College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 11:22-30
THE EARLY LABORS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL.
1.
IN JERUSALEM. Acts 11:22.
And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:
Acts 11:22 News of persons who are attempting to carry forth the same type of work you are is always of great interest. Especially must this have been true in the early years of the church when there were but few Christians, and these were as foreigners in the midst of a strange and hostile country. The report of the work among those of Antioch must have been received with the greatest of interest since it was concerning not only their common work but it was carried out among the Gentiles.
The choice of Barnabas as the man to visit the work in Antioch was surely a happy one; Barnabas the son of exhortation. Barnabas the one who had the faith and courage to believe in and defend one for whom others had only suspicion and unbelief. Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith.
2.
AT ANTIOCH. Acts 11:23-24.
who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Acts 11:23-24 When this man came to Antioch and was introduced to converted men and women of this city, he looked upon them as a manifestation of the grace of God. His heart was glad, and true to his name and reputation, he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
What better word could the preacher give them? This thought is so much neglected today; it is not enough that a great number turn to the Lord, it is just as important that they with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord.
Because of the actions of Barnabas on this occasion, Luke could say of him for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Barnabas was not content only to rejoice in the work of others but to cast himself also into the effort. Through his preaching and exhortation much people were added unto the Lord. This terminology as we have said elsewhere refers to being added to the body of Christ which is His church, Ephesians 1:22-23 and Acts 5:14.
360.
Why was the word of the work in Antioch of special interest to those in Jerusalem?
361.
Why was the choice of Barnabas a happy one?
362.
Why could Luke say of Barnabas he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit?
TARUS
Tarsus was situated in a wide and fertile plain on the banks of the Cydnus, which flowed through it; hence it is sometimes called Tarsoi. The founding of Tarsus in legendary, The Assyrians entered Cilicia in 850 B.C. and Shalmaneser III'S Black Obelisk mentions the taking of the city. It appears in history in Xenophon's time, when it was a city of considerable importance. It was occupied by Cyrus and his troops for twenty days, and given over to plunder.
After Alexander's conquests had swept this way, and the Seleucid kingdom was established at Antioch, Tarsus usually belonged to that kingdom, though for a time it was under the Ptolemies. In the civil wars of Rome it took Caesar's side, and on the occasion of a visit from him had its name changed to Juliopolis. Augustus made it a free city. It was renowned as a place of education under the early Roman emperors. Strabo compares it in this respect to Athens and Alexandria. Tarsus was also a place of much commerce. Both land and sea highways made Tarsus a famed ancient emporium. The famous Cilician Gates, one of antiquity's most famous mountain passes, is not far distant, and access by water to the Mediterranean made Tarsus a famous trading center. (Unger's Bible Dictionary p. 1071.) This was the town where Saul was born; think of his background with its advantages and disadvantages.
3.
AT TARSUS. Acts 11:25-26 a.
And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people;
Acts 11:25 It would seem that the number turning to the Lord grew to such proportions that Barnabas needed a helper to assist him in the work of an evangelist. Who would be better qualified to do this work than Saul of Tarsus? Tarsus was but a few miles from Antioch. So it happened that one day Barnabas said goodbye to those of the church in Antioch and traveled as far as Seleucia and sailed across the short span of the Mediterranean to Tarsus. To say what Saul had been doing since he arrived from Jerusalem would be pure speculation, but it does seem highly probable since he was in the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21 b), and since churches were established about this time in these parts (Acts 15:41) that he was preaching the Word.
Acts 11:26 a Luke suggests that Barnabas encountered a little difficulty in finding Saul. But when he did find him what a meeting there must have been. Saul looked upon the request of Barnabas for help as the will of God. He hence returned with Barnabas to Antioch. The work was increasing so rapidly that Saul and Barnabas continued for a whole year unabated in their work in the church. The efforts of these two men were to teach the people (cf. Acts 13:1). There is a real word of meaning in the work of Barnabas and Saul for the ministers of today.
4.
IN ANTIOCH. Acts 11:26 b - Acts 11:30.
and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.
And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judaea: Acts 11:30 which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
363.
What was Saul doing in Tarsus?
364.
Why was Saul willing to leave Tarsus and go with Barnabas?
365.
What was the effort of these two men as they labored for a year in Antioch? (cp. Acts 13:1)
a.
The labors of Saul and Barnabas. Acts 11:26 b.
The name Christian is here used for the first time. The manner of giving the name has been a subject of no little comment. It is our contention that the use of the Greek word for called as used here carries something of the thought of being divinely called. That is, God Himself selected this new name (Isaiah 62:2) and here called the disciples by their new name Christians. It was especially appropriate at this time for now both Jews and Gentiles made up the church and a name could be given by which all of them could be known.
b.
The coming and message of the prophets from Jerusalem. Acts 11:27-28.
Acts 11:27-28 Following the year's fruitful work in Antioch the brethren were visited by prophets from Jerusalem. They no doubt were glad to receive them but wanted to know the intent of their visit. The Spirit did not delay long in speaking through these men. As they gathered in a group there stood up one of the prophets named Agabus, who, speaking under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, foretold a great famine that was to affect the whole inhabited earth. Luke upon recording this scene sometime later states that this promised famine did occur in the days of Claudius, the emperor of that time.
c.
The free will offering taken and sent. Acts 11:29-30.
Acts 11:29-30 Immediately the brethren in the church in Antioch thought of others. How would they fare? How would others be affected? Always the first to suffer in a famine were those of Judea. The ground of the province of Judea was not productive enough to supply all the needs of the many who lived within its borders. This was true in natural times; what then would be their condition in a famine? Since the time for the celebration of the feast of the Passover was near many of Judea would be in Jerusalem. They took up a free will offering for the brethren of Judea and sent it by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the elders of the Jerusalem church. This is the first mention of elders in the church.
366.
Who gave the name Christian to the disciples? Why especially appropriate at this time?
367.
How did Agabus and the others from Jerusalem become prophets?
368.
Who was Claudius?
369.
Why send relief to those of Judea since the famine was to affect the whole world? Why at this particular time?