CHURCH in ANTIOCH

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).   

Regardless of this possible connection, note that Antioch church sends him back to Jerusalem with financial support in accordance with the prophecy (Acts 11:28-29). Apparently, he was known to be a trustworthy person in relations with money (4:36-38). He is sent by the elders of the congregation and accompanied by Saul (St. Paul). NB: it is Barnabas that vouches for Saul back when the apostles were suspicious of Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:27). Therefore, Barnabas could be trusted both with the money and the people.