One would think that the horrific persecution that the first church endured would have chilled the excitement of what the apostles were proclaiming in the first century. It started in Jerusalem, threats, beatings, arrests and even death. One would think that just the news of what happened to Stephen would have caused the multitudes to stop cold in their tracks. The decisions where coming down from the highest levels of the Religious communities, those who were supposedly called of God.
New believers, run out of their homes, scattered here and there throughout the Palestine region. Yet, even though they had lost their homes, they never forsook their faith. They went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. So, what did they do? These first Disciples of Christ spoke the Word of the Lord, at first only to their own countrymen, the Jews. Yeshua was a Jew, born of the tribe of Judah. All His apostles, the first converts, as well as the first persecutors were Jews also. Not very long after this took place, having taken the Word outside of the ranks of the Jew’s, as the Greeks heard the gospel message, they believed as well.
“So then, those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Steven made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching of Yeshua.” (Acts 11:19,20).
It was in Antioch that a major change of course took place, yet in reading the Old Testament scriptures we see how this was the Lord’s plan all along.. It was at there in Antioch that some of these Jewish disciples of Yeshua from Cyprus and Cyrene began to do something that would impact the whole world. It is of a great possibility that these were some of those who had been visiting at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when the apostles had first proclaimed the message of the risen Lord. Regardless of where they came from, these disciples began to preach the word not only to other Jews, but also to Greeks as well.
As the Word testifies, Yeshua had said it would be this way. We read how He had commissioned His apostles to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19). He had spoken about having “other sheep not of this fold” speaking of the Greeks as opposed to the “lost sheep of Israel” with whom He chiefly dealt with during His personal ministry on earth (John 10:16).
“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. (Acts 11:21,22).
Now, when men and women teach others the gospel, there is another partner in the effort. The “hand of the Lord” is in the proclamation of the gospel to the lost. Later, Paul would refer to teachers of the Kingdom message of Yeshua as “God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:9). How can anyone who professes to be a believer not desire such a partnership? To teach the gospel is every Christian’s duty and privilege.
We are led to believe that not everyone who believed turned to the Lord, though a “large number” of them did. It is too bad that it cannot be said that “all who believed turned to the Lord.” Also, this means that there must be a difference between “believing” and “turning” to Yeshua talked of believers who did not confess Him because they desired the approval of men (John 12:42,43). Now do you think that some believers at Antioch failed to “turn to the Lord” for the same reason? I highly expect so, given the climate of persecution.
The Word is clear in that those who turn to the Lord are those that obey His gospel. This would be those who are baptized into Yeshua for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38, 8:12). This accomplishes, by the power of the grace of God and the blood of Yeshua, one’s sins being washed away (Acts 22:16).
“Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.” (Acts 23-26a).
All these things, the sacrifice of Christ for our sins, the teaching of the gospel by disciples, and the reception of it by the lost unto salvation from sins and a new eternal hope; is by God’s grace. When Barnabas witnessed this, he rejoiced. The goal of the persecution had been to deter or stop the gospel, but it had only succeeded in causing it to be spread further.
We read how that Barnabas began at once to encourage these new disciples to remain true to the Lord. Of course, not everyone does. Persecution will drive some away; apathy others. We must encourage one another to remember our destiny if we remain true to the Lord. Salvation is way too precious a gift to treat it lightly (Hebrews 10:23-25; 34-39).
In reading about Barnabas, we see how he was known for his ability to encourage others. In fact, “Barnabas” is only a nickname given to him by the apostles. His real name was Joseph. The name “Barnabas” means “Son of Encouragement”. Oh, how the body desperately needs more like Barnabas around. The lost were converted and the converted were encouraged to become strong and remain “true to the Lord.”
“And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.” (Acts 11:23-26).
Now we read how Barnabas, having gone to Tarsus to get the new convert Saul, only recently a persecutor of the church himself, returns with Saul and they work with the church at Antioch for a year. What an awesome encouragement Barnabas must have been to Saul, for most believers were still afraid of him. Then later on we read how, Barnabas and Saul (soon to be known as Paul) will travel through Asia Minor together establishing many churches in many different cities. Antioch would become their “headquarters” from where they would launch their missions and return after completing them.
It was during this year in which Barnabas and Saul are at Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians”. The disciples were followers of Yeshua. A disciple of Yeshua is happy to wear His name. Later, Peter tells disciples to “in that name (that is, in the name “Christian” -J.Q.) let him glorify God.” (1 Peter 4:16). Though the enemies of Christ may speak the name with a sneer, disciples wear it joyfully. The Lord has been sanctified in our hearts (1 Peter 3:15).
Not every believer becomes a disciple, but every disciple is a Christian. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
If the Body would walk with the same courage of the first believers, the world would be greatly impact with the gospel message today. Yet how many having come down to confess Yeshua as Lord, soon turn away, not having a discipler in their lives – to encourage them, to show them an uncompromising Christian life style. To walk with them, cry with them, rejoice with them, love on them, pray with them, and train them up in the Word.
To disciple someone can take time, a whole lot of patience and a deep well of grace & mercy – Yet it is this very act of love that is missing in the Body today. Discipleship can not be taught from the pulpit – it is relational at it’s very core.
If you have a heart for the Lord, ask Him to bring someone(s) into your life today that you can be a discipler to them. Holy Spirit will not only give you the strength, courage and desire to do such an honorable Kingdom work. He will as well carry forth and deposit into your life the godly wisdom that is needed for such a task.
For indeed we serve an Awesome God!!!
Radical Disciples - A Remnant Revolution 
