Footsteps #20

In AD 48 Antioch (in North Syria) became the birthplace of Christian foreign missions. Antioch was an ancient Greek city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. Its ruins lie near the current Turkish city of Antakya, to which the ancient city lends its name. In Acts 13:1-3 The Holy Spirit speaks to the group Fasting and praying. Notice He uses the first person singular ‘I’ in v2. Gospel mission does not transpire at the initiative of any human being. Our Lord made that very plain just before His ascension: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts.1:8, NLT).

It wasn’t Abraham’s idea to leave Ur, or Moses’ idea to call forth the Israelites. Joshua didn’t choose to split the Jordon and neither did Isaiah choose his career. Daniel didn’t make up the prophetic panorama of History and Esther didn’t decide to save her people. Peter was called from the fishing net, as was Saul called to be a missionary. The Holy Spirit made the call in each case.

The church in Antioch was founded by believers who fled the persecution that followed the stoning of Stephen (Acts.11:19.) The unbelievable news from Antioch shocked the Jerusalem church and they decided to send Barnabas to investigate the phenomenon. He saw what the Holy Spirit had done. A new, multi-ethnic expanding church had emerged. Barnabas needed assistance to minister to this growing church, and he went out to Tarsus and brought Saul. Together they ministered to the Antioch congregation. It was not exclusively Roman, Greek, or Jewish. No name could describe this new community. A new name emerged: “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts.11:26). Along with growth, the Antioch church had in its midst prophets, teachers, and high government officials (Acts.13:1–3). As these believers ministered, fasted, and prayed, the Holy Spirit commanded them: “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”(Acts.13:2, NLT). Thus, the first missionary journey commenced.