People do what is most comfortable to them… Jewish believers knew of synagogue worship and they had the desire to tell their Jewish friends and relatives of the Good News of Jesus Christ… Jesus was crucified, dead, buried then resurrected and ascended into heaven… He came to save people from their sins and that continues to be the Good News believers share.
Stephen had been martyred in Jerusalem and many left… to go to places like Phoenicia (present day Lebanon), Cyprus and Antioch (present day Turkey).
Acts 11:19
When believers went to those cities, they first found the Jewish synagogues and declared the Good News of Jesus Christ to those Jewish worshipers.
But not all went to Jewish people, some men from Cyprus and Cyrene (present day Libya) went to Antioch speaking to Greeks also about the Lord Jesus Christ. Greeks were Gentiles. Acts 11:20
How do we know that this was pleasing to the Lord?
(NASB) Acts 11:21 “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”
When the Lord calls us, leading us to others, we are to speak of the Lord Jesus.
The Lord was involved with ministry then and He is involved with ministry today. When your church goes on a mission to tell others of Jesus Christ, go. If you cannot go (for whatever reason), you can find other ways to be supportive and pray! Pray before they leave and pray while they are gone and thank the Lord for His words going out with power to those who do not know Jesus as their Savior.
How did the church in Jerusalem respond to the news that Gentiles in Antioch were turning to belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior?
(NASB) Acts 11:18 “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.’”
First God worked mightily in Jerusalem then He included the Gentile world!
God is Omniscient, everywhere present… He hasn’t changed. He is Omniscient today.
Jerusalem – Jewish believers Antioch – Gentile believers
Under which category would you fit? God is the God of Jew and Gentile.
~ Take it to heart ~
Come, worship the Lord with me:
“BLESS THE LORD, O my soul with my mind, my emotions, my will!
All that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, to worship the Lord with my mind, my emotions and my will!
And forget none of His benefits…”
Psalm 103:1-2
All praise and glory and honor belong to our God!
Hallelujah!
Worship Him with total gladness and joy!