In the ‘70s,
there was a sitcom named “All in the Family.” Archie Bunker, his son-in-law “Meathead,”
daughter Gloria and wife Edith made up a strange family. Archie’s bigoted attitude toward everybody
and everything along with the accompanying family dysfunction made for great
comedy.
Racism,
bigoted attitudes and snobbery are not limited to white, middle class,
middle-aged men. It comes in all colors,
shapes and sizes, and it goes in all directions. In addition, racism and bigoted attitudes are
not new. These things are not modern
inventions.
At the time
of Jesus, there already existed ancient prejudices and animosities between
different groups of people. The Jews
hated Samaritans and had nothing to do with Gentiles. Samaritans and Gentiles returned the favor.
When the
Church was born, there existed a unique situation that removed many political
and language barriers. The Roman Empire
did away with political boundaries and gave a vast area of the world a common
trade language.
Because of
the Roman Empire, it was possible for persecuted Christians from Judea to
relocate within the Empire. Acts 11:19
tells us, “The believers who had been scattered during the persecution after
Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria.”[i]
However,
this political freedom did not do away with barriers of culture. Acts 11:19 finishes with, “They preached the
word of God, but only to Jews.”
I do not
think these early Christians were malicious, nor do I think they had bad
motives. I think they were doing what
came naturally. They were associating
with those they felt comfortable with.
When the
early Christians relocated because of persecution, it was natural that they
should form connections in Jewish communities already in existence. For example, even the Apostle Paul, who was
the Apostle to the Gentiles, went first to the synagogue when he entered a new
community. This was a natural connection
for him, a Jew.
This
world’s system tends to build cultural barriers and some of these form into
prejudices. There are those, who like
Archie Bunker, adopt attitudes toward others that are simply un-“Christ-like.”
The early
Church was remarkably open to different cultures and peoples, especially in
light of their Jewish background. Barnabas
rejoiced when he saw large numbers of Gentiles turning to the Lord.
This
openness is remarkable, considering the cultural barriers that existed. In order to overcome these barriers, the Lord
took the believers through a process.
First, Peter had a vision of a sheet filled with all manner of unclean
and forbidden animals. A voice from
heaven commanded him to eat these animals. Being a good Jew, Peter refused. This vision was immediately connected with
Peter sharing the Gospel with a Gentile, his family and friends. These Gentiles believed in Jesus and received
the Holy Spirit. When Peter’s fellow
Jewish believers and apostles heard of this, they asked him what he was doing
speaking with Gentiles. Peter explained
what happened and the believers began to understand that the Lord wanted to
save Gentiles also.
With the
stoning of Stephen, persecution of believers in Christ began. This persecution spread believers and as they
were going, they preached the Gospel. Cyprus
was one of the places listed in Acts 11:19 where believers went when they fled
persecution. These relocated Jewish
believers shared with their new neighbors about Jesus. Verse 20 tells us that some of the believers
from Cyprus went to Antioch.
The
persecution spreading believers was in Judea not Cyprus. Believers fled Judea to Cyprus to avoid
persecution. Verse 20 does not say the
Cyprus Jews were fleeing persecution when they moved from Cyprus to
Antioch. If these are Cyprus Jews
converted by Judean Jews, there is a cultural difference. These believers have been living in close
proximity to Gentiles longer than the Judean Jews. Associating with Gentiles is therefore more
natural or comfortable for them.
This
explains Acts 11:20 where it says, “Some of the believers who went to Antioch
from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.” It is what happened next that is a testimony
to the leading of the Lord. Acts 11:21
says, “The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these
Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.”
The power of the Lord caused a large number of Gentiles to turn to the
Lord.
This
outpouring of God’s power got the attention of the Church in Jerusalem, so they
sent Barnabas. Barnabas saw the large
number of Gentile converts and interpreted this as evidence of God’s blessings
and he was filled with joy.
The
strategy here was not of human origin.
They did not have planning sessions and evangelism training. They did not have a visitation program and a
bussing ministry. I am not speaking
against these things. However, the
explosive growth of the church in Antioch was not the result of a program or
strategy.
The Church
in Jerusalem sent Barnabas as a helper.
His name means encourager, and that is what he did. He went and got Saul from Tarsus. Saul was the most educated man among all the
believers. If anyone was equipped to
teach these new Gentile converts the Scriptures and how they related to Jesus,
it was Saul. In other words, the Church
in Jerusalem was doing everything within its power to welcome these Gentiles
into the family. They did not come with
a program. They did not come to take
control. They came to rejoice together,
welcome them into the family, and provide assistance.
There is
one thing that Barnabas did that is key, and it is a principle that we should
follow today as well. If we want to see
God work in our day, we must apply this principle. It is found in verse 23. Verse 23 says, “He encouraged the believers
to stay true to the Lord.” Besides the fact that the Gospel was preached, this
is the only principle that Barnabas taught.
My interpretation or translation of this verse would be, “He exhorted
them to purpose strongly in their hearts to hold fast to and abide in the
Lord.”
It was this
principle that Jesus taught when He said, “Those who remain in me, and I in
them, will produce much fruit. For apart
from me you can do nothing.” (John
15:5)
It was
abiding in or remaining in Jesus that produced fruit in the lives of the
believers. This is why Barnabas
encouraged them to remain in the Lord. The
spread of the Gospel from Judea, throughout Samaria and then to the far reaches
of the earth was an organic process. It
grew like a plant, naturally.
Saul and
Barnabas taught. We do not know exactly
what they taught. However, we know that
Barnabas, the encourager, encouraged them to stay true to the Lord. Furthermore, we know that Saul was an expert
in the Old Testament Scriptures. We can
get a feeling for what he taught by reading the book of Romans.
In Matthew
28:19-20 Jesus said:
Go and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit. Teach these new disciples to
obey all the commands I have given you. And
be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This is
pictured for us in what is happening in Acts 11. This word “go” in Matthew 28:19 could be
translated “as you are going.” This is
what the believers were doing.
As these
believers became disciples, they joined a family. The family shared, helped and encouraged each
other. We have here the touching story
of prophets traveling from Jerusalem to Antioch. These prophets traveled 300 miles on foot to
fellowship with their new brothers and sisters.
To fellowship and encourage each other, they traveled 20 to 30 days.
This family connection is reciprocated by the offering the Antioch believers
shared with their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.
In a world
filled with bigoted attitudes and prejudices, the church was breaking down
walls and crossing cultural barriers. It
was not their strategy or program. It
was God’s strategy and program.
As
believers, we are all part of God’s family.
As such, it is imperative that we stay true to the Lord. Remaining in Him will bring fruit. The power to make that happen is in Him.
If you have
never received Jesus as your Savior, you are not part of the family. The Gospel the believers spread wherever they
went has not changed in 2000 years.
Although you and I have rebelled against and offended God in many ways,
He invites us to be part of His family by accepting Jesus as our Savior. Please choose to do this today.
For us
believers, I would say, “Remain in Jesus.”
[i]
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New
Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Steam, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.