Faith without religion.
Antioch: The Birthplace of Christian Identity
In a recent teaching, we explored the transformative journey of early believers as depicted in Acts 11:19-26. This passage highlights the pivotal moment when the gospel began to reach beyond the Jewish community, extending to the Gentiles in Antioch. The scattering of believers following Stephen’s persecution led them to places like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, where they initially preached to Jews only. However, in Antioch, a significant shift occurred as the message of Jesus was shared with the Greeks, marking the beginning of a new era in Christian outreach.
The narrative underscores the importance of God’s hand in guiding these early efforts, as many believed and turned to the Lord. Barnabas, a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith, was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch to witness and encourage this burgeoning community. His exhortation to “cleave unto the Lord” with purpose of heart remains a timeless call for believers to maintain a steadfast faith.
The teaching also delves into the significance of the term “Christian,” first used in Antioch to describe these new followers of Christ. This label, initially given by outsiders, has since become a defining identity for believers worldwide. The discussion emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ, as illustrated in John 15, and the necessity of being rooted in the Word to sustain and grow one’s faith.
Ultimately, the message is clear: believers are called to be anointed, set apart to serve and reflect the love and truth of Christ in the world. This teaching invites us to embrace our identity as Christians, living out our faith with purpose and dedication.
Teaching Script:
WELCOME
PRAYER
MUSIC
SILENCE
Acts 11.19-26
September 18th 2016
Milk
So, Peter rehearsed to the believers at Jerusalem all that happened with Cornelius and at this point Luke continues on with his report saying at verse 19:
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Alright back to verse 19
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Okay folks – right here at this verse we are introduced to a new approach to the writings of some of the epistles in the New Testament.
So far the history had recorded chiefly the preaching of the gospel to the Jews only. But now we begin to read about a new challenge – preaching the Good News to the Gentiles and then the Gentiles and Jews getting along once converted.
Here Luke takes us back to the stoning of Stephen and tells us that those believers who were scattered because of this act traveled as far as “phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch” preaching the Word but to none but the Jews.
The actual going and sharing the Gospel to Gentiles located in an area is here in the last city mentioned, Antioch.
Here in the King James “Phenice” is really “Phoenicia,” which was a province of Syria, and Cyprus was an island off the coast of Asia Minor, in the Mediterranean Sea.
And Antioch.
Now there were two cities of this name, one was in Pisidia in Asia Minor, and is mentioned in Acts 13:14 and the other, referred to here, was set on the river Orontes, and was the capital of Syria long time.
It was built by Seleucus Nicanor who had a dad named Antiochus so Seleucus named the city Antioch.
Today it is in Turkey and is called Antakya.
It was founded three hundred and one years before Christ and while it is never mentioned in the Old Testament it is referred to in the Apocryphal books and, of course, in the New Testament.
This was a very powerful city in the East, inferior only to Alexandria and maybe another civilization known as Seleucia.
What was really great about Antioch was its founder not only gave Jews the right of citizenship but also the Greeks – essentially any people group.
So in all probability the Christians (though probably seen as a sect of Judaism at this point) would have been able to worship openly and freely there.
This is why the first formal mission to gentiles began here – because they could worship freely and without persecution.
So Antioch was both a Roman colony, a metropolis (it was large, almost square, had lots of gates and fountains and was considered opulent) and an asylum or sanctuary.
But Antioch had a problem – earthquakes. It still has this problem with there being an average of at least one 4.0 shaker a year in the area.
In the year 588 Antioch was hit by an earthquake where 60,000 people died.
Add in this and the fact that it was seized in various revolutions involving Turks and Christians and Antioch was not going to continue to be a dominating force for long.
But it served its purpose to the early believers. So when the Jewish converts to Christ fled persecution after Stephan’s martyrdom some took the Good News – preached the Word – to Jews in Antioch.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene (which were Greek speaking lands), which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
The phrase, “spake unto the Grecians” can be read in the Greek, “spake unto the Hellenists,” which you will recall is a term that in the New Testament describes Jews who had adopted the language and ways of the Greeks.
But the phrase, in some mss, can also be read simply, Greeks, which, in contrast to the earlier verse that says they went about preaching to the Jews ONLY strongly suggests that when they got to Antioch they actually started preaching to Gentiles.
I am personally convinced that this is what it means. So apparently news got out that Peter had shared the Good News with Cornelius and his family and some took this as the rest of the world being open game.
The result? (verse 21)
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
God showed them favor.
Notice, the order here – 1. God was with them and 2., a great number believed, and 3., they turned to the Lord.
We have talked a bit about repentance of late. What it meant to the Jew who received and believed in their promised Messiah.
The ministry to them began through John the Baptist where he administered the baptism of repentance.
This began to fade once his job of preparing the way for the Lord was done and was ultimately replaced by a baptism of the Holy Spirit – which was often followed by water baptism.
We’ve talked about repent and repenting having two applications:
Metanoya – meaning to change ones mind AND turn
And Metanoio – meaning to change ones mind.
Here we see HOW Gentiles Metanoya – or change ones mind AND turn.
Ready – let me read the passage again:
“And the hand of the Lord was with them – (God was calling and leading): and a great number believed (they changed their mind about what they had formerly thought and believed this new message of Jesus Christ, Savior of the World), and turned . . . “unto the Lord.”
I’m not sure I can properly and effectively explain and express to you how important it is to know that this is the order for Gentiles who come to faith.
I am personally convinced that God has created me in such a way – rebellious, carnal, lawless, utterly fleshly, everything of this world – as a means to show that it is through this means we learn to overcome ourselves – and follow Him.
I had all the lessons and missions and temple visits possible. Made all the covenants. The PPI’s, the business, the guilt, the threats, the discipline.
All it did was convict me more – and make me in the end more rebellious.
I did all I could – nothing on earth would temper my will and ways – but something from heaven could, and would, and did, and does – Him and Him alone.
Never a man nor men’s institutions. Never myself.
So instead of turning to the mirror and screaming, “I’ve got to do better,” or going to confession and promising, “I’ll do better,” I, like it says here in verse 21, believed (the Good News) and turned to . . . Him.
And this is when I realized I have a savior. And not only a savior, but now I realize I have a King.
Him I will serve. His Spirit. His commands. His ways of love.
So when I fail and fall, I look to . . . Him. When I succeed . . . I praise Him. When I learn truth . . . it’s all from Him. When I’m weary and tired and ready to give up – I go to Him. And tell Him. And no matter what else happens – no matter what – the response, the solution, the way and truth . . . . the life . . . is Him.
We get changing our minds about things. But how to turn? We TURN to HIM.
(LONG, LONG BEAT)
(verse 22)
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
So news that gentiles were coming to believe and receive and turn go to the ears of the believers in Jerusalem, and since most of the apostles were still headquartered there they (and or the leaders of the church there) decided to send someone out to Antioch on what is known today as a “mission’s trip.”
And who did they send? A man named Barabbas – who we met back in the earlier chapters of Acts.
It is probable that they sent Barabbas because he was a native of Cyprus and would have been very familiar with Antioch, and plus the fact that he was a faithful soul of the faith – but we have to also believe that God was behind this as it was through Barabbas that another character we met a few chapters back will return to the scene – Saul (who would be known as Paul).
Speaking of Barabbas, we read at verse 23:
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God (remember, it is by and through the grace of God that any are saved), (he) was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Barabbas shows up and witnesses the grace of God at work and was glad (says the King James) “cheerful” in God bringing more souls to himself.
And what does he do?
“He tells them to relax and rejoice, they are saved, the war was over.”
No? No.
He . . .” exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”
The word exhorted best means to “entreat or invite with tender genuine expressions.”
The Lord had His hand on them.
They believed.
They turned to Him.
But now, Barnabas .” exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”
I have made a study of the New Testament. Serious examination. I have read and taught through most of its books and from all of its authors.
Without exception – this message is included in their words to the flocks of that day, that –
“with purpose of heart they . . . would . . . cleave unto the Lord.”
We know from scripture that God does NOT leave us. But we know that we are received and saved by His grace through our faith.
So I think it is safe to say that God will never leave us for any reason under the sun . . . except the reason of abandoning faith.
We are not in jeopardy of losing relationship with Him over sin – Jesus has overcome sin and death.
We are not in jeopardy of every losing Him at all. But hear me clearly:
Every single believer is in jeopardy of letting Him go – by and through loss of saving faith.
“Wait, wait, wait” – some will cry, “I thought once we are saved we are always saved?”
This is a phrase that, in context of the New Testament, cannot be supported – at all.
But what makes the discussion about it difficult is a sound understanding of what occurs when a person goes.
Notice first how I said this – “How a person goes.” This is an important clarification. God does NOT let us go – but we can let Him go – and He will respect that decision.
We have arrived at a place in many fields of Evangelicalism that preaches a form of Christian security which often leads to Christian apathy. I am NOT talking about living the Christian life or doing Christian works – I’m talking about the idea that people can experience life through Jesus but never feed or support or strengthen the faith after the romance is over.
It is for this reason that Barnabas, after rejoicing over the fact that these in Antioch had believed and received Christ that he then immediately exhorted and encouraged them that
.”with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”
A simple audit of the New Testament contents reveals that the idea of Once Saved Always Saved is wrongly interpreted and applied, and there is a requisite demand upon all believers who have believed and turned to CLEAVE unto Him.
And how do we cleave? By faith. And how are we saved? By faith. So it stands to reason that
It is incumbent on all believers to grow in faith, and therefore, (since the formula for obtaining/growing/ having or maintaining faith is exposure to the Word), it is . . .
vital that believers be fed a steady stream of the living Word over the course of their lives.
But guess what? People don’t want to hear, read, study or really even understand what we call God’s Word.
(ON BOARD)
The less Word, the less faith.
The less faith, the less love.
The less love, the less cleave.
The less cleave, the less believe.
The less believe, the more deceived.
The more deceived, the less saved.
(Shawn circle Word and Saved on board)
From this little . . . (whatever-it-is) we can see from its bookends that the key to cleaving unto Him – is to be in his Word.
In and through exposure to it – hard as it is for some to believe – we are better equipped to cleave unto Him.
The idea and necessity of cleaving unto Him is made clear in Jesus teaching on Him as the Vine in John 15 where He says:
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine; no more can ye, unless ye abide (cleave) in (or unto) me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not (cleaves not) in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (not saved – anymore)
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
It is one of my ultimate desires – and I say this before God – to fill you with the Word of God. Why? So you will abide in Him. So you will cleave unto Him by and through the Words which are in you. In this state there is no walking, no withering, no worry.
If you are ever unconvinced about all I have just taught come and see me privately and we will together cut right through all the modern rhetoric of Once Saved always saved by appealing to the words of the Lord and His apostles.
Do not be fooled. But don’t be placed in bondage again either. The key is turning to the Lord, and one very strong way we are able to do this is in and through access and exposure to His Word.
Also understand, that this cleaving is first done from the heart and not from the hands.
This is why Barnabas says:
.”with purpose of heart . . .” they would cleave unto the Lord.
This does not just mean only with the emotions but also with the mind – fixed, a decided upon settled resolution is what the word purpose means, from the heart and mind, and will.
It’s a battle because the flesh and this world wants to rule in such things – Barnabas says:
“Cleave unto the Lord.”
In the end, and this is the battle for most, it is a choice. A tug of war between cleaving to the Lord with a full purpose of heart or with a part purpose of heart or with a little purpose of heart or with no purpose of heart at all – no desire, no inclination, to determination.
There is always a choice – calling from every arena under the sun – to serve it . . . or serve Him.
Listen – this is always a choice and a choice for which we are all individually responsible for.
Joshua summed it up pretty well when he said to the COI:
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Anyway, speaking of Barnabas, Luke adds some insight, saying
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Luke could have said that Barnabas was a learned man, or intelligent, or excellent of speech – you name it.
But the reason given on why “much people were added to the Lord” is “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”
Broken down we are presented with the qualifying characteristics of this man who was sent to reach these people.
He was a good man – the word means kind, humble, beneficial.
He was “full of the Holy Spirit,” which means he was really full of the fruits of the spirit – full of love, joy, peace, temperance, etc.
And he was a man who had confidence in the truth and promises of God. In other words he was a man of faith.
He too had turned to God, trusted in his promises, did not depend on his own strength, but on the strength of the arm of God.
And many people were added to the Lord or came to faith.
And at this point Barnabas does something that will change the course of Christianity forever – and I think he does this because he is full of the Holy Spirit. What does he do? (verse 25)
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Why Barnabas sought out Saul we are not told. It seems from deduction that
he had met Paul, knew that God had called him to the Gentiles, and knew of his talents, and
there was a need – Antioch was, “going off” and Barnabas knew that it was time – Paul was needed.
Tarsus was about 123 miles away so we are not talking about a short jaunt.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
As stated, Antioch was a city exceedingly important in its numbers, wealth, and influence and freedom.
It was a ripe place for the truth to be introduced. Because of this it seems they spent so much time there. Most of the time Paul spent his longest periods of missionary work in cities – here in Antioch, then three years in Ephesus, and
A year and a half in Corinth.
So “a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
It is believed that this was the location of the first place where an actual church was created for Christians to gather. Do you know what it was? A cave.
Now, we have justified from here to eternity why there is a need for Christians to gather in multi-million dollar edifices but I want to know why the church hasn’t continued to ultilize caves?
I’m using caves as a symbol for lowly, unexpensive, settings?
I mean this is biblical history, right?
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.”
I was recently talking with someone who had come out of Mormonism and they visited CAMPUS one Sunday (they haven’t been back) and I ran into them the other day and they were a little disturbed by the fact that we meet in an “industrial building.”
If there was a true connection to the truth and the costliness of a meeting place I would shed my blood to raise money to hold church in an expensive edifice. But I can not only not find one, I do find that the opposite ought to be true, that we keep a light touch on the things of this world, and we do all we can to unburden people rather than to burden them with financial overhead, and that our approach to God is spiritual and never material.
Anyway, these saints in Antioch, it is rumored, met in a cave. However, this is a point of conjecture because the Greek construction seems to merely address a gathering of believers and might not have ANYTHING to do with the physical building at all.
“And the disciples were called Christians, first in Antioch.”
Christianous (Christians) in the Greek, is in what is called the “predicate accusative.”
Just like followers of Herod would be “Herodians,” and followers of Caesar would be “Caesarians.”
The genitive case means actually “belonging to Christ” and not just followers of.
It is believed that this name was given to Gentiles (not Jewish converts but Gentiles) as a means to first distinguish them from the Jews who followed Christ.
The Jews would not call other Jews Christians as they referred to them as “Galileans” or “Nazarenes” terms obviously delivered in derision since both were considered derogatory.
But Christian was a new name assigned to non-Jewish followers of Christ.
This distinction shouldn’t be a surprise as even today followers of Christ who retain their Hebrew roots often call themselves “Messianic Jews” instead of Christians so even present day many converted Jews go by another name.
Back in the early church followers of Christ called themselves disciples (learners), believers, brethren, saints, and “those of the Way.”
The three times that “Christian” is used in the N.T. are from the heathen standpoint with the first being here, the second being in Acts 26:28 (which was a term of contempt out of the mouth of King Agrippa), and in 1st Peter 4:16.
Because it is used in scripture does not mean it is a must in my estimation. But admittedly Christian is a very handy term as it quickly allows people to access the focal point of our devotions.
Unfortunately, His name has been used very badly over the centuries and therefore there is a negative association with it as well.
Christos is a Greek way of saying Messiah – (or Mash-ee-ahk) so in reality we are really Messians or Mash-ee-awkins – if you will.
People who believe and receive and follow a man who is claimed to be the Messiah.
What does Mash-ee-awk mean? Anointed.
The Greeks took “Mash-ee-yawk” and said, what word means anointed in our language?
Ahhh. Kree-o – to anoint or rub oil upon.
Therefore the one who was anointed would be the Kree-stos – the anointed one.
Yeshua (Jesus) the Christos – Jesus, the anointed one.
Jesus us twice called the “Anointed” or “Messiah” (in Psalm 2:2 and Daniel 9:25,26), because he was (according to Isaiah 61:1) anointed with the Holy Spirit. As such, He was able to perform many wonderful things among the children of men.
Now the practice of “anointing” with perfumed oils was common among the Hebrews.
Religiously, it was an act that signified the consecration of a person to a holy or sacred use.
Consecration means devoting or setting something apart to the worship or service of God.
Exodus 13 says that the race of Abraham and the tribe of Levi were consecrated. But consecration was not only men as the Jews devoted their fields and cattle, and sometimes the spoils of war, to the Lord too.
Now, emblematic of Jesus the ultimate anointed one, listen to the way “anointing” is used and applied as types in the Old Testament.
Also, and according to the Mosaic law, the first-born both of man and beast were consecrated (devoted and anointed) to God. (Jesus – the first born of God and Mary).
We also know that the High Priest was anointed (Exodus 29:29) as Jesus became our High Priest before God offering up His own blood.
Sacred vessels were also consecrated (Exodus 30:26) as Jesus of Nazareth was the Sacred vessel bearing the fullness of God.
King’s were called “the anointed” (Leviticus 4:3) with the crown being seen as the equivalent of an anointing (just as Jesus is our King)
According to 1st Kings 19:16 prophets were also anointed (as Jesus is called our Prophet, our Priest and our King).
Anointing was also an act of hospitality which we see all through scripture and which I see as a key trait to those in whom the Lord dwells as He invited all to come and stay with Him.
Anointing was also done for medicinal purposes anciently as it was applied to the sick and also to wounds ( as Jesus also is the healer of our wounds).
Then, according to Mark 14:8 the bodies of the dead were sometimes anointed (just as Jesus sets the dead in sin apart to life eternal).
Now here’s the deal – as Christians – we too – by and in and through Him – are also the anointed.
To do what? The same things to others in His name. What things?
As “Christosians” we are also set apart by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Isn’t that wild?
In this way the name Christian is directly applicable as we can also be known as Jane the Christ, Steve the Christ, or Bill the Christ – because we too are anointed.
Peter says the following of believers in 1st Peter 2:9:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
So likewise we are set apart to be sacred vessels of the Holy Spirit, joint-heir kings, priests, healing the sick, showing hospitality, and helping to set the dead apart.
None of ARE the Messiah, but we are, in His name, and as followers of the Anointed one, called to be the same to others.
In this light I readily accept the name of Christ or Christian.
Q and A
