Luke the physician wrote how “they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spoke unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem:” Luke began with the words, “then tidings of these things” which means “at that time word, utterance, sayings and declarations about the people believing in Antioch” “came unto the ears of the church” or “was heard and entered into the physical ears of the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting” “which was in Jerusalem” which means “that was located in the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how the news of the “Grecian” people receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ was heard by the “assembly of believers” in “Jerusalem”.
The verse goes on to say, “and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.” Luke continued with the words, “and they sent forth Barnabas” which means “and the believers within the church in Jerusalem dispatched and assigned Barnabas whose name means son of rest and was the surname of Joses or Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus. He was a distinguished Christian teacher and companion and colleague of Paul”, “that he should go” or “that Barnabas was to travel and journey” “as far as Antioch” which means “until he reached the city of Antioch which means driven against and was a city in Pisidia on the borders Phrygia, founded by Seleucus Nicanor”. Luke shared how the “church in Jerusalem” dispatched “Barnabas” to travel until he arrived in the city of “Antioch”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “word” of what happened to the “Grecian people” in “Antioch” was heard by the “church in Jerusalem”. Their response was to dispatch “Barnabas” to the new believers there, and he would report what he saw when he arrived. The “church in Jerusalem” wanted to validate the “faith and trust in Jesus” reported by the witnesses who went there. God's “gospel” of salvation through His Son Jesus was spreading, and though He knew what He was doing, the “church of believers in Jesus” wanted to formalize and support it. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person, and when they yield to His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life even to “Antioch” and the whole world.
Next time Luke shares when Barnabas, “had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all”, 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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