Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From: ACTS #19 - 11:19-26)
XIII. 11:19-26 THE GOSPEL SPREADS TO ANTIOCH
a. 11:19 GOD USES PERSECUTION TO FURTHER THE GOSPEL
Hoi men oun di-a-spaRENtes [1289] aPO tes THLIpse-os [2347]
Those therefore scattered abroad upon the tribulation
tes ge-noMEnes ePI StePHAno diELthon HEos PhoiNIkes,
that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia,
kai KUprou, kai An-ti-oCHEIas, me-deNI laLOUNtes ton LOgon ei meMOnon IouDAIois.
and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.
b. 11:20 THE GOSPEL REACHES THE HELLENISTS OF ANTIOCH
Esan DE ti-nes ex auTON ANdres KUpri-oi kai Ku-reNAIoi, HOIti-nes,
But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who,
elTHONtes eis An-tiOchei-an, eLAloun kai pros tous Hel-le-niSTAS [1675],
coming to Antioch, spoke unto the Hellenists also,
eu-ag-ge-liZOme-noi [2097] ton KUri-on IeSOUN.
preaching the gospel aboutthe Lord Jesus.
c. 11:21 THE LORD GAVE A GREAT INCREASE
kai en cheir KuRIou met' auTON:
And the Lord's hand was with them:
poLUS te a-rithMOS [706] ho piSTEUsai ePEstre-psen [1994] ePI ton KUri-on.
and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.
d. 11:22-24 JERUSALEM SENDS BARNABAS TO STRENGTHEN THE WORK
E-KOUSthede ho LOgos eis ta Ota
And the report concerning them came to the ears
tes ek-kleSIas tes OUses en Ie-rou-saLEM peRI auTON:
of the church which was in Jerusalem:
kai e-xaPEstei-lan [1821] BarNAban HEos An-ti-oCHEIas:
and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:
hos, pa-ra-geNOme-nos [3854] kai iDON [1492]ten CHArin [5485]ten tou TheOU,
23who, when he came and saw the grace :of :God,
eCHAre[5463]; kai pa-reKAlei [3870]PANtas
was glad; and he exhorted all to cleave
teproTHEsei [4286]tes karDIas prosMEnein [4357]en to KuRIo: HOti en aNER a-gaTHOS,
unto the purpose of theirheart in theLord: 24 because he was a good men,
kai PLEres PNEUma-tos HaGIou kai PIste-os: kai pro-seTEthe[4369]OCHlos hi-kaNOS toKuRIo.
and full of theHoly Spirit and faith: and a large crowd was added to the Lord.
e. 11:25-26a BARNABAS SEEKS SAUL'S HELP AT ANTIOCH
eXELthen de eis TarSON a-na-zeTEsai [327]SAUlon; kai heuRON, Ega-gen eis An-tiOchei-an.
And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul; 26a and having found him,he brought himto Antioch.
f. 11:26b A FRUITFUL YEAR'S MINISTRY
eGEne-to de, auTOIS kai e-ni-auTON [1763] HOlon
And it came to pass, both that even for a whole year
su-nachTHEnai [4863]en te ek-kleSIa kai diDAxai OCHlon hi-kaNON [2425],
they were gathered together in the church and taught a large crowd,
chre-maTIsai [5537te PROtos en An-ti-oCHEIa tous ma-theTAS Chri-sti-aNOUS [5546].
and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
NOTE: Here again we see how “Bible Numerics” clarifies the importance of these 8 verses. Section XIII is constituted the equivalent of an entire chapter here, while in regular versions, it is but a small part of 30 verses. But a transition is taking place at this point, and the Holy Spirit wants to emphasize the importance of this transition, by setting it apart as an entire chapter!
Barnabas recognized the important nature of Hellenist Jews becoming a part of the City Church of Antioch. He recognizes that they rub shoulders with Gentiles in their “diaspora” situation, and that Saul (Paul) grew up in just such a state also. Who better would understand how to minister to such Jews as the Hellenists, than one who had the same type of background?
So the year Saul spent with Barnabas teaching the Hellenists at Antioch, was an excellent preparation for the missionary journeys that soon would be released by the Holy Spirit.
“Tribulation” is an excellent tool of the Lord to make “all things work together for good.” The “Master Chess Player” is behind the scenes working all this out.
Antioch is already becoming an instrument in God's hands for various new innovations. It becomes a center for Hellenistic Jews. It provides Saul training with Barnabas for Gospel Outreach. It is the location where disciples are first named “Christians”. Some have suggested this term originated from enemies of the disciples. Nonetheless, Jesus said, “Blessed are youwhen you are persecuted for My Name's sake!”
So Jerusalem made a goodchoice when they sent Barnabas to meet this need; and Barnabas made a goodchoice when he sought out Saul to assist him! J.A.W.
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