Lessons From Acts – Lesson 16
Our precious Bible was given by God. All scripture was given by God and is profitable. It all fits together perfectly. And it needs to be handled and understood that way. What I mean by that is when you look at any verse or section of scripture you need to look at it with all the rest of the Bible in mind.
I have seen it many times, where a guy is preaching a text and he is so focused on only those verses that he can’t see the forest for the trees as the saying goes.
I remember a guy was preaching on liberty and started preaching pro alcohol. Never mind that the Bible teaches Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
And the Bible teaches to love thy neighbor as thyself and he had alcoholics in the congregation who are still going to AAA meetings. That is just one example. The point is when you are reading your bible always do it with the rest of the Bible in mind.
In Acts we are in what is called a narrative type of scripture. It is a continual story. This happened and then this happened, a certain man did this, another man did that. These people reacted this way and this man reacted different.
When in a narrative section we need to consider the entire thing. We need to read a certain event in the narrative having what went on before in mind and also what happens later in mind.
We need to ask ourselves what has this man already seen and done. What does scripture overall reveal about his character and motives. This is the correct biblical approach and it helps make things clear and helps us to not fall into some error.
The central figure in the section we are looking at today is Barnabas.
Act 11:22 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.
Act 11:23 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.
Act 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
God says that Barnabas was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and full of faith.
And we mentioned this last week, what a difference his reaction is to gentiles getting saved. The leaders in Jerusalem spoke against it, they contended with Peter about it.
But there were 7 witnesses that it happened and Peter’s explanation was sound so they held their piece. They acknowleged that God has now granted salvation to the gentiles and gave God glory for it.
But no excitement, no plan to change course. They just are not going to do anything about it.
We need to remember that Barnabas was in Jerusalem. He saw all of this happen. It caused a huge stir when Peter went and preached to gentiles and they got saved and Peter even ate food with them.
If Barnabas was not there that day to see firsthand the leaders contend with Peter about it, Barnabas certainly would have heard about it. It was big news in Jerusalem.
Barnabas has seen the persecution drive Jewish believers out and he has heard how they went preaching the word and now because of this there are churches all throughout Judea and Samaria.
But Barnabas also knows they went preaching only to Jews. What Jesus said before He ascended is well known to them all. I have no doubt that Barnabas knows Jesus said to go into all the world and preach to every creature.
But that is not what Barnabas is seeing with his eyes. The great commission is not what they are doing in Jerusalem.
Right now remember what God says about Barnabas. He is a man full of the Holy Ghost. That means that he is walking with God. That means he is submissive and listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
There is only one God who is manifested to us in 3 distinct personalities. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit. These 3 are one. They are always perfectly on the same page.
It is obvious that the Holy Spirit is speaking the same thing that Jesus said to every heart that will listen. God to all the world and preach to every creature.
God now turns the focus to the Gentiles, this is what the leaders in Jerusalem should have done 5 min. after Jesus told them to do it. But they refused.
God sent persecution to scatter the believers in Jerusalem and they did go but only preached to Jews. God told them to do it, they refused, God forced them to physically go, but they still refused.
God has to slap Peter in the face so to speak with that vision to get him to go. Peter goes and gentiles get saved, the leaders fight against it, they acknowledge the truth but are not excited about it and still do not get involved in preaching to gentiles.
And who is in Jerusalem seeing all of this. Barnabas.
What is the Holy Spirit saying? The same thing as Jesus said. Who is listening to the Holy Spirit? Barnabas. In his heart Barnabas is not on the same page as the leaders in Jerusalem.
Now the large numbers of people getting saved in Jerusalem has ended. O’ they will still see some saved. The word of God will still go out in Jerusalem and it will still be multiplied. However, the large numbers getting saved is over. The daily adding to the church has stopped.
God moved in the hearts of some way up in Antioch and they quit preaching to Jews only and started preaching to Greeks and God moved. And large numbers start getting saved.
Word gets back to Jerusalem and they want to send one person up there to see and verify what is going on. Taking the whole account into consideration and what the Bible records that those leaders in Jerusalem do later.
I don’t think they wanted to send a man to help. They just want to know what is going on. So they send a representative of their authority up there to check it out.
You would think that they would have sent someone who thought just like themselves. And I believe that God intervened in their choice and instead of sending someone who thought like them, God had them send a man who thought like God.
What I mean by that is a man who is being led by God, listening to God the Spirit. A man who is letting his thinking align with what the Spirit is saying in his heart and what Jesus said before He ascended.
In the choice to send Barnabas God is using His almighty power in the circumstances of life to get His will done.
Barnabas gets to Antioch and sees God moving and Gentiles getting saved and he gets excited.
There is rejoicing in heaven every time a sinner gets saved. And of course the Holy Spirit who is living in Barnabas’ heart is also rejoicing. And because Barnabas is allowing himself to be led by the Spirit he is also rejoicing.
Barnabas saw gentiles getting saved and was glad. He got involved.
He started preaching and teaching them. He exhorted them that they should cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart.
Barnabas is a good man, led by the Spirit and I believe he knows Bible truth. But he sees the need. It is great.
Think about who is getting saved here. Gentiles. People who for the most part know nothing about God’s word or God’s truth. They don’t even have the foundational truth of creation.
They don’t have the foundation of the Ten Commandments. These people have been worshipping the false gods of this world. The Greek or Roman gods. Zeus or Athena or others like Diana or a host of others, too many to name.
These people don’t have the foundation of the wisdom in the proverbs or the history that teaches so much. Like Abraham, or Daniel, or Esther.
Barnabas sees these new believers and he sees the need. And remember he is being led by the Holy Spirit. And it is clear. He needs help.
What is he going to do? Where is he going to go? The need is great. The answer is of critical importance.
I think he might have considered going back and reporting this to those who sent him in Jerusalem. But would they send help? Would they get excited and involved?
He has seen what they think about this and how they react up close and personal. He already knows it would be a waste of time. What is he going to do?
Remember he is full of the Holy Spirit. He listens to God. And God has the answer and sends Barnabas in another direction.
Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Barnabas does not go back and report to those hard hearted leaders who are not listing to and are not be led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not even send Barnabas to report first and then go get Saul.
No. The Spirit sends Barnabas straight to seek for Saul.
Act 11:26 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.
God blesses. He finds Saul, who has been sitting in his home town of Tarsus for years doing nothing for his Lord. It appears that Paul jumps at the chance to do something for his Lord. There is no argument here. No pleading mentioned. No convincing needed.
God does not have to hammer Paul with visions like He had to with Peter. It is just simply Barnabas finds Paul and they just go to Antioch. And did you catch it, they bypass Jerusalem. Don’t report there first. Don’t have to get permission.
God’s leading is all they needed. And they got busy doing God’s will without any horizontal authority from man. And to that I say praise the Lord. Amen and Amen.
Paul did not have to have the approval of or the ordination by the leaders in Jerusalem. This is a very inconvenient truth to many who love to have power and authority over others.
God worked and God called and Paul had the knowledge and the leading of God the Spirit. That was all the authority and qualifications that was needed. So Paul bypassed the approval of man and got to work for the Lord.
Verse 26 says that for a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And God blessed and He moved in hearts. And the people actually put in practice in their lives what was taught. Look at what it says about them in the end of verse 26.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The word Christian means Christ like. Christian means you are living your faith and in real practical meaningful ways. It means you are putting the teachings of Christ above your own thoughts. Above your own selfish thinking or desires.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This was not said about the believers in Jerusalem. This is not said about those leaders in Jerusalem who said we will not leave prayer and study. No not them.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. It is amazing how messed up some people get this. They hold up that church in Jerusalem as the mother church and come up with this idea that all the little churches had to get authority from them.
They take that and turn it into how they have that same authority and how you need to be under them. But that is not what we see in the Bible.
The Spirit is blessing in Antioch. And without any authority or blessing from Jerusalem.
Now we have to be cautious here and not take this too far. Those in Jerusalem are still believers. They are still God’s children. And He still has a purpose for them and will still use some of them.
For example James will still be allowed to write one book of the Bible. They are still God’s children. They are just not listing to the Holy Spirit on this matter of going into all the world and preach to every creature.
And God is still going to speak to some men there. God still has a few prophets there.
Act 11:27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Act 11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
God knows that terrible hard times, a great dearth is coming, and that it is going to be really hard on His believers in Jerusalem.
So God moves and uses His power in the circumstances of life to send Agabus, His prophet, to Antioch.
Now how are they going to respond to those in Jerusalem?
The leaders and believers in Jerusalem have shown that they don’t really care about them. They even tried to argue against Gentiles getting saved.
Does Antioch use the thinking and excuse, well they have this coming. After all they are not obeying our Lord.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Christian means Christ like.
We see the evidence of this in their response. They respond with grace and mercy and love and help.
For this is what Jesus taught. This is how Jesus lived and how He died. And Jesus was victorious and rose again. And His Spirit now indwells them and they are listening to and being led by Him.
Act 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Act 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
They end up helping those who would not help them.
They ended up helping those who, when looking thru worldly eyes, would not deserve help.
They showed great, real, practical love to those who did not think the same as them and who most likely would not have done the same for them if the roles were reversed.
They loved as Jesus would have them love. They loved their neighbor as themselves. And with no loopholes or excuses.
Jesus taught
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
They listened to the teaching of Jesus and lived by it. That is why they were first called Christians at Antioch.