Posted on by Eric White

“The Legacy of Antioch”

The Church in Antioch 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. 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. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 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, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 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 11:19-26 ESV)

|| Sending || Evangelizing || Planting || Teaching || Supporting || Sending ||

In Acts 11 we see a wonderful picture of how churches around the globe can support and care for each other in order to see the gospel spread.

  1. Persecution causes believers to flee Jerusalem (Acts 8; 11:19)
  2. The Jews are evangelized (11:19b)
  3. The Hellenists are evangelized by “men of Cyprus and Cyrene” (11:20)
  4. The hand of the Lord was with them and many believed (11:21)
  5. A report was sent to the church in Jerusalem (11:22)
  6. They send Barnabas to support the work in Antioch (11:22)
  7. Barnabas exhorts the believers to remain faithful and have steadfast purpose (Acts 11:23)
  8. Many more were added to the Lord (11:24)
  9. Barnabas recruits Saul to work with him (11:25-26)
  10. For a year they discipled and taught them (11:26)
  11. Paul and Barnabas are sent from Antioch to the nations (Acts 13:1-3)

John Piper gives us in the west a great vision to reach, teach, support, and partner with the global south in order to reach, teach, and partner with UPGS around the globe. Click the quote to read the whole sermon.

And O how many Antiochs there are around the world yet to be created and yet to be strengthened, where we can send our Global Partners — our Barnabases and our Sauls and our unnamed men and women of Cyprus and Cyrene who cross the cultural chasms to reach the lost? Will you be one of them? Will you rededicate yourself to support those who go and to hold the ropes with rock-solid faithfulness?