Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1916 — THE MISSIONARIES OF ANTIOCH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MISSIONARIES OF ANTIOCH

Acts if .19-26; 13:1-3 —ifay 7. Persecution Spreads the Gospel—The First Church Amongst the Gentiles. Barnabas Sent From Jerusalem to Assist the Young Church—Saul of Tarsus Brought to Antioch—The Two Sent Forth as Missionaries. Ordination and Laying on of Hands. "Go ye therefore, ami make disciples of all the nations.”--Mattlnu; 28:19. R. V. 3NTIij\:H. at the time of our Study, was the third city in the world in commercial im portance and population, only Koine and Alexandria taking precedence. It is noted as heing the first city outside of Palestine in which a (’liristjan church assembly was formed. Indeed, We might say that as .Terusaiei.ll was the center of influence in Palestine. so Antioch became a center of influence respecting tin; Gospel amongst t he < ten files. It seems that the little spark of Truth which started the work of the Lord attAntioch resulted from the per • seciition at the time of St. Stephen's* death. Some of those forced out of

Jerusalem l>y that persecution settled at Antioch, and Of course let their light shine out for others. At first this was done, only toward those of Jewish faith; f<in so large a ciuiv lerrial ci t y ilrei/u were sure to be large numiiers 0 f Jew s. We

know not how many of them were reached fly the Gospel; but it was surely confined to them until the end of Israel's seventy -.symbolical weeks of 1 beifie faviu—until the autumn of 3(1 A. I Daniel At (lie same time, therefore, that the Lord was sending Philip to the Samaritans and to the Ethiopian eunuch, and was opening the door to the Gentiles through tin- Apostle Peter. lie was ready to open the door to the Gentiles everywhere. Under the leading of Divine providence some of the Christian lie,brews elsewhere got the proper thought at the proper time that aGentile who Would receive the Lord Jesus could be classed as a disciple c j's.uly with t he Jews who had done so.

The news that the Gospel was going to the Gentiles at Antioch, and that large numbers were turning to the Lord,-reachevl tile Church at Jerusalem —the head-renter of. Christian work. The brethren there had already been prepared by the Lord's manifest dealinns in the case of Cornelius; and this, undoubtedly, would largely correct any prejudice on the subject of the Gentiles as fellow heirs of the Abraliamic Promise, Which had previously pertained to the Jews alone. Accordingly, Barnabas was sent to Antioch to judge Of the true condition of things and to give some report as to whether the new converts were worthy to be recognized as fellow-heirs with the saints. Christian Missionaries. Uafnabas was a Ixwite and a native of Cyprus, an island near Antioch, and probably was familiar with the dhtlpct spoken in Antioch. Additionally, he had a beautiful character; in fact, lie had been named Barnabas by the brethren, who had tbus designated him “a son of consolation,” a helper. He at once overflowed toward the Antioch brethren; and in the same comforting, helpful manner as at Jerusalem he exhorted them all. As a result “much people was added to the Lord.” While Barnabas was at Antioch, he had in mind Brother Saul of Tarsus, whom lie had met in Jerusalem; and he concluded that, since Tarsus was not far from Antioch, he would look

Saul up, interest him in the work; etc. lie probably remembered that Saul's ideas were extremely broad in respect to the Cospel, and concluded that the brethren at Antioch would be greatly profited by his assistance. He found Saul and brought him to Antioch, where his

influence was no doubt for the good of all. For a whole year they assembled with the Church at Antioch, and taught much people, it was there the disciples were first called Christians. The result of their labors was that the Chim;> as a whole was developed. There were a number of prophets—public speakers—and teachers in the Church; and evidently they began to consider how they might'he used of the Lord to His glory and to the blessing of others. They finally concluded to send forth Barnabas and Paul as their representatives in mission work. The proper course having been decided upon, the congregation fasted, prayed and laid their hands upon the two, then, sent them on their missionary tour with the blessing of the Church. The laying on of hands was probably done by the congregation, through the Elders. This would not signify authority to preach, as ordination sometimes means today amongst various sects and parties. It simply meant that the congregation were sending forth the two as their representatives, for whose maintenance the congregation was responsible. Later, the brethren returned and made report.

Paul and Barnabas Sent Forth.

The Church at Antioch.