PAUL THE APOSTLE ( Part 8 )

Lesson 3107

PAUL THE APOSTLE ( Part 8 )

The Antioch Paul and Silas visited was the third-largest city in the whole of the Roman Empire ( after Rome and Alexandria ). It was a walled city in Northern Syria that stood beside the Orontes River. 

The church they nourished there was a mix of Jews, converts to Judaism ( proselytes ), and Gentiles.

Notably, it was here that the word  "Christian" was first used to describe converts to Christ. The number of Christians there was estimated to be around 10,000 by the 4th Century A.D.

With the coming of Paul as an anointed teacher and preacher in their midst ( around 43 AD)  the church at Antioch grew steadily.

A prophet Agabus prophesied that a severe famine would fall on the whole Roman Empire. In anticipation of this disaster, the Antioch church started to collect funds for the needs of poorer brethren in the church at Jerusalem.

Paul, Barnabus, and Titus ( a Greek convert from Antioch ) were authorised to bring the relief fund to the Jerusalem church. There Paul and Barnabus met with the three "pillars" of the mother church: James, Peter, and John. These three stalwarts confirmed Paul's call to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

When they returned to Antioch, they fasted and worshipped. And the Holy Spirit spoke and directed that Paul and Barnabus be released from their duties in the Antioch church for the greater ministry of sharing the gospel to a broader audience.

This was recorded by Luke in Acts 13:2 - 

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, " Set apart for me Barnabus and Saul for the work to which I have called them".

Thus was birthed the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabus as recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts.

Abba Father, we learn two things about Paul's character:

1. He acted in UNITY by consulting the leadership of the mother church in Jerusalem.

2. He was LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT in going forth on their first missionary journey.

Let us always be mindful in our individual ministries to act corporately in a submissive spirit to authority and to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit in whatever we do for the extension of Your kingdom by our sharing of the gospel.