Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria…The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord…When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Act 11:19-22, NLT.
Church leaders in Jerusalem were uncertain about what to do concerning Antioch. None of them had ever anticipated that the early church would extend beyond the Jewish community. After all, the church was born during a Jewish annual festival within the city that housed the Temple. However, they had not foreseen the expansion of what became known as The Way. Early Acts records the Gospel spreading into North Africa (Ethiopia), Samaria, and Antioch of Syria, among other places.
A significant percentage of new converts to The Way were Gentiles, non-Jews who were captivated by Jesus’ message. The apostle Paul had a particular interest in the Gentiles, dedicating much of his ministry to traveling westward into Turkey, Greece, and Italy. Nevertheless, Antioch in Syria was the epicenter of serious missionary work and garnered the attention of Jerusalem. The pressing question was, “What are we going to do with all these Gentiles?”
These early Jerusalem church leaders exemplified how visionary individuals respond to unforeseen challenges—major challenges that contradicted their foundational beliefs, such as circumcision, and shattered their static notions of what the church would become.
Both Antioch and Jerusalem advanced with their missional ideas, serving as prime examples of how people prepare for the future. In Antioch, a small group of men were praying and worshiping. They felt inspired to send Barnabas and Saul westward to fulfill the divine mission of spreading the Gospel.
Luke writes that after completing their first mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, sharing stories of their journey and encouraging the believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite suffering and struggles. This represents true preparation—constantly revisiting and reinforcing the mission.
Jerusalem faced a similar situation. A controversy arose within the Jerusalem church regarding whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be admitted. Faithful to their responsibilities, the church leaders listened to the arguments presented by the Antiochian believers and carefully considered the issue. The outcome was full of grace and wisdom, leading them to move away from their previous exclusivity. This too exemplifies true preparation.
Prayer: Dear God of Mission, How exciting it is to witness the faith and determination of the earliest disciples of Jesus. Paul and Barnabas carried the Gospel into Europe, the Antioch church embraced the challenges of diversity, and the Jerusalem church adapted to new and more faithful ideas, being transformed by them. Please help us to be equally faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.