Acts 11:19-30 Lesson 245

Acts 11:19-30
Lesson 245

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Antioch hears the word of God.

Remember, Christians in Jerusalem were being persecuted (Acts 8:1), forcing them to flee to other cities (Acts 8:4).

Christians fled the persecution in Jerusalem for Phoenicia, Cyprus,
and Antioch. Barnabas went to Antioch and then Tarsus to find Paul.

Study Tip:

Don't trust other people's interpretation of the Bible.
Not even these lessons.
Let God speak to you, then form your own conclusions.

The Acts of the Apostles

The King James Bible

Acts 11:19-30
The Gentile church in Antioch

19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Margin notes:

"Spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus." (11:20) - "Spoke to the Greeks (Gentiles), preaching about Lord Jesus."

"The hand of the Lord was with them." (11:21) - Proof that the God worshipped by Jews wanted His word spread to Gentiles.

"Then tidings of these things came." (11:22) - "Then news of these things arrived."

"Exhorted them all." (11:23) - "Urged them all."

"Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul." (11:25) - Saul/Paul was hiding in Tarsus from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem who wanted to "slay him" (9:29-30).

"The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (11:26) - Before being called Christians, Christ-followers were called disciples, believers, Galileans, saints, brethren, members of the way, and Nazarenes. Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah 62:2 prophesied this new name for believers. The word Christian is only found in the Bible here, in Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16.

"Agabus." (11:28) - One of the first seventy disciples and a prophet. We see in this passage that he could predict the future. We will meet him again in Acts 21:10-12 (lesson 269) when he warns Paul against returning to Jerusalem.

"Signified by the Spirit." (11:28) - "Predicted with the help of the Holy Spirit."

"Dearth throughout all the world." (11:28) - Means, "Famine throughout the land." This well-documented famine lasted for years and affected large parts of the Roman empire.

"Claudius Caesar." (11:28) - The Roman emperor from AD 41-54.

"Send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea." (11:29) - Barnabas and Saul (Paul) brought aid to Jerusalem (Roma ns 15:26). About the time that they arrived, King Herod killed James and jailed Peter (Acts 12:1-4). The year is AD 44.

New Living Translation

Acts 11:19-30
The Church in Antioch of Syria

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God's blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.

24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.

26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)

29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.

30 This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. Why was preaching in Antioch important? (11:26)

To learn and grow, read your Bible every day.
What better way to strengthen your relationship with God.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. Antioch was the springboard for Christianity to become a worldwide religion. Located three hundred miles north of Jerusalem on the river Orontes, Antioch was the gateway to the east. It was the largest city in Syria and the third most important city in the Roman empire (after Rome and Alexandria). In Antioch, the Gospel was first taught to large numbers of Gentiles, that the first church began, and it was here that Paul prepared himself to spread the good news of Christianity as a traveling missionary.

Application thought for the day:

When Christians fled the persecution in Jerusalem and arrived in Antioch, they found the city was home to numerous pagan cults. Founded in 300 BC, Antioch was awash in immorality, vice and harbored an "anything goes" attitude. But its citizens were ready to hear the good news of salvation. Within a year, Antioch was the most important city in Christendom, sending financial help to the poor in Judaea (11:29) and supporting missionaries throughout the Roman
empire. If God can change the heart of a city, He can change the heart of a person.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.

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