1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. 6When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. 7I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ 9But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 10This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 12The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. 13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is called Peter, 14who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 17If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”
18When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”
19They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
25Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Satan Isolates Before He Assassinates
25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Paul had been a horrific persecutor of the Church. He was there at the stoning of Stephen, and scripture tells us that the witnesses who watched on as Stephen was killed placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. He was just a BAD GUY. I’m sure some wondered, “Was his conversion real? Can he be trusted?” As the good news spread in the wake of Stephen’s martyrdom, it took root in Antioch, which became known as “the cradle of Christianity”. I am sure there was much discussion as believers tried to put together all of the pieces that they had heard about Saul and other events related to the gospel message. They had probably been fascinated as they heard about Simon the Sorcerer in Samaria coming to faith in Jesus through the ministry of Philip. No doubt they had heard about Queen Candace’s treasurer of Ethiopia coming to faith in Jesus also through the ministry of Philip. But what about this guy named Saul? There must have been lingering doubts about him. It was obvious that God was moving, and He was moving in supernatural ways. It was at times mind-boggling. In time, believers congregated in Antioch, Syria, forming the first church body outside of Israel.
There was a man named Barnabas who was a convert, and he was a key player in the church in Antioch. He was the same man who had gone and found Saul after Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus, and he had taken Saul to meet the disciples in Jerusalem. He believed in the power of God not only to save, but to change a person. Now, once again, Barnabas went looking for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch to participate in the local church there. I think it’s interesting that Barnabas knew that Saul needed the spiritual support of a local church. Christianity was never meant to be practiced by oneself. God designed the Church as a place to minister to others and as a place to be ministered to. It has been said that Satan isolates before he assassinates. So Barnabas brought Saul to a local church where he gathered with the assembly there for a whole year. Saul was no longer identified as a Jew, but now he was identified as a “Christian” with all of the others. I am sure that many still had lingering doubts about Saul, but they laid those aside in faith and accepted him into that assembly. We, too, should lay aside doubts we sometimes have about the sincerity of others who have lived a rough and rowdy past, and we should love them and minister to them in our local church. None of us should ever become isolated from the Body of Christ. To do so is to put ourselves in danger of assassination by the enemy.