This passage actually takes us back to Acts 8:1-4 when we are hearing about the persecution which arose on account of Stephen and the subsequent scattering of the church. Here we once again take up the subject of the scattering of the church in Jerusalem and are shown the resulting spread of the gospel to the gentiles, with the first major church being founded in Antioch. Antioch was a large city with a population of over half a million, some 70,000 of whom were Jews. It is from Antioch, later in the book of Acts, that Barnabas and Saul, soon to be Paul and Barnabas, will be called on as missionaries.
Two very different kinds of people fled Jerusalem, ending up in places rightly thought of as heathen. In this very gentile territory the world and the church would never be the same again. Not all who fled Jerusalem wanted to evangelise the gentiles. Some chose only to spread the gospel to Jews, whilst the others preached Christ as Messiah to gentiles. It would seem that evidence available from the passage supports that the men who spread the word to the gentiles were Hellenistic Jews from locations such as Cyprus and Cyrene.
Initially, we are told, in verses 19-20, that the many who were scattered ‘went out speaking the word to no one except Jews alone’. Thus preventing them from sharing the gospel with anyone other than fellow Hebrew speaking Jews. We should remember here that these men had been taught and led by the apostles, who did not believe the gentiles should be evangelised. This is the precise point of the preceding passage where Peter preaches at the house of Cornelius.
It was in Antioch that the term Christian was first adopted for believers in Christ Jesus. Literally, the verb means ‘to transact business’. Hence to transact business under a specific name is to be known by that name. Also we learn that for the church in Antioch to fully model what it means to be Christian, it must demonstrate orthoproxy (correct action) by meeting physical needs. They therefore decided to support their brothers in Judea throughout a time of famine.
How much personal responsibility to you feel for the practical needs of others? Especially those in the church? Though we cannot meet every need that global news brings to our attention, we can still do something to live out that template Jesus left us that demonstrates the very essence and practical application of His love for His creation.
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Action: Prayerfully identify someone or something which would benefit from something you could do or give (maybe prayer). Then go and do it.