19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Commentary
Vs. 19 “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.”
The Scripture now returns to the time immediately after the persecution death of Stephen at Jerusalem, when those there then became emboldened to likewise seek to persecute all the believers there. And so, the believers left Jerusalem, and they traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch wherever they hoped to find refuge. Now as they travelled to these foreign lands, they preached to no one but the Jews. Now as to the lands themselves Phoenicia was a territory north west of Jerusalem along the Mediterranean coast which equates with modern day Lebanon, and within its boundaries were two ancient Biblical cities, Tyre and Sidon. While Cyprus was a large island nation in the northeastern Mediterranean Sea, about fifty miles from modern day Turkey, in the Old Testament it is referred to as Kittim. Now Antioch was located in Syria and was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, with only Rome and Alexandria surpassing it. By all accounts then Antioch was a beautiful city and would soon become known as the home base for Christians everywhere.
Vs. 20-21 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Now some of these early evangelists were men from Cyprus and Cyrene: “a city on the north coast of Africa founded by Dorian Greeks about 630 b.c. Cyrene was later the capital of the Roman province of Cyrenaica (ancient and modern Libya). Midway between Carthage and Alexandria—about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of modern Benghazi—the city was built on a beautiful tableland nearly 610 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level.”[1] And so, when these had come to Antioch they spoke with the Hellenists (i.e., Greek speaking Jews) preaching the Lord Jesus to them (vs. 20). Now the Scripture says that the hand of the Lord was with them, and so a great many believed and turned to the Lord (vs. 21). Thus, though Antioch itself was a Godless and pagan place, yet the Gospel itself was bearing much fruit there, for it was reaching out beyond the boundaries of Judaism and right into the heart of Greek and Roman culture. For often where sin abounds, so does the souls desire to be set free from it, from its darkness and gloom, so as to come into Christ’s glorious life and light where all peace and rest is found (Matt. 11:28-30; John 8:12).
Vs. 22-23 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
When news reached the church in Jerusalem of the Gospels reception and spread at Antioch, they sent out Barnabas to go to the regions where the Jews had gone, and specifically to go to Antioch which was then the farthest extent of Gospels reach, thus far (vs. 22). And so, Barnabas the man who brought much encouragement to the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36-37), and later took courage and brought Paul before the apostles there (Acts 9:27), is now charged with strengthening the new believers and growing church there in the faith. And so, when he came there and saw the grace of God, (for its only by the grace of God that anyone is saved, and transformed, and even grows in the faith, Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Peter 3:18 etc.), that he was glad, (just as you and I would be), and so he encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord (vs. 23).
Vs. 24 “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
With Barnabas’ selfless works all being done for Christ’s glory and for believer’s well-being wherever they may be found, the Scripture now interjects with a comment about him, saying, “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” Thus, Barnabas being a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith exuded the fruits of Him (Gal. 5:22-23) exemplifying the grace and love of God to one and to all. And so, with his arrival there a great many people were added to the Lord. Who then can value the impact of a positive Christian, whose heart is set on encouraging believers everywhere and receiving people without partiality into the house of faith just as they come.
Vs. 25-26 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Now even though Barnabas was a Levite, he still knew his limitations, and seeing the need for someone who could lead and disciple all of these new brethren in the faith, he departed for Tarsus and sought Saul who had basically been sidelined there since being sent there for his own safety. Now when he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. “So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” And so, these two men in walking by faith (not fear) and with the Holy Spirit enabling them then will become the means by which the Gospel and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will become fully established amongst the Gentiles! And so, Antioch itself was now the most dynamic and growing church, being made up of both Jews and Gentiles, it would also become the center point of the churches Holy Spirit guided evangelistic work, as Paul and Barnabas themselves would later launch their own evangelistic missionary endeavors when they were commanded by God to do so (Acts 13:1-3). Later Antioch would be the place where the question of what is required of all Gentiles believers would be settled once and for all (Acts 15). But that’s all future.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Cited
[1] Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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