Revival!

Acts 11:19-30
by Brian Knitter

After the stoning of Stephen, Stephen’s disciples were scattered. Some traveled as far as Cyprus and Syria. Were they running to avoid the same fate, or did they have a higher purpose?

The answer is “B — higher purpose.” Stephen’s followers were every bit as committed as Stephen in spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ. At first, they preached to the Jews, but then in Antioch (Syria), they preached to the Greeks and people came in droves! A “revival” broke out. OK, it wasn’t really a revival, because there was nothing to revive — this was all new! Word spread, and eventually the news reached the church in Jerusalem. The leaders of the church sent Barnabas to investigate. When he got there, he must have been very excited to see that God was working in this place. He was so excited, he went to Tarsus to find Paul, with the hope that he could bring Paul to Antioch. Perhaps these new Christians lacked a deeply rooted teacher like Paul; perhaps Barnabas just wanted to share the joy he felt; we don’t know. What we do know is Paul did join Barnabas, and together they worked in Antioch for a year; even sending aid to Judea during their stay. Paul would later start three of his four missionary journeys from Antioch of Syria (visiting another Antioch in Turkey on those three trips as well). God was showing once again that His message of salvation was for everyone.

Oh ya, an interesting bit of trivia is found at the end of this passage: Christians were first called “Christians” in Antioch during this “revival.” The heritage of our “Christian” label begins here, where Christ was changing the hearts of the people of the world.