Acts 11:19-30·~1 min

The Church at Antioch

Those scattered by the persecution tied to Stephen travel to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, at first speaking only to Jews. But some men from Cyprus and Cyrene speak to Greeks in Antioch also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus, and the Lord's hand is with them so that many believe and turn to him.

M¹⁹eanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews. ²⁰But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

When Jerusalem hears of Antioch, Barnabas is sent there and rejoices when he sees the grace of God, encouraging the believers to remain true to the Lord. Because he is full of the Holy Spirit and faith, many are brought to the Lord, and he goes to Tarsus to find Saul so that together they teach the church for a full year, where the disciples are first called Christians.

²²When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts. ²⁴Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. ²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Prophets come down from Jerusalem to Antioch, and Agabus predicts through the Spirit that a great famine will come over the whole world. The disciples decide to send relief to the brothers in Judea according to each one's ability, and they do so through Barnabas and Saul.

²⁷In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.) ²⁹So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. ³⁰This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

Section summaryThe scattered believers who left Jerusalem after Stephen's death spread as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and some from Cyprus and Cyrene preach the Lord Jesus to Greeks there as well. Barnabas sees God's grace in Antioch and encourages the church, later brings Saul from Tarsus to teach with him, and the chapter closes with prophets, a famine warning, and relief sent to Judea through Barnabas and Saul.

Role in the chapterThis section shows the gospel taking durable communal form in a new city. Antioch becomes a place where mixed preaching, shared teaching, and practical relief begin to shape a new center of church life.