The News Continues With The Faith Of Barnabas

. . . while at the same time, those which were scattered after the persecution, which arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch preaching the Word to no one other than the Jews. But there were, out of them, some men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who had come to Antioch preaching and evangelizing with the gospel to the Hellenists, the Sovereign Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, turning back to the Lord. Then came the Word of these things to the ears of the church in Jerusalem; so they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, who came and witnessed the joy of God's grace, exhorting along side their unity of heart with the purpose to continue with the Lord; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and a considerable crowd was put forth to the Lord. Then Barnabas went out for Tarsus to search for Saul; and finding him, he led him back to Antioch. Now they both, for a year's end, came together with the church and catechized a considerable crowd; making use, in Antioch, of the first of these disciples, called Christians. (MAST) verse 19 . . . while at the same time, those which were scattered after the persecution, which arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch preaching the Word to no one other than the Jews. (MAST) Luke is aiming for us to perceive the effects of Saul's first persecution campaign. While the Jews, who remained in Jerusalem, rejoice in Peter's testimony of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, we find the work of uniting both the Jew and Gentile churches is far from being completed. Luke wants us to be immediately aware that just because some Jews have accepted the "particular" Gentiles, as genuine believers, doesn't mean the war over the sin of "religious racism" is over. While he doesn't go into preaching on this particular sin, which remains in the church, he leaves room for the elders of the churches, who are responsible to read these God breathed accounts to the members and hosts of the Lord's Table, to rebuke those members who have the inclinations to separate over supposed matters of "ethnical" (national) superiority. Pastors are responsible to give an accurate picture of this historical account; and Luke knows it. Therefore, he mentions this in a way that opens the door for the discussion during the public reading. Though it is believed that the Gospel of Luke and Acts were specifically written to a high official called Theophilus; which is more probable, but could also be addressed to any "God-lover," in the general sense; these historical accounts endured the test of time throughout the ages as verifiable evidence. But what's important, for us, is that we need to be reminded of what led us up to this point. Luke has yet to refer to the converted Saul with his new identity and name of Paul. Therefore, the memory of Saul's sins are to remain fresh in our minds. It was Saul who led the charge of the murderous rampage and the plundering of their homes, dragging men away from their wives, mothers away from their children, and maybe even children away from their parents, who most likely were a source of income for the whole family, which caused most of the saints in Judea to scatter to the outer parts of the nation, and into the surrounding Gentile nations.

But what really stands out, is that these particular saints would only preach the Word to the pure blooded Jews, for fear of more such persecution. Luke also makes us aware that Stephen, who was a Hellenist Jew, was at fault, or to be blamed, for this particular persecution, in which the "pure" blooded Jews had to flee their homes in Jerusalem and Judea. Therefore, while Saul was the actual persecutor, it was the particular offense of Stephen's message that stirred up this particular hatred towards those who named the name of Christ, the King of the Jews. In other words, these believers were willing to suffer persecution for identifying with Christ as the promised Savior, but unwilling to suffer for Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. Therefore, it was a fear of this type of persecution that prevented these "scattered" saints from preaching the Word to "all men." So then, Luke is simply bringing to the surface the racial division "in the church" from its very beginning. And so, the work of the full counsel of the Word must be exalted in order to reconcile this divide. In others words, these particular Jews "accepted" the doctrine of Christ for salvation, but were on the brink of rejecting the authority of the full counsel of God's Word. We cannot have Christ apart from His Word. We either receive a whole Christ sent of the Father's unchangeable Word or a false Christ shaped by the authority of men who pick and choose which doctrine best satisfies their internal taste buds. This may be, then, Luke identifying the "Circumcision" clique that seeks to usurp "Paul's" authority as an apostle later on, and who cause James and Peter to play the hypocrite before the saints in Antioch. verse 20 But there were, out of them, some men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who had come to Antioch preaching and evangelizing with the gospel to the Hellenists, the Sovereign Jesus. (MAST) If there is going to be any unity, it must be on the basis of objective faith, and this faith not of one's genetic code, enslaved to the fallen blood and curse of Adam, but in the righteous blood of Christ which was shed for sinners of every nation, tribe, and tongue. A man's righteousness doesn't come from his bloodline, or from the traditions of one's heritage; righteousness comes from knowing Christ and understanding the testimony of His sovereign work. Thankfully, there was some of those scattered who were able to surrender the pride of their traditions and national heritage in order to effectively evangelize the heart of God's Law to the "Hellenists." The heart of the Law was the love of God for His beloved Son; and therefore the Hebrew traditions were given only as a schoolmaster to lead them to the Son, in order to obtain eternal life from the Father in His love for the Son. But the Son was rejected by the majority of the "nation" to hold onto the traditions; and therefore out of the Circumcision, who confessed Christ, as seen here, were even some who were a cut above the whole, in understanding the Sovereignty of God. Ezekiel 14:21–23 (NKJV) 21 For thus says the Lord God: “How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it? 22 Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out, both sons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it. 23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it,” says the Lord God. All the disaster leading up to this was a result of the prophet's (Ezekiel) praying for Israel. God was answering his prayers. The prophet, however, wasn't orchestrating these events like a magician. Ezekiel wasn't seeking to be the highest official in the schools of higher thought nor was he seeking to be high priest overseeing the Temple and "Federal" business of the Hebrew Theocracy. Ezekiel was simply seeking justice from the Lord, and praying for a demonstration of it. The Lord gave him words that threatened judgment if the nation would not repent of her ways, but the prophet, here, receives a word of hope. All of this, however, will lead the people to come to him with a teachable heart for the answers to their suffering. And though most will persist in their 'traditional' sins, some of them are reserved for grace, so that Israel will be preserved, and so that she will know the LORD who is with her and for her, even from the beginning. But those whom the Lord had set his face against received these things, also. These are those who never come (to God) for the answers from the heart of God, because God was not in these judgments to love them (in their mind), but rather in these judgments against them, having "rejected" the testimony of His Law, that they deserved this judgment. (Deut.5:9;32:41) The application, here, for the new covenant Christian, then, is to seek only the LORD for this revival in the heart (Jer.29:13). The Christian doesn't need to orchestrate persecution like a puppet master. God has already given evil people (the whole world) to perform that task, and the LORD knows who to send, or what disaster needs to occur, to "push" this remnant to seek the answers from His Word and not from men. Those who are truly reserved for salvation will seek God with the heart to know His Word, for the purpose of which He gave His Word - that we should glorify the Beloved Son.

Christians are led "by the Spirit" through the precepts and doctrines of the Word, which "pulls" and "pushes" us toward a closer walk and holy life with God; not by the temptations of men and the doctrines of demons, which "push" and "pull" us away from the truth and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the rod of the Lord is a comfort to the child of God whose soul is protected in the valley of death, but still feels the fear and anxiety of such love in the evils of the flesh, as did Jesus of Nazareth who walks with us through the death of our sins, and is the shadow that hides us from the judgment of the evils of our flesh. Christ is the pure staff that is exalted above our vile nature, and his death is the rod of God's judgment that places us onto the narrow path of His name in righteousness. Psalm 23:3–4 (NKJV) 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Therefore, some out of the Circumcision, who were pure blooded Jews, though native of the foreign nations, Cyprus and Cyrene, did not hesitate to fear sharing the good news of Christ with the Hellenists, who were not observed as "pure blooded" Jews. They were called Hellenists because their blood-line was Gentile, but were only accepted by the Jews on the basis of converting to the traditions of "national" Judaism, and were held at a distance from the inner court of the Temple. In Christ, however, both Jew and Gentile are "sanctified" to enter the Holy of Holies - the heart and throne-room of Yahweh. These "particular" Jews of the Circumcision were not afraid to confess this truth, and so "comforted" the Hellenists - who believed - with this doctrine of Christ's sovereignty. verse 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, turning back to the Lord. (MAST) Here we see in the Greek verb epistrepho that the Hellenists were being deceived by the Circumcision, concerning the necessity to keep the national traditions in order to be saved. But the true Jews, under Christ's authority, turned their understanding around on this matter. After understanding the Lordship of Christ, these pure blooded Jews, native to the foreign countries, understood the liberty given to them through the Sovereignty of Christ, concerning the burdensome traditions of national Judaism. Mark 2:23–28 (NKJV) 23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1–8 (NKJV) 1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Jesus is pointing out that the Sabbath rest was never intended to be a corporate practice according to the "original" creation order, but that it is was for the individual to use at his holy discretion. It was made literally for "the man." Jesus speaks of it as a singular application. Why not say it was made for the church if it was intended (and applied) for the corporate gathering? Because this rest is for the man who is weary and heavy laden from the cares of this life (in sin). This is for the man who needs rest from all labor, especially religious labor, placed upon him by the doctrines of demons. Now, while the Sabbath was (and is) a sign of national business for Israel, the pure blooded Jews, native to the foreign countries, in the Diaspora understood the burden they faced in submitting to this commandment. Jeremiah 17:21–25 (NKJV) 21 Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction. 24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the Lord, “to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, 25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever. Notice that the heart of this commandment is to bring "no burden" into it. How was a native of Cyprus and Cyrene to bring no burden into it after traveling several miles to honor the traditional feasts of the sacrifices in the Temple? This was a local ordinance according to the "inhabitants of Jerusalem." But how were those of the Diaspora to keep the Sabbath without the burden of the traveling business? Jeremiah 17:26–27 (NKJV) 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the lowland, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the Lord. 27 “But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” ’ ” Doesn't this scream for "mercy?" The answer is in the death of the burden in the Lord Jesus Christ. The call to come through the gates of Jerusalem is abrogated in the death of Christ. All national business is put to death upon the shoulders of this Christ (Isa.9:6). Therefore the Sabbath has a personal application and national application. But the Sabbath isn't binding upon all men the same. Are you native to Israel? Then give honor to your national business. But the Sabbath and her feasts and sacrifices shall cease for the sake of the Diaspora (Hos.2:11). These are traditions that were a schoolmaster to "push" us to cry for the mercy of the Lord in Christ Jesus (Gal.3:24-25). Matthew 11:25–30 (NKJV) 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The burden is removed in Christ and we shall enter Jerusalem's gates with thanksgiving in our heart in coming to Christ, first. The heritage of the saints is ours only in Him. Enter with joy when the burden of the commandment is lifted through Him. Are the weekly, yearly, and seasonal Sabbaths binding upon the conscience of all men? Well, you will have to search out the heart of the Lord for yourself, but I'll tell you this: You will not find rest in your conscience until you first come through the Sovereignty of Jesus of Nazareth. Psalm 100 (NKJV) A Psalm of Thanksgiving. 1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. This is what the Hellenists, and the pure blooded Jews, native to the Gentile nations faced when "coming to Christ." In order to accept the "testimony" of the Old Covenant as true, these "believers" had to reconcile the "testimony" of Christ with what they first accepted, in order for it to be reasonable. The Law and the Gospel are not a contradiction when it is understood as two distinct testimonies with one purpose. The Law was given to testify of the nature and heart of man, while the gospel was given to testify of the nature and heart of God. These two work together to glorify God and to save those estranged from life in Him. Galatians 1:6–10 (NKJV) 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Therefore the application of these Hellenists was to turn away from - salvation through Christ plus the traditions of "national" Judaism - to Christ alone and him crucified. It is important to note, here, that this would have been impossible if there would not have been so many witnesses of the earthly life of Christ. Too often, we limit our thoughts to the twelve disciples nearest to Jesus, and to those most outspoken in the Scriptures, but as observed here, there are many witnesses of these things, who have taken the gospel to the nations. Stephen was a pure blooded Jew who was native to a foreign nation; and the first Christian persecution was a reaction to his preaching; and therefore those of the Circumcision, for fear of persecution, only mentioned the Sovereignty of Jesus to the pure blooded Jews out of national loyalty. They held a higher love for the "purity" of Israel, in the idolatry and pride of their nation, against the heart of God for all nations. And every nation that comes to Christ, and is reformed through the morality of his laws, are susceptible to this same temptation, becoming superior in their pride for their own national traditions. But this idolatry is condemned by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have this, here, as Christians, for a warning. But as we shall see, there were some who continued in the Lord's commission to take the gospel to every nation, tribe, and tongue. verse 22 Then came the Word of these things to the ears of the church in Jerusalem; so they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, . . . (MAST) This verse comes to us like an authoritative confirmation. It's like the Old Testament equivalent of "Thus says the Lord." Luke literally states it: "Then came the Logos of these things." The Logos is always used in the context of the Scriptures as the authoritative Word. This means its unchangeable and not open for debate. Therefore the Jerusalem church reacted quickly in its submission to "these things." Once they understood that this was the "Logos" of God, they gave Barnabas the means to continue "in this Word." It was "for the Word" that church was established and instituted by Christ's death and resurrection. Therefore, there was no argument to be made against "the Word" in the "ears" of this particular church, because she was established by the Word, and had ears to hear "the voice of the Word." Sending Barnabas reveals that the Word came through the gates of Jerusalem and with thanksgiving Barnabas was sent out with it (Jn.10:27). Apparently, the church only gave Barnabas the means to go as far as Antioch. It would be there where he'd have to find the means to continue on to Paul. But first, it was most likely to oversee "these things" occurring in Antioch, and to put them into order. And so Barnabas was to labor to establish some form of church government for the protection of the Word that was being exalted there. From there he could find the means to continue on to Paul. This, then, is truly an example of how faith operated in the early church. They didn't live and operate strictly on trust funds to do the business of the church. Each local church was charged with the responsibility to send, to receive, and even to hold up pastors and evangelists who labored in the Word and prayer for the churches. While, in the beginning, there may have been something like a trust fund to push the church forward, it wasn't, however, the sole means of operation in the church (Acts 4:34-37). This was only inspired by God to grant the church in Jerusalem the means to plant churches in Judea, and into Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth; which Luke has just previously described Peter doing after Paul sailed for Tarsus. Therefore, it is only logical that we should see the the authority of the Jerusalem saints being limited over the other church plants in the course of time. Money wasn't to be the means of power over the other churches; it was to be the Word of God. Money was just the means to get these men back and forth from their destinations and to care for genuine needs among them.