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Acts 11:19-21 – Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
“Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.” As V19 has told us, most of the Christians were Jews who were telling other Jews, as they encountered them, about Messiah Jesus. However there were some Christians, who lived among the Gentiles and whom may have been converts to Judaism who then became Christians, spread the Word among the Gentiles. Acts amanuensis Luke has been revealing to us the plan of God to bring salvation to the world. God is cracking away the hard Jewish shell of belief that God belongs only to them. But He has selected and prepared the right people to begin the sharing of the Gospel to the whole world. Praise God!
“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” As these from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and began to share, God was with them and as they shared to the Greeks (Gentiles) a great number believed and turned to Messiah Jesus.
It is noteworthy to remember that Barnabas was also from Cyprus, which is a sizable island in the Mediterranean off the coast of Syria. Barnabas was not one of this initial group, but his name means something like son of consolation, exhortation or comfort. He was perfect for discipling new believers. As Cyprus was his hometown and the Lord had gifted him as an encourager, Barnabas was the right person for the job to encourage them.
Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. It was largely gentile populated and chief among their idols was Daphne whose legend is that she was the daughter of a river god and she was very beautiful. She was virtuous and resisted the advances of all, including Apollo. When fleeing the pursuit of Apollo she prayed to the earth, or her father, to rescue her. She was transformed into a laurel and then Apollo caused the laurel to be what was worn by poets. The people of Antioch, as was usual with Gentile cities, was steeped in such idolatry.
It is strange how it is easy for us to assign the people lost in deep sin as people who would not be interested in hearing the Good News of salvation through Jesus. Yet, God has shown over and over again that they are the very people who often run the quickest to His grace (Luke 7:47). We see that if a person considers themselves “good,” and if that may seem so by the world’s standards, then pride wells up in that person and that person thinks they have no reason to be saved. But the one who regrets and cries over their many sins, often runs to the grace of God. They don’t need to be convinced that they are sinners, they know they are. When they are presented with the free grace of God, they run to it. They instantly know that the grace of God through Jesus is their only hope. They know what all people should know, that they can never be good enough by their own merit. It is only through Jesus that we are welcome to live eternally at peace with our God.
God has always had a plan to save men, even before the sin of man. God has a plan to save the world. It began with the Jew and then was extended to every other person. Praise God who has loved the whole world that He always had a plan to save all from eternal torment, that is all who would come to Him through Messiah Jesus. The mysteries of God’s salvation plans are deep and wonderful and a mystery that He reveals to us as we walk with Him. We see that God loves to walk and talk with us and to give to us from the riches of His wisdom and knowledge. Praise our God, truly He is good and loving! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.