Church in Antioch
The
Passage: Acts 11:19-30
Structure: two parts: A and B
I. Conversion
of Hellenists (11:19-24)
a. 11:19-21, Many believed and turned to the Lord
b. 11:22-23,
Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem
a’. 11:24,
Many added to the Lord
“A” part has its own chiastic structure:
a. [Many] scattered because of the persecution
b. Steven
c.
Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch
c’. Cyprus,
Cyrene, Antioch
b’. Hellenists
a’. great number believed
II. Barnabas
and Saul – first task together (11:25-30)
a. 11:25-26, Barnabas is looking for Saul
b. 11:27-28,
Prophets came with the news from Jerusalem
a’.
11:29-30, Sending Barnabas and Saul
Historical
and geographical context: Persecution is never fun for those who take part in it. Yet, Tertulian
(church father of II century) put it this way: Blood of the Martyrs is the
seed of the Church. Similar effect we can attest here. The Book of Acts in the
first 7 chapters speaks only of the church of Jerusalem. Acts 8:1 indicate the
outbreak of the “great persecution”, which triggers the world-wide mission work
of the believers.
There is a
cultural connection between parts of Phoenicia, Cyprus and Cyrene – Phoenicians
were great travelers and explorers. 800 – 300 BC they went South side of
Mediterranean (also parts of Cyprus, Sicily, and Sardinia) searching for
silver, other metals, and trade (History of the World, Map by map, p. 56).
Two Antiochs
– a valuable geographical reminder. There are [at least] two cities with this
name in the Book of Acts. This one is founded by late IV century BC by the successor
of Alexander the Great – Seleucus I Nicanor – after his victory over Syria in
the battel of Ipsos 301 BC (it is possible that he built 16 Antiochs –
Wikipedia). But in Acts 13 St. Paul and Barnabas come to Antioch in Pisidia
where Paul preaches his first recorded great sermon in a local synagogue. This
is one of those 16 Antiochs and was situated more in-land in the modern
Turkey.
Theology:
Conversion
of Hellenists. There
are two noteworthy facts about this event. First, the conversion of Hellenist
was the result of the testimony of the members of Jerusalem church who fled
from the persecution. We don’t know their names or status – a great lesson on
Evangelism. Second, so far, the Hellenists have been the troublemakers.
Hellenists raised a complaint about “wrong distribution of social care” by the
church (6:1). Not being part of the Church, they allowed themselves to critique
the community of believers. Response to this challenge led to the establishment
of the office of deacons. Then in chapter 11:29 we have a record of their
intent to murder Saul (St. Paul). As a result of this plot, he ended up in his
hometown – Tarsus. That’s where Barnabas finds him in our current lesson.
Figure of
Barnabas. Two
reflections: following the fact of conversion of Hellenists by “laymen” of
Jerusalem it should not a be a surprise that the headquarter send Barnabas – he
was not an apostle. At the same time, he was native of Cyprus like the men who
brought the Word to Antioch (Acts 11:20). He would speak their language in a
literal and symbolic/theological sense. We also talked about the possibility of
identification Barnabas as Joseph Barsabas (Acts 1:23, cp. lesson 11, other
themes).
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