Acts 11:19- 30 First Gentile Mission Planted in Antioch
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni′cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre′ne, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. 22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Ag′abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. 29 And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea; 30 and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
From the Gentile household of Cornelius Saint Luke moves on to describe the planting of the first full-fledged Gentile mission, composed not only of Greek-speaking Jews, but of pagan Greek-speakers from Cyprus and Cyrene (a leading Greek and Roman city in what is now Libya.)
Notice how the mission starts, grows and stays connected with its mother church.
- Anonymous disciples from the Jerusalem community (natives of Cyprus and Cyrene) ended up in Antioch as a result of the persecution in which Saul/Paul had such a big hand. They continued to speak of Jesus, probably in the same terms that Paul himself learned and then passed when planting churches in places like Corinth.
Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the Gospel…
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles…(1 Cor 15:1-7)
- The “mother church” in Jerusalem takes an interest and sends a seasoned apostle of similar background (Barnabas was from Cyprus) to see what’s going on and oversee the community’s development.
- Barnabas recruits a gifted preacher/teacher—Saul—to help ground the new community in the tradition of Christ. What were they teaching during that year? The Christian way of life: the scriptures, how to interpret them in light of the experience of Christ, the sayings and life of Jesus that had been preserved and passed on by His disciples, the meaning of baptism and communion and how this was to shape relations with each other and the world around them.
- They attract the attention—and also derision—of the surrounding population, which labels them as “partisans of Christ” (Christians), a term the new community quickly and proudly accepts.
- Prophets come from Jerusalem, demonstrating to everyone that the Spirit’s inspiration “today” is a normal part of community life. Incidentally, Saint Agabus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen by Christ and sent out by Him to preach. He also foretold the suffering of the Apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 21:11). His feastday is April 8, shared with Herodion, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon and Hermes.
- The new community in Antioch takes an active interest in the welfare of their new brothers and sisters in Jerusalem and collect alms to help relieve their distress.
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Saint John Chrysostom focuses especially on this last point. In almost shocking terms for evangelical Protestants who abhor salvation by works, St John speaks of the power of alms—money and acts of kindness—to heal sin.
There is no sin, which alms cannot cleanse, none, which alms cannot quench: all sin is beneath this. Alms are a medicine adapted for every wound. What is worse than a publican? The very matter of his occupation is altogether one of injustice: and yet Zaccheus washed away all these sins. Mark how even Christ shows this, by the care taken to have a purse, and to bear the contributions put into it. And Paul also says, “Only that we remember the poor” (Gal 2:10.) And everywhere the Scripture has much discourse concerning this matter. “The ransom,” it says, “of a man’s soul is his own wealth” (Prov 13:8.), and with reason for, says Christ, “If you would be perfect, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and come, follow Me” (Matt 19:21.) This may well be part of perfection.
But alms may be done not only by money, but by acts. For example: one may kindly stand by a person to comfort and defend him, one may reach to him a helping hand: the service rendered by acts has often done more good even than money. Let us set to work all the different kinds of almsgiving. Can you do alms by money? Be not slack. Can you do alms by good offices? Say not, “Because I have no money, this is nothing.” This is a very great point: look upon your acts of kindness as if you had given gold. Can you do it by caring, healing attention (therapeias)? Do this also. For instance, if you are a physician, give your skill for this also is a great matter. Can you offer alms by giving (holy) counsel? This service is much greater than all… For in so doing you put away not starvation, but a grievous death… Or is it, think you, a small alms, to a lost, castaway soul, a soul in uttermost jeopardy, possessed by a burning fever to be able to rid it of its spiritual disease?
For example, do you see one possessed by love of money? Pity the person. Is he in danger of suffocation? Quench his fire. “What if he will not be persuaded?” Do your part, and be not remiss. Have you seen him in bonds?—for wealth is indeed bonds (Matt 25: 35 ff.) Go to him, visit him, console him, try to release him of his bonds. If he refuse, he shall bear the blame himself. Have you seen him naked, and a stranger? For he is indeed naked, and a stranger to heaven. Bring him to your own inn, clothe him with the garment of virtue, give him the city which is in heaven. “What if I myself be naked?” say you. Clothe also yourself first. If you know that you are naked, assuredly you know that you need to be clothed, if you know what sort of nakedness this is.
(Saint John Chrysostom, On Acts, Homily XXV)
Update
After a morning at the Chancery and meetings with Metropolitan Tikhon and the officers I’ll drive to Bethlehem, PA to participate in the Assembly of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania this evening and tomorrow.