They Also Preached the Lord Jesus to the Greeks <Ac 11:19-24>

Introduction:

* <Ro 1:16>: The gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

 * <Ac 9>: Saul turned to the Lord.

* <Ac 10>: Cornelius believed in the Lord

* Jews and Gentiles believed in the Lord all by God’s proactive grace.

* If we do not preach the gospel, we will not witness nor enjoy such power.

* Before the gospel was preached to the Gentiles through Saul and Barnabas, two things first happened:

1）The gospel travelled northward, reaching the Greek-speaking Gentiles.

2）King Herod was judged by God.

Read <Ac 11:19-24>

1. <v19-20>: The persecution of Stephen brought about the spread of the gospel and the rise of the church.

* Common believers spread the gospel from Jerusalem to Antioch.

* In preaching the gospel, the disciples leapt across two domains:

1）Geographical domain.

2）Cultural domain.

* Historical background of Antioch.

2. <v21>: Revival brought about by the Lord’s presence.

* True revival is not a mass movement, but a revival brought about by the Holy Spirit.

* Only those who truly believe will preach wherever they go.

3. <v22>: The news of the rise of Gentile churches reached the Jerusalem church.

* The church in Jerusalem found a sense of responsibility to feed the Gentile churches.

* Jerusalem sent Barnabas to their midst.

* Barnabas was “son of encouragement”, and he lived up to his name.

4. <v23>: What Barnabas saw and his response.

1）He saw the grace God had bestowed.

2）Barnabas’ two responses:

（1）He was glad in his heart.

（2）He encouraged the people.

5. <v24>: Barnabas’ character and anointing.

1）He was a good man - his good moral character.

2）He was full of the Holy Spirit – He preached God’s word boldly.

3）He was full of faith – He not only had zeal, but also the anointing of faith.

* A great number of people were added to the Lord.

* Brought to = Added to (prostithemi)

* <Ac 2:47>: The Lord added to (prostithemi) their number daily those who were being saved.

* Not added to the church, but to the Lord.