Chapter 20 – Back to Antioch in Syria

Narration

Acts 14:21-26

Paul and Barnabas were making their way back to Antioch in Syria.  Bravely, they returned to the places they had visited, starting with Lystra, where many disciples welcomed them and the news of the work in Derbe.

Paul reminded them that they could only enter the kingdom of God through much tribulation, but that the reward would make the tribulation worthwhile.

In each town they passed through, they appointed elders and leaders among the disciples, and joined with them in prayer and fasting before committing them to the Lord and moving on.

Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia, Perga, Attalia, Antioch in Syria.

The first missionary journey was complete, and the disciples welcomed them back.

Book 5: Intermission

Chapter 21 – Mission Report

Narration

Acts 14:27

Paul and Barnabas were glad to be back, and as soon as they arrived, the believers met together to hear a report.

They told of the ears God had opened, the Gentile hearts touched through their words, and everyone rejoiced.

A door of faith had been opened to the Gentiles.

Sketch 21.1

It was the largest room the believers had in Antioch in Syria, yet the room was crowded and a buzz of anticipation filled the air.  Men and women sat waiting and every face wore a smile of anticipation.

Once everyone had arrived, a well-known brother with a loud voice stood up at the front.

“Our beloved brothers Barnabas and Saul – ah, sorry, Paul I believe it is now – will tell us this evening about their work in Cyprus, Pisidia, Galatia and Lycaonia.  If you would both come forward, I hope you will carry us along with you on your journeys.”

Paul and Barnabas stood and made their way to the front: Barnabas purposeful and smiling, picking his way carefully through the crowd; Paul almost bounding forward, full of energy and eager to tell everyone about the astonishing work he had been a part of – and nearly tripping over several people on the way!

The two reached their destination at much the same time, and Barnabas smilingly waved to Paul to begin.  He knew his friend’s eagerness – which at times almost bordered on desperation.  Paul would not be able to relax until he had told everyone all of the amazing things he had seen, of the new believers born through baptism, the miracles of healing and preaching, the transformed lives he had experienced.  In short, he couldn’t wait to do exactly what Jesus had chosen him to do – talk about his faith!

“Brethren,” began Paul, eyes intense as he scanned the audience, “most of you will know that Barnabas and I were set apart to preach at the command of the Holy Spirit.  On our journey through Cyprus and beyond, we saw God’s hand in many things: blinding a false magician, healing a cripple, and countless examples of guiding us to meet people in unexpected ways and places.  These and many other wonderful things, big and small, showed us that we were working with the help of God and Jesus Christ his son.”

As Paul stopped to take a breath, Barnabas put in, “One of those amazing things was when Paul was stoned in Lystra and walked away alive.  The people stoning him were sure he was dead, and so was I, but then he stood up.  Had he been dead?  I’m not certain, because he stood up before we could examine him.  You can make up your own mind and give thanks to God as we did.”

He signalled to Paul to continue.

“Thanks, Barnabas.  I can tell you all that, while I may have been miraculously protected or whatever it was that happened, that didn’t heal the bruises from the stones!  I still bear the marks of my suffering for Jesus, and they remind me every day of his suffering for me and also of the believers I persecuted.

“There were other miracles too, particularly the gift we need all the time when preaching in different areas – understanding languages.  Barnabas and I know Greek, but Greek is a second language for most of the people we preached to, and being able to speak in their mother tongue makes all the difference.

“When there was a synagogue in a town, we normally attended for as long as we could, but it got harder as we kept doing it.  You see, we preached in the synagogue until they threw us out and then preached to the Gentiles – often men and women who had previously attended the synagogue because they already worshipped the God of Israel.  When they learned about Jesus Christ, many left the synagogue to follow us.  But the Jews didn’t like us stealing their proselytes – as they saw it – so they did their best to cause trouble, which often forced us to move on to another town.  Then, somewhere along the line they started to follow and cause trouble in other towns too.

“As a result, we tried some variations in our preaching method.  All up, we visited many towns and spoke to many thousands of people, telling them the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and warning that people can only be saved through Jesus Christ. Of course, that’s another reason why the Jews hated us, since they won’t believe in the Lord Jesus.

Paul continued to speak passionately about the people who had received the word of truth about the Lord Jesus with joy.  Some analysed the prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures and traced in intricate detail their fulfilment through Jesus’ crucifixion.  Others were convinced simply by the miracles performed by Paul and Barnabas.  Still others knew very little about God, but saw his creation and had open hearts and a willingness to learn.

Each individual was different, and their natural responses to the preaching varied widely.  Yet Jesus was bringing them individually to his saving name in a way that suited each one.  Paul marvelled at this and gave a few specific examples that made his audience marvel with him.

Everyone present was persuaded that Jesus was working powerfully as head of his body – the body of believers.

Paul also drew a powerful lesson from this observation: since Jesus Christ is the head of the body, the believers must concentrate on working as one body under Jesus’ control.

Leaders among the believers must lead as slaves of Jesus Christ.

Elders must show that their wisdom is built on the wisdom of the Lord Jesus.

Young men must use their strength in Jesus’ work and not get distracted by the temptations of youth.

Young women must love their husbands and children.

Older women must show reverence and never end up as gossips or addicted to wine.

Each believer, whatever their position in life, must fill their time with the work their head wanted to guide them into.

After all, had not the Lord Jesus Christ said that he, himself, was sent as a servant?  If the son of God was to be a servant, how much more those who wanted to follow him?

When Paul finished, it was clear to everyone that Barnabas was no longer the leader of the duo.  Paul had taken over as the energetic, imaginative and passionate leader of a successive preaching apparatus, something which Barnabas was obviously not resisting.  His was the attitude of John the Baptist who had said of Jesus that he must increase while John would decrease.  Barnabas continued exercising his special skill as a son of encouragement, and when he spoke it was all about what benefits to the Way there would be in adding such large numbers of new believers.

Barnabas told stories of the courage and commitment of the new Gentile followers of Jesus and the stories were inspiring.  He told of people who had been forced to choose between their family and Jesus and had bravely made the right choice, only to have their family follow their lead after a while.

He spoke of some who had made the same choice and were still enduring the rejection of their family and needed strong support from fellow believers both in prayer and perhaps in other practical ways.

He spoke of some more academically-minded believers who were minutely studying the Hebrew scriptures to help others find more of the prophecies of Jesus that filled them.

Widows who had found a place working hard to help the poor and needy were presented as further examples of the burgeoning fellowship of which they were all a part.

Barnabas also commented on the number of new believers he had already met in Antioch, and rejoiced that the work of preaching was continuing apace in the town.

“You are all taking up the responsibility of talking to your neighbours and your families, working hard in the same work of preaching that Paul and I have been doing in faraway lands.

“With the God’s guidance and blessing and our enthusiasm for the work,” concluded Barnabas, “the Way will soon be transforming the entire world.  Keep it up!”
 

Narration

Acts 14:27-28; Galatians 2:11-14; Acts 15:1-3

Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time with the believers in Antioch.

After a while, Peter came to visit, and joined in the fellowship of the believers, including meeting with the Gentiles who believed.  Peter had already been shown in a vision that Gentiles were welcome, so it was nothing new to him.

Trouble came when some believers came from Jerusalem.  These were very strict, very Jewish believers, and they did not want to welcome Gentiles at all.  Peter tried to keep them happy, and, after a while, even Barnabas was led down the same path, but Paul did not believe in appeasement when truth and salvation were at stake.  Although Peter was one of the twelve disciples and still an important leader among the believers, Paul felt that he had to tell him off in front of everyone.  His words convinced Barnabas that a stand must be made and he joined Paul, but the stand-off was rather upsetting.

After long debate and heated arguments, it was decided that the whole matter should be discussed at a gathering of the leaders of the believers in Jerusalem.  Paul and Barnabas were appointed to represent the believers in Antioch, and Peter went with them to Jerusalem.

The situation did not look good.