial persecution spread the Gospel to the Jews, God had now opened ministry to the Gentiles through the Apostle Peter. We don’t know whether the men of Cyprus and Cyrene preached to the Gentiles because of Peter’s testimony or not, but we do know that God had prepared the way for this ministry and was sending people into it. What does this tell us about the power with which God works in His Church?
Acts 11:20-21 ESV But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. [21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:15-18 ESV As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. [16] And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ [17] If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” [18] When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
A Great Many encouraged by Barnabus
When the disciples heard about the Church growing through the gentiles, they sent Barnabus to them. Why do you think they sent him particularly? What can we see about the way God uses relationships in His Church?
Acts 11:22-24 ESV The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [23] When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, [24] for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Acts 4:36-37 ESV Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, [37] sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 9:26-27 ESV 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. [27] But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
A Great Many taught by Saul
Barnabus did what he was gifted to do, he encouraged the new believers, but he wasn’t just an encourager he was a connector. Having connected Paul with the Apostles, he now realised who he needed to connect with the new believers. Why was Paul back home in Tarsus, and what gift did he have that Barnabus didn’t?
Acts 11:25-26 ESV So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] 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 9:28-30 ESV So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. [29] And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. [30] And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
The Church is prepared for trouble
We’ve heard how many times in Acts that trouble hits the Church just as it seems to start growing. Notice that God doesn’t prevent the famine from happening, He uses it for the continued growth of the Church. Which other threats have we seen in the early Church of Acts, did they eventually help or harm the Church?
Acts 11:27-28 ESV Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. [28] And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
Acts 5:17-18 ESV But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy [18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
Acts 7:58-60 ESV Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] 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.
Acts 9:23-25 ESV When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, [24] but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, [25] but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
The Gentiles bless the Jewish Christians
The Church in Jerusalem has supported the growth of the Gentile Church especially in Antioch, but now it is in need. How do you think the Jewish believers in Jerusalem were affected by the life saving gift of the Gentile Church of Antioch? How did God use the famine to build the Church?
Acts 11:29-30 ESV So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. [30] And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Over to us, today
According to Revelation 12, Satan is conquered. How does God equip the Church to conquer him? What we’ve learned today is that God uses the Gospel of Jesus, our testimony of how he saved us and the relationships we’ve been blessed with throughout our lives to conquer evil and restore people to God. How can we do that today?
Revelation 12:9-11 ESV And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. [11] And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Matthew 9:36-38 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”