Luke the physician wrote how the church in Jerusalem, “sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 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. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Barnabas, “brought him unto Antioch” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.” Luke began with the words, “and when he had found him” which means “and at the time Barnabas discovered, met with and recognized Saul”, “he brought him” or “Barnabas led and carried Saul” “unto Antioch” which means “to the city of Antioch whose name means driven against and was the Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.C. and named in honor of his father, Antiochus”. Luke shared how “Barnabas” “found” “Saul” and led him back to “Antioch” with him.
The verse goes on to say, “And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.” Luke continued with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened and occurred”, “that a whole year” or “that for the time of an entire year” “they assembled themselves” which means “Barnabas and Saul gathered together and joined” “with the church” or “with the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “and taught much people” which means “and held discourses, didactic teachings and imparting of instruction to a large, massive and abundant group of people in Antioch”. Luke shared how “Barnabas and Saul” remained in “Antioch” for a “year” and “imparted instruction” to the “assembly of believers in Jesus” who gathered there.
Finally the verse says, “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Luke ended the verse by writing, “and the disciples” or “and the students, pupils and attendants” “were called Christians” which means “were named or titled as Christians which means followers of Christ” “in Antioch” or “within the city of Antioch whose name means driven against and was the Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.C. and named in honor of his father, Antiochus”. Luke finished this verse by sharing how the believers in Jesus who were gathered in “Antioch” were “named” as “Christians” or “followers of Christ” there.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Barnabas” found “Saul” and took him to “Antioch” where they taught the believers there for a “whole year”. The believers' attitudes and actions were so visible to others, that they “named” them “Christians”. In other words, they did not name themselves “Christians”, others did. God wants to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they submit themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and help them grow in their faith to the point that others “call” them “Christians” or “followers of Christ”. Let all who read these words receive Jesus and allow Him to alter their life so that others name them as “Christians” without having to identify themselves as such.
Next time Luke shares, “in these days came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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