WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.879 Just take your copy of God's Word, which I hope you have with you today, and turn to the book of Acts chapter 11. 00:00:08.179 --> 00:00:19.240 While you're getting there, let me say that I am thankful for the imperfections of this world in so far as they point us to the perfection of the world to come. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:29.420 One day the earth will be lit by the radiance of Christ, and I'm confident that Wes' guitar will be fueled by Jesus' glory. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.399 Amen. 00:00:33.460 --> 00:00:39.960 This morning we are returning to our verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Acts, but before we do, I'd like to do two things. 00:00:40.060 --> 00:00:44.420 Number one, I'd like to clarify what is meant by exposition. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:55.640 Simply put, to exposit a text in a sermon is to make the main point or points of the sermon to be the main point or points of the text. 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:58.659 It's simply to explain what a text means. 00:00:58.659 --> 00:01:06.920 Verse-by-verse exposition is a systematic working through a book or chapter or passage. 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:08.579 This is our general habit. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:16.560 That's where we find ourselves in Acts chapter 11, having taken a break from our verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Acts. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:31.299 Topical exposition begins with a particular topic in mind and then works out from a particular text concerning that topic what the Bible has to say about that particular topic. 00:01:32.299 --> 00:01:36.800 Please do not be narrow in your understanding of expositional preaching. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:45.259 There is a time and a place for both verse-by-verse exposition and for topical exposition. 00:01:45.759 --> 00:01:54.359 But either way, true preaching is Bible preaching and therefore true preaching is expositional preaching. 00:01:54.359 --> 00:02:00.019 Secondly, because it has been a number of weeks since we have been studying Acts together, 00:02:00.620 --> 00:02:03.500 and because some of you weren't with us when we began our study, 00:02:03.539 --> 00:02:08.939 I think it wise to give a brief summary of what we have learned so far in the second account written by Luke. 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:14.460 Luke's first account is the account of the life and ministry of Jesus on earth. 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:16.240 You know it as the Gospel of Luke. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:21.600 Luke's second account is the account of Jesus' ascended ministry. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:27.740 How it is that He is now building His church is the account that we find before us. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:32.180 Remember that this book is our history. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:34.180 It's our family history. 00:02:34.480 --> 00:02:37.060 This is the church in its early days. 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:43.520 And we have in the telling of this story a lineage that's found within it, 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:46.680 which means it's incredibly precious for us. 00:02:47.659 --> 00:02:51.420 In chapter 1 in the book of Acts, we see that Jesus ascends to the Father, 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:55.379 but not before promising to send the disciples the Holy Spirit, 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:58.960 the Helper that He had promised to them at the Lord's Supper. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:01.840 In chapter 2, they receive the promised Spirit, 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:04.759 and the church is born through the preaching of Christ, 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:06.679 primarily through Peter. 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:09.019 And we saw the fellowship of the early church 00:03:09.019 --> 00:03:11.439 and their devotion to the ways of the Lord. 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:15.239 The church expands in chapter 3, 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:17.959 after a famous beggar is healed, 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:21.079 and Peter preaches at the temple to the gathered crowd. 00:03:22.399 --> 00:03:26.159 In chapter 4, Peter and John are arrested for teaching the people 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.039 about the resurrected Christ, 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:31.519 and they speak the Gospel boldly to the Sanhedrin. 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:35.700 Later in chapter 4, Luke records the sale of a field 00:03:35.700 --> 00:03:40.320 and the donation of the proceeds by a man called Barnabas, 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:42.160 which we'll talk more about today. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:47.719 In chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple, 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.860 also sell a field, but they are struck dead by the Lord 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:54.219 for withholding a portion of the proceeds and for lying about it. 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:56.900 Then, but later in chapter 5, 00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:59.800 the apostles are arrested again by the Sanhedrin. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:04.120 They're beaten, and they're charged not to preach Jesus any longer. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:09.000 In chapter 6, the church selects deacons, 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:11.680 one of whom is a man named Stephen. 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:14.659 Stephen serves the church meals, 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:16.740 and he preaches the Gospel, 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:21.759 the latter of which finds him arrested again by this council called the Sanhedrin. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:24.500 In chapter 7, Stephen defends his preaching 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:27.639 and indicts the Sanhedrin as being set against God, 00:04:27.719 --> 00:04:29.259 which infuriates them, 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:33.139 and they have Stephen stoned, the first Christian martyr. 00:04:33.740 --> 00:04:37.560 Stephen's stoning is overseen by a man named Saul, 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.920 who continues to persecute the church in chapter 8, 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:44.860 which scatters the believers from Jerusalem. 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:47.879 This is all held within the walls of Jerusalem. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:50.439 Scatters the Gospel forth from Jerusalem. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.000 They go about preaching. 00:04:52.459 --> 00:04:56.420 We can think of it as gossiping the Gospel everywhere they go, 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:59.500 and the Gospel begins to expand to other ethnicities 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:00.459 through the preaching of Philip. 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:05.560 In chapter 9, Saul encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus. 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:07.659 He is converted, 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:10.659 and he begins to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:14.860 In chapter 10, a centurion named Cornelius, an Italian, 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:17.720 so this is outside the ethnicity of the Jews, 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:19.699 sends for Peter. 00:05:19.699 --> 00:05:22.319 Peter is given a vision that informs him 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.659 that the Gospel is not just for the Jews. 00:05:25.039 --> 00:05:26.319 Peter travels to Cornelius, 00:05:26.479 --> 00:05:28.240 and he, being Cornelius and his household, 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:30.759 is converted and receives the Spirit. 00:05:31.719 --> 00:05:33.800 And in the beginning of chapter 11, 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:36.860 Peter reports what happened with his vision 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:38.480 and the conversion of Cornelius' house 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:39.819 to the church in Jerusalem. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:42.000 And the church in Jerusalem declares, 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:43.899 in verse 18 of chapter 11, 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:46.239 then to the Gentiles also, 00:05:46.419 --> 00:05:49.979 God has granted repentance that leads to life. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:53.459 And so chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11 00:05:53.459 --> 00:05:56.319 are these kind of hinging chapters. 00:05:56.859 --> 00:05:58.219 The story up to this point, 00:05:58.279 --> 00:05:59.500 beginning in chapter 2, 00:05:59.579 --> 00:06:01.019 has been primarily about Peter 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:02.560 as a minister to the Jews, 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:05.199 and we're transitioning across some chapters 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:07.899 to what the rest of Acts really is about, 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:11.040 which is Paul as a minister to the Gentiles. 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:13.180 We've got these chapters that transition 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:14.240 between the two. 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:16.319 And so that's where we find ourselves this morning, 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:20.100 beginning in verse 19 through verse 30. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:25.379 So Acts 11, verses 19 through 30. 00:06:27.220 --> 00:06:28.860 Now those who were scattered 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:31.439 because of the persecution that arose over Stephen 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:36.020 traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, 00:06:36.200 --> 00:06:39.020 speaking the word to no one except Jews. 00:06:39.660 --> 00:06:41.280 But there were some of them, 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:42.640 men of Cyprus and Cyrene, 00:06:42.700 --> 00:06:45.240 who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:47.600 also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.240 And the hand of the Lord was with them, 00:06:50.340 --> 00:06:53.200 and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 00:06:54.140 --> 00:06:56.020 The report of this came to the ears 00:06:56.020 --> 00:06:57.060 of the church in Jerusalem, 00:06:57.060 --> 00:06:59.640 and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 00:07:00.140 --> 00:07:02.240 When he came and saw the grace of God, 00:07:02.400 --> 00:07:03.379 he was glad, 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:06.240 and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.840 with steadfast purpose, 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:09.600 for he was a good man, 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:11.980 full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:14.820 And a great many people were added to the Lord. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:17.939 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:19.279 and when he had found him, 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:20.699 he brought him to Antioch. 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:23.060 For a whole year they met with the church 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:24.680 and taught a great many people. 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.620 And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:32.620 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.139 and one of them named Agabus stood up 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:36.360 and foretold by the Spirit 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:39.139 that there would be a great famine over all the world. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.039 This took place in the days of Claudius. 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:45.640 So the disciples determined everyone according to his ability 00:07:45.640 --> 00:07:48.340 to send relief to the brothers living in Judea, 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:51.260 and they did so sending it to the elders 00:07:51.260 --> 00:07:54.160 by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 00:07:55.260 --> 00:07:58.220 Beloved, this is God's Word to us. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:00.680 It was written for His glory and our good. 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:03.820 We would all do well to listen to it this morning 00:08:03.820 --> 00:08:05.320 in order to believe its promises 00:08:05.320 --> 00:08:08.160 and to obey its commands. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:12.020 Now as we're looking at historical narrative in this way, 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:14.780 Luke is a physician, but he's also a historian. 00:08:14.880 --> 00:08:17.460 He's writing down an account of what happened. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:22.540 This narrative form is not expressly meant to teach us, 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.100 as you might in one of the epistles. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:26.860 I much prefer preaching an epistle. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:29.640 One of Paul's letters are expressly, 00:08:29.640 --> 00:08:32.259 the intent of it is that he's going to correct doctrine, 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:34.440 he's going to give application of doctrine. 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:38.100 And narrative is not necessarily that way, 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:42.860 but it has massive value as biography does, 00:08:42.920 --> 00:08:46.820 because we get to peer into the lives of early Christians. 00:08:47.020 --> 00:08:48.520 And if you read biography generally, 00:08:48.640 --> 00:08:50.000 into the lives of Christians, 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:52.140 and we get to look at the way they followed Christ, 00:08:52.300 --> 00:08:55.760 and we get to emulate the way that they followed Christ. 00:08:55.940 --> 00:08:58.660 And so there are a number of characters in our text this morning, 00:08:58.660 --> 00:09:00.620 and we would do well to pay attention 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:02.120 to the way that they live their lives, 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:07.060 and to consider how it is we should conform to their pursuit of Christ. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:08.179 And so to do that this morning, 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:13.659 I would like for us to note four things about four characters in the text. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:19.120 And the first is the proclamation of the gospel. 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:22.200 You see this in verse 19 through 21. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.379 People had begun to travel, right? 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:30.679 The persecution of Stephen launched this advancing of the gospel. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:32.639 You see verse 19 says, 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:34.100 Luke reminds us, 00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:39.139 now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen, 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:41.960 Stephen was the catalyst that began this work, 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:46.659 traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:49.960 And if you can picture the Mediterranean Sea in your mind, 00:09:50.179 --> 00:09:52.299 up in the far right corner of the Mediterranean, 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.559 this is where these things are. 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:55.839 Cyprus is an island, Phoenicia is a region, 00:09:56.139 --> 00:09:59.019 Antioch is a city up in that corner. 00:09:59.819 --> 00:10:02.339 A good distance they had traveled already. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:04.279 And verse 19 tells us that, 00:10:04.979 --> 00:10:05.539 in large part, 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:10.059 the disciples were just preaching Jesus to the Jews. 00:10:11.239 --> 00:10:12.439 But verse 20, 00:10:13.359 --> 00:10:14.139 some of them, 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:17.919 some disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene, 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:19.339 which is a region in Africa, 00:10:19.739 --> 00:10:21.199 what they've gone north for, 00:10:21.219 --> 00:10:21.879 I'm not really sure, 00:10:21.939 --> 00:10:22.699 but there they are. 00:10:22.700 --> 00:10:28.840 So disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene go to a city called Antioch, 00:10:28.920 --> 00:10:31.259 and they proclaim the gospel to the Hellenists. 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:36.560 Now Antioch is the third largest city in the Roman Empire in this day, 00:10:37.040 --> 00:10:40.040 second only to Rome itself and Alexandria. 00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:43.200 It was a center of culture for the region. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:48.680 There's also a vile place full of pagan worship and sexual immorality. 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:50.219 And it becomes, 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:51.559 and we're going to see through the book of Acts, 00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:55.719 an incredibly strategic place of gospel advancement. 00:10:55.819 --> 00:10:58.779 It becomes kind of a home base for Paul's missionary journeys 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:03.500 as he takes the gospel far and wide amongst Gentile people. 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.620 So in Antioch, 00:11:05.699 --> 00:11:09.239 these disciples of Cyprus and Cyrene have begun to expand gospel proclamation, 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:12.559 be gone just those who are Jewish, 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:14.899 to the Hellenists. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.339 Who is Luke referring to when he talks of the Hellenists? 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:22.659 Now back in Acts chapter 6, 00:11:22.719 --> 00:11:24.739 you may remember this title. 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:26.419 Acts 6.1 says, 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:29.379 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:33.559 a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:37.779 because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:40.639 So the Hellenists are believers. 00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:41.839 These are new converts. 00:11:41.979 --> 00:11:43.079 They're part of the church. 00:11:43.219 --> 00:11:47.419 And there's a problem because the widows of the Hellenists are not getting food. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:49.519 The footnote, 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.980 if you have an ESV or maybe another translation, 00:11:52.579 --> 00:11:53.279 if you have an ESV, 00:11:53.339 --> 00:11:55.019 look at the footnote from 6.1, 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:56.759 and it says of Hellenists, 00:11:57.399 --> 00:12:00.679 that is Greek-speaking Jews. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:03.419 So the Hellenists here, 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:07.639 as defined by the translators of the ESV, 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:10.100 or whomever added the footnotes to it, 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:15.539 calls the Hellenists Greek-speaking Jews. 00:12:15.699 --> 00:12:17.240 Well, that seems inconsistent then, doesn't it? 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:18.740 Because isn't what Luke's saying is that 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:21.659 the disciples who went forward for preaching to the Jews, 00:12:22.299 --> 00:12:24.220 except for some guys that weren't preaching to, 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:25.559 the Hellenists, 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.539 they were preaching to the Hellenists, 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:27.399 they weren't preaching to Jews. 00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:31.240 Now, if you look back in Acts chapter 11, 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:36.480 the footnote says, 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.240 instead, 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:40.840 if you have an ESV, 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.980 or Greeks, 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.639 that is, 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.759 Greek-speaking non-Jews. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:49.919 So in one place, 00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:50.840 just a couple pages over, 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:52.700 they say that is Greek-speaking Jews, 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.379 or the Hellenists, 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.620 and in another place, 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:58.100 that is Greek-speaking non-Jews. 00:12:58.899 --> 00:12:59.759 Isn't that fascinating? 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.720 And it really made me scratch my head, 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:02.159 because I said, 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:04.620 well, how in the world did they arrive at that conclusion? 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:08.059 How did the translators of the ESV Bible say, 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.279 in one place, 00:13:09.319 --> 00:13:10.259 these are Greek-speaking Jews, 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.860 and in another place, 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:13.220 these are Greek-speaking non-Jews? 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.480 And to be totally frank, 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.679 I'm not sure how they arrived at it, 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.579 but I think this is how they arrived at it. 00:13:18.319 --> 00:13:20.079 Let me draw your attention here 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:22.939 to a transition in language. 00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:26.139 The phrase that we find in our text today 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:29.659 is that they were preaching the Lord Jesus. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.099 And for us, 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.620 we might read right past that, right? 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.139 We understand Jesus to be the Christ. 00:13:34.239 --> 00:13:35.759 We understand Jesus to be the Lord. 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.500 But there's a difference in the way 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:39.079 that Christ is being presented. 00:13:39.219 --> 00:13:40.559 Luke is very precise here. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:44.199 They're not preaching Jesus as the Christ. 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:46.860 They're preaching Jesus as Lord. 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:48.720 Acts 8.5 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.140 An example here. 00:13:50.400 --> 00:13:53.100 Philip went down to the city of Samaria 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:56.900 and proclaimed to them the Christ. 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:00.460 He went to a people who were not ethically Jewish, 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.980 or kind of a mixed crowd, 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:05.060 but followed Judaism, 00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:08.600 and he preached to them the Christ. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.160 They understood. 00:14:10.800 --> 00:14:12.900 The Old Testament spoke of a promised one, 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:14.199 a deliverer who would come 00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:16.480 and take away their sins. 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:19.360 So they're preaching Jesus as the Christ to Jews 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:22.319 because they had a context of understanding for that. 00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:25.459 But these Hellenists, 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.379 these non-Jew Greeks, 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.799 would have had no idea 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:30.639 if you came to them and said, 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:33.059 hey, Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:33.379 They would have said, 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:34.659 what are you talking about? 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.000 The Christ? 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.159 Who is this? 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:37.840 Messiah? 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.460 We have no frame of reference 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:40.939 for what you're talking about. 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:43.320 But they would have understood Lord. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.760 They would have understood Jesus as Lord, 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:47.300 King, 00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:50.220 Ruler of all things. 00:14:51.140 --> 00:14:52.700 And it's important to note this 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:55.080 as we're talking about gospel proclamation 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:57.320 because this is the first place 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:59.320 we see contextualization. 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:01.220 Not that the message changes. 00:15:01.400 --> 00:15:03.140 They didn't change who Jesus is, 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.260 but they spoke very specifically 00:15:05.260 --> 00:15:07.040 about who He is. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.819 They spoke the language of the people 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.819 that they were going to 00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:11.559 in order to present Christ 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:13.519 to them appropriately. 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.339 Jesus is Lord, 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:16.719 and let us show you now 00:15:16.719 --> 00:15:17.679 how He's the fulfillment 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:19.679 of Old Testament Scripture, 00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:21.439 which you've not had prior to 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:23.519 us bringing it to you. 00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:25.839 So it's a precious truth to see here, 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:27.219 and it's why I think 00:15:27.219 --> 00:15:28.740 they can arrive at this idea 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:30.899 of Hellenists used two different places. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.919 These are non-Jews 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.980 that they have now begun 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:36.460 to preach the gospel to. 00:15:36.560 --> 00:15:39.000 Jesus as Lord. 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.340 And verse 21 says, 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:43.539 And the hand of the Lord 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:44.560 was with them, 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.879 and a great number who believed 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.399 turned to the Lord. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:51.340 Beloved, we drove this last week. 00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.560 If you were here with us, 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:54.879 we talked about gospel commission 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.480 and the charge that's placed 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.340 on the shoulders of all believers. 00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:01.060 If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:03.339 it is your work to make disciples 00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:04.479 of Jesus Christ. 00:16:04.599 --> 00:16:05.799 We are meant to be proclaiming 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:06.819 the good news to everyone. 00:16:07.119 --> 00:16:08.899 You talk about what you love. 00:16:09.239 --> 00:16:11.019 No one's excluded from this. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.219 Some are particularly gifted at it, 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.879 but no one is excluded 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.259 from the call to preach the gospel 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:19.319 and see people converted to Christ. 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.679 This is a responsibility 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.319 laid on all our shoulders. 00:16:22.599 --> 00:16:23.919 But it is never effective 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.879 if the hand of the Lord 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.959 is not with us. 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.019 It is God who works 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.579 in our gospel proclamation 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.840 to bring about conversion 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.940 in the souls of men. 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:34.540 So, the question is asked, right? 00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:36.160 If these people were meant to believe, 00:16:36.280 --> 00:16:38.080 these Hellenists in Antioch 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:39.320 were meant to believe, 00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:41.840 would they have believed 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.060 apart from the gospel proclamation 00:16:44.060 --> 00:16:45.900 of these particular disciples 00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:48.000 of Cyprus and Cyrene? 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.600 And my answer is yes and no. 00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:53.340 I do not believe 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:55.200 that they would have believed 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.000 had someone not proclaimed 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.860 the gospel to them. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:59.560 I do believe 00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:00.279 that God intended 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:01.060 to save these people 00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:02.399 and would have saved them 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.519 by the gospel preaching 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.339 of someone. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.700 Someone would have come 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.599 and preached the gospel 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.819 to these people. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.779 It was to the disciples 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.259 of Cyprus and Cyrene's 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.980 great benefit 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.960 that they were the ones 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.559 who did it. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.759 They joined in the work of God 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:18.299 amongst these peoples 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:20.099 in this place called Antioch 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.339 and they got to see Him 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.240 convert people, 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.539 a great number of people, 00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:26.480 to faith in Christ. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:28.019 And this is where 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.960 we find ourselves. 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.980 God does not need you, 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.180 but He loves you 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:35.380 and He wants you 00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:35.900 to be involved 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.799 in His purposes in the world. 00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:38.460 There's no greater reward 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.660 than to be caught up 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.640 in the things of God 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.740 in this world. 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:44.039 So a great number believe. 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:45.720 Because they're preaching 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.099 and the hand of the Lord 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:47.740 is with them, 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.740 a great number believed 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.740 and turned to the Lord. 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:52.559 A great number who believed 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.360 turned to the Lord. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:54.159 And we see a picture here 00:17:54.159 --> 00:17:57.000 of repentance and faith. 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.579 And this is what Luke 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:59.339 is trying to communicate to us. 00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:01.740 Not just mentally ascending 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.579 to the idea of Jesus as Lord. 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:05.299 Not simply saying in their mind, 00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:06.859 that seems true, 00:18:06.979 --> 00:18:08.699 but they actually have faith 00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:10.779 that Jesus is Lord 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:13.559 and they turn to Christ. 00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.759 They turn away from sin. 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.559 They turn away from the vileness, 00:18:16.659 --> 00:18:17.679 from the sexual immorality 00:18:17.679 --> 00:18:18.819 of the city in which they live 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:22.099 and they turn to Jesus as Lord. 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:24.679 These two things are inseparable. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.859 The gospel is proclaimed. 00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.460 People repent. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.899 And they believe 00:18:29.899 --> 00:18:31.059 because the hand of the Lord 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.799 was with them. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.919 So we see these disciples 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:37.079 and their gospel proclamation. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.819 And we should note that carefully 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.899 this morning. 00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:41.619 Secondly, 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:44.539 we see the life of Barnabas. 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.599 The life of Barnabas. 00:18:46.619 --> 00:18:47.759 And we get to learn more 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.740 about Barnabas later on 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.279 in the book of Acts. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.160 I'm thankful for that. 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.660 But here we can get this picture, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.379 this glimpse of the life of Barnabas 00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:57.500 verses 22, 23, and 24. 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.379 This is the same Barnabas 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.359 from chapter 4 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.259 that I mentioned to you 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:04.740 in that very brief summary. 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:07.099 His name is Joseph. 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.200 You see in chapter 4, 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.579 Joseph, 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:11.000 who they also called Barnabas. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.900 I'm not sure if it was 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:12.879 another name. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.579 It seemed a lot of people 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.920 in this day had multiple names 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.160 or if it was a nickname. 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:16.920 It could have been. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.500 Because it means 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.720 son of encouragement. 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.819 It's very possible 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:22.200 that the way in which 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.480 Barnabas lived amongst 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.480 those early disciples, 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.740 they had given him a nickname. 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.200 And they called him Barnabas, 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:29.299 the son of encouragement. 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.140 And it should be 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.879 no surprise to us 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.859 that when he comes 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.339 to these believers in Antioch, 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.059 he's sent to them 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.960 by the church in Jerusalem, 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:38.119 that he exhorts them. 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.799 He exhorts them. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.920 The word exhort 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.879 can be a bit foreign to us. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.720 It means to encourage. 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:50.000 It means to call to one's side 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.920 as if to say to someone, 00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:55.240 come and walk the way I'm walking. 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:57.720 Come and be drawn to my side 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:59.460 and walk along with me 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:01.200 in the way of Christ. 00:20:01.280 --> 00:20:02.500 And this is what Barnabas does 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.140 when he comes. 00:20:03.260 --> 00:20:05.460 He exhorts the church. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.220 In verse 24, Luke reports 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:10.480 that he was a good man. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.720 He was full of the Holy Spirit 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.240 and of faith. 00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:16.860 Why was he a good man? 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.160 Because he was full 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:19.160 of the Holy Spirit 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:21.860 and of faith. 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:24.559 And if Luke wanted to focus 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.240 on the divine enabling 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.839 of Barnabas' life, 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.779 he could have said 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:32.680 the key to him being a good man 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:34.600 was that he was full 00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:36.140 of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:38.940 Or if Luke wanted to focus 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.759 on the human side, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.759 he could have said 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.740 the key to him being a good man 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:47.259 was that he was full of faith. 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:51.180 Luke rightly says both. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.520 He says that for him 00:20:53.520 --> 00:20:54.660 to be a good man, 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.720 he must be enabled 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.620 by the Holy Spirit. 00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:58.240 And for him to be a good man, 00:20:58.300 --> 00:21:01.300 he also must have faith. 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.840 There's both a human element 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:04.800 and a divine enabling 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.940 in Barnabas' status 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:09.659 as a good man. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:12.139 And this speaks to our 00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:14.180 gospel identity, doesn't it? 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:16.579 Who we are in Christ 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.519 and the way in which 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.399 that motivates 00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:20.619 the way that we live. 00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:21.599 Over the past five weeks, 00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:22.859 we've been talking about that. 00:21:22.919 --> 00:21:23.460 We've been talking about 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:25.039 these four different C's. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.240 Conviction, community, 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:28.019 character, and commission. 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:29.919 I told you it was going 00:21:29.919 --> 00:21:30.619 to come back up 00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.079 and you're going to get 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:32.180 so sick of hearing it. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.940 But I hope it changes 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.480 the way that you live. 00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:36.680 These areas of our life 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:38.180 that we throw ourselves into 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:40.340 and by the enabling power of God 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:42.860 we're made more perfect by them. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.039 I want to show you those things. 00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:46.580 Right here in this text, 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:49.240 these four areas of Barnabas' life 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.160 that we're also meant 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.539 to be excelling in. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.799 So, quickly, 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:55.660 Barnabas' gospel conviction. 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.060 Verse 23, 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.120 when he came and saw 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:58.960 the grace of God, 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.039 he was glad and he did what? 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.159 He exhorted them all 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:04.599 to remain faithful to the Lord 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:07.759 with steadfast purpose. 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:10.480 Barnabas knew who God was 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.259 and that the ways of God 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.139 were more excellent 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:13.519 and so with steadfast purpose, 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.940 he continued to draw them 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:17.240 to the ways of God. 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.299 He also recognized 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:19.920 that he needed 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.899 a greater element of teaching. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.539 Barnabas knew 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:24.180 that he was not an apostle. 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:25.420 So, who does he appeal to 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:27.240 to come and help teach 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:29.960 this early church in Antioch? 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.880 Verse 25, 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.900 Barnabas went to Tarsus 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.900 to look for Saul. 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.460 We're not really sure 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.480 where he's been. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.180 He is Saul of Tarsus. 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:39.460 So, Barnabas heads 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.539 to his hometown, 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.380 which is not very far 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.620 from Antioch. 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.340 And when he found him, 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.319 he brought him to Antioch 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.640 for a whole year. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.279 They met with the church 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.160 and they taught 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.420 a great many people. 00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:52.059 Barnabas recognized. 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:53.120 He held deep convictions 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.840 and he recognized 00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.559 that other Christians 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.660 needed to hold 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:57.519 deep convictions as well. 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:58.920 Barnabas, 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:00.800 in the area of gospel community. 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.380 Verse 22, 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.680 he was part of a church. 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:06.120 The report of this, 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.300 the conversions in Antioch, 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:07.900 came to the ears 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.900 of the church in Jerusalem 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.660 and they sent Barnabas 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.920 to Antioch, right? 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.340 He was part of that fellowship. 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:14.600 He had proven himself 00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:15.660 amongst that fellowship 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.539 and he was sent 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.800 to help the church 00:23:17.800 --> 00:23:18.779 in Antioch 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.840 because he was part 00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.440 of the church 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.980 in Jerusalem. 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:24.060 Verse 23 says, 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.899 when he came 00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:27.200 and saw the grace of God, 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.539 he was glad. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:31.559 He was relishing 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.639 in the fact 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.879 that God had been gracious 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:35.440 to another people, right? 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.419 He came amongst 00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:38.440 a new church 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:40.859 and it brought him joy. 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.599 Look at his character. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.539 You can pick this up 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.899 in multiple places, obviously. 00:23:48.139 --> 00:23:48.839 Luke has called him 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:50.259 a good man. 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:50.759 Let me give you 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.519 another example. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.480 Verse 30, 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.599 there's some raising 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.240 of funds 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:57.559 for a future calamity, 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.420 a famine that's going 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:58.839 to happen. 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:01.379 So they raised funds 00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:04.240 and they sent it 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.180 and they did so, 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.379 sending it to the elders 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.299 by the hand 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:09.940 of Barnabas and Saul. 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.139 Barnabas was a 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:12.519 trustworthy individual. 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.079 They could send 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:14.379 this great sum of money 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.319 with him to travel 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:17.500 to the elders in Judea. 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.799 And then Gospel Commission, 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.440 verse 24, 00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.299 the last part of it, 00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:22.819 and a great many people 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:24.700 were added to the Lord. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.319 So as Barnabas 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.019 is amongst them, 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.579 exhorting them, 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:28.019 he's also proclaiming 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:30.379 the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.119 We can learn much 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.639 from the life of Barnabas 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.339 as we observe it 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.399 just in this text, 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.059 much less in many 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.159 other places. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.220 So we see the proclamation 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.879 of the gospel 00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:41.680 by these disciples. 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.639 We see the life 00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:44.000 of Barnabas. 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.700 Thirdly, 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:46.159 we see the leadership 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.240 of Paul. 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:49.839 the leadership of Paul. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.400 Mentioned a moment ago, 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:52.839 right? 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.779 Barnabas sees a need, 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.940 recognizes he's not an apostle, 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.319 he goes to Tarsus, 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.000 looks for Saul, 00:24:59.120 --> 00:24:59.799 brings him back, 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.779 and for a year, 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.319 they met with the church 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.059 and they taught 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:06.299 a great many people. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.359 Now, in our text, 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.700 Luke calls him Saul. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:11.799 You're familiar, 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.639 I think most of us 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.139 are probably familiar 00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.879 with this transition 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.440 of name. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.539 This apostle Saul 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.919 becomes the apostle Paul. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.639 Does anybody remember 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:21.220 how that happens? 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:23.960 This isn't a 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.980 God comes and changes 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.659 his name situation. 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.839 Saul was Paul's 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:32.039 Jewish name. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.200 This is his Jewish name. 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:36.639 Acts 13.9. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.519 Here's the transition. 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.159 Saul becomes Paul. 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.339 Acts 13.9. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.240 Simply Luke records, 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.859 but Saul, 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:45.160 who was also called Paul. 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:48.420 This is just after 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:50.839 Saul has been sent 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.859 with Barnabas 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:53.660 to the island of Cyprus. 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:55.740 Barnabas' home place. 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.579 Just after this, 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.940 you see this change 00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.420 in the way Luke records. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:02.279 And I'm fairly confident 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.000 that what's happened 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.660 is again, 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:06.559 Paul has contextualized. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:08.539 He's now changed, 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.720 rather than been calling Saul 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.680 by his Jewish name 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.100 as he's been turned out 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:13.200 as a missionary 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.360 to the Gentiles. 00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:16.880 He now goes by Paul, 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:19.019 which is his Roman name. 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:21.279 It's his Gentile name. 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.880 So he'd be more accepted 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.580 amongst them 00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.180 to say to them, 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:27.000 I am part of Rome. 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.820 He's Jewish, 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:30.420 but he's also part of Rome. 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:31.560 And we can see in our text 00:26:31.560 --> 00:26:32.740 that his leadership 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:34.039 was lengthy 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.100 and that it was expansive 00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:38.019 for a whole year. 00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.480 And they taught 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:41.539 a great many people. 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.840 And we can also see 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.740 that his leadership 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:45.700 was effective. 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:50.380 Then the verse 26 says, 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:51.620 And in Antioch, 00:26:52.260 --> 00:26:53.660 the disciples were first 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:55.440 called Christians. 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:58.100 Now, why would I suggest 00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:59.260 that his leadership 00:26:59.260 --> 00:26:59.800 was effective? 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:01.140 Simply because in Antioch, 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:02.920 the disciples were first 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.960 called Christians. 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.360 This is because, 00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:06.580 prior to Antioch, 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.520 Christians were called 00:27:08.520 --> 00:27:10.340 followers of the way. 00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:12.840 This is the standard thing 00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:14.100 that Christians were called. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:16.260 You can call yourself that today 00:27:16.260 --> 00:27:16.820 if you'd like to. 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.680 People scratch their heads. 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.060 They might think 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:19.660 you're part of a cult. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.600 Followers of the way. 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.680 It was in Antioch 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.120 that they began 00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:27.820 to call them Christians. 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:29.460 And to be Christian 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.480 is simply meant 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:32.180 to be of the party of Christ. 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:36.340 To belong to Christ. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.580 And in Antioch, 00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.080 it was meant 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:40.120 as a term of derision. 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:42.600 This was not a positive thing. 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:45.220 This was a persecuting thing. 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.600 Unbelieving people in Antioch 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.899 were beginning to make fun 00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:49.980 of those who claimed 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.959 to follow Christ 00:27:50.959 --> 00:27:53.139 by calling them Christians. 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:55.740 They were beginning to suffer 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.439 for the name of Christ, 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.279 which means 00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:01.000 they were following Christ faithfully. 00:28:01.459 --> 00:28:03.240 So under Saul's leadership, 00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.679 Paul if you prefer, 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.240 here it is 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.659 that these early Christians 00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.980 are beginning 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:11.240 in greater effort, 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.059 broadening effort, 00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.500 to be persecuted, 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:16.419 to be called Christian. 00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:18.620 Praise God, 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.640 the term Christian 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:21.080 was meant 00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:21.820 as a term of derision. 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.360 It became 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:24.000 a badge of honor. 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.560 Peter writes 00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:26.720 in 1 Peter 4.16, 00:28:26.840 --> 00:28:27.779 Yet if anyone suffers 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:29.380 as a Christian, 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.660 let him not be ashamed, 00:28:31.800 --> 00:28:33.620 but let him glorify God 00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:35.240 in that name. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.300 The name of being 00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:36.940 a Christian. 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:38.800 Belonging to Christ. 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:40.759 Being of the party 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:42.240 of Christ. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.359 Christ. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:43.839 Now, 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.859 no one in this room 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:47.500 or anyone today 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.980 is an apostle. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.519 I'm not suggesting 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.420 that we look at the life 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.039 of Paul 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.620 and lead the way 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:55.240 Paul led. 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.519 No one here 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:58.579 is or ever will be 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.839 or will ever know 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:01.339 an apostle. 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.960 That is an office 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.720 that has been closed down. 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.440 But we are all still 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.259 meant to lead 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.099 in some form 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.960 or some fashion. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:10.600 Some the way 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.779 I'm leading now 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.579 and give leadership 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.519 to a church. 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.759 Some in leading 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:17.039 a faithful friend 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.720 to Christ. 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.019 Some in walking 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.299 before their co-workers 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.900 in a way 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.740 that is an example. 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.039 We are all meant to lead 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.299 and we can look to Paul 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.740 as an example in that. 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.840 So we see the proclamation 00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.360 of the gospel 00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:29.019 by the disciples, 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.279 the life of Barnabas, 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:32.519 the leadership of Paul, 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.620 and fourthly, 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.740 the generosity 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.259 of the church. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.660 So our fourth character 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.319 is the church 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.659 in Antioch. 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.240 And we see this 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:43.339 in verse 27-30. 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:47.480 So we see in these days 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:49.700 prophets came down 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.679 from Jerusalem 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:51.740 to Antioch. 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:53.079 Now Antioch is north 00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.779 of Jerusalem, 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:56.119 but in these days 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:57.359 everything came down 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.119 from Jerusalem. 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:58.939 Both because it was 00:29:58.939 --> 00:29:59.519 the center 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:01.319 of Jewish life, 00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:02.419 but also because 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.119 it was on a hill. 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.740 So if you come down 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.200 off a mountain, 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.139 you're not very concerned 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:07.319 about the cardinal direction 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:08.279 that you came down. 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:08.700 But you would say, 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.480 I came down 00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.839 off the mountain. 00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:11.319 So this is what 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:11.899 they're talking about. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.799 They traveled north, 00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.720 but they came down 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.759 from Jerusalem 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.720 to Antioch. 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.200 And a man named Agabus 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.039 stands up, 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:20.019 foretells by the Spirit, 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.259 gives a prophecy 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:21.819 that there's going to be 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.279 a famine 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.659 over all the world. 00:30:23.659 --> 00:30:24.859 And Luke includes for us 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:26.359 that this did in fact happen. 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.220 It took place. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.240 The famine took place 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.179 in the days 00:30:29.179 --> 00:30:30.559 of Claudius. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.419 And as a result 00:30:32.419 --> 00:30:33.139 of this prophecy, 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.700 the disciples decide 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.419 together 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.519 that they're going 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.559 to take up a collection 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.919 in order to alleviate 00:30:38.919 --> 00:30:39.679 the suffering 00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:40.919 of the brothers 00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:42.480 living in Judea. 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.259 And they send it 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.379 by the hands 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:45.039 of Barnabas 00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.139 and Saul. 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.859 There's much debate 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:49.139 over the gift 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:50.200 of prophecy today, 00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:51.720 but wherever you may 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.919 come down on that matter, 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.759 which we won't get into 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.720 today for the sake 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.599 of time, 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.359 the gift was in fact 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.240 active at the time 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.900 of the church 00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.440 in Antioch. 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.140 We can see that 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:01.079 to be clear here. 00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:01.880 Somebody came 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.599 and they prophesied 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.620 that an event would happen 00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:04.660 and it did in fact 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:06.259 happen. 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.559 So wherever you are 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.079 on that, 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.960 it did happen here. 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.500 And as a result 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.140 of that, 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:13.559 the disciples 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:15.200 were generous. 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.500 The disciples decided 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.440 that they should 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.500 take it upon themselves 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.319 to alleviate 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.359 the suffering 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:23.539 of their family members. 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:27.000 2 Corinthians 9.7 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:28.880 Wes quotes this 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.819 loosely to us often 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.619 as he talks about 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.960 our offering here. 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.720 Each one must give 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.519 as he has decided 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.339 in his heart, 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:37.019 not reluctantly 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:38.920 or under compulsion, 00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:40.720 for God loves 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.759 a cheerful giver. 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.519 And you can see here 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.259 these disciples 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:47.000 determining everyone 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:49.759 according to his ability 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.859 to send relief 00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:51.480 to the brothers 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:53.559 living in Judea. 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.119 Beloved, 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.160 we far too often 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.160 look for satisfaction 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.140 in this world 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:59.759 by things that we 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.540 purchase, 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.279 that we can have. 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:03.820 And I can promise you this, 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.279 that what you drive, 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:06.980 or the house 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.820 that you live in, 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.420 or the designer clothes 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:09.860 that you wear 00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:11.440 will never satisfy 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.360 your soul. 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:14.580 We look far too often 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.440 fiscally 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.440 to satisfaction 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.440 that will never 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.720 ever come. 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.220 The other day 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.779 at dinner, 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.440 Judah announced to me 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.259 that he was going to live 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:24.860 a really, 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.320 really long time. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.340 And I said, 00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:27.779 really, Judah? 00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:28.700 How do you know that? 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:29.620 And he said, 00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.259 because every time 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.779 we go out on Papa's boat, 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:33.000 so his grandparents 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:34.600 on Sam's side 00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:36.220 have a pontoon boat, 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.059 every time we go out 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.220 on Papa's boat, 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.740 I do this. 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.180 I said, 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:45.740 why does that mean 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.259 you're going to live 00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.039 a long time? 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:47.700 And he said, 00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:49.839 because we need air. 00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.379 And I get lots of it 00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:52.240 on Papa's boat. 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.920 I didn't correct him. 00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.799 I just was cute. 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:01.619 We just laughed about it. 00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:04.559 But he's seeking 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.240 to fill himself 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.720 with something 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.399 that he thinks 00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.180 gives him life, 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:07.460 right? 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:07.980 And certainly air 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.500 does do that very thing. 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.599 But there's so much else 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:11.399 that brings life 00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:13.539 to his little body. 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.779 Am I right? 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.420 In the same way, 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.779 we stand gaping 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.779 looking to satisfy 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:20.240 ourselves with so much. 00:33:20.320 --> 00:33:21.120 And what you will be 00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:22.860 ultimately satisfied with 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.779 when it comes 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:25.000 to your resources, 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:25.480 when it comes 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.180 to your money, 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.360 is generosity. 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:31.140 Richness toward God. 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.580 And I would suggest 00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:33.259 that as we look 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:34.240 at this early church, 00:33:34.300 --> 00:33:34.980 we think about 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.560 what we're holding on to 00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:37.539 that we really ought 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:39.140 to let go of 00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:40.039 for the sake 00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:41.380 of the kingdom of God. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.100 That we look at 00:33:42.100 --> 00:33:43.220 how we can store up 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:44.259 treasure above 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:45.640 and not harbor 00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:47.340 treasure here. 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:48.780 You're not taking it 00:33:48.780 --> 00:33:49.220 with you. 00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:50.980 There's a Charles Spurgeon 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.620 quote on the front 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:52.320 of your bulletin. 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:52.780 He said, 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:55.380 Giving is true having. 00:33:55.780 --> 00:33:57.120 As the old gravestone 00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:58.300 said of the dead man, 00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.200 I really love this, 00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:00.460 what I spent, 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:01.140 I had. 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.880 What I saved, 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.900 I lost. 00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:05.480 What I gave, 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.980 I have. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.539 So I would encourage you 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.599 as we consider that, 00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:11.840 what can you give? 00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:13.200 Even those of you 00:34:13.200 --> 00:34:13.840 who are young 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.740 and in college 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:16.079 and working part-time jobs, 00:34:16.160 --> 00:34:16.680 you have more 00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.480 than many people 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.559 in the world. 00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.620 How would God 00:34:19.620 --> 00:34:20.220 have you be 00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:22.000 more generous 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.660 in the kingdom? 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.940 So we see the proclamation 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:25.559 of the gospel 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.260 by the disciples 00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.360 of Cyprus and Cyrene, 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:29.019 the life of Barnabas, 00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:30.519 the leadership of Paul, 00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.600 and the generosity 00:34:31.600 --> 00:34:33.460 of the church. 00:34:33.620 --> 00:34:34.740 And if we will stop 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:36.100 and be introspective 00:34:36.100 --> 00:34:36.960 and consider, 00:34:37.100 --> 00:34:37.300 right, 00:34:37.340 --> 00:34:38.600 God's word to us 00:34:38.600 --> 00:34:39.800 and what he means 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:41.380 for us to do with this. 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.000 There are many, 00:34:42.120 --> 00:34:42.980 many applications 00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:44.800 of such a text. 00:34:45.600 --> 00:34:46.380 Lots of things 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:47.400 for you to consider 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:49.420 as you hold your life up 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.519 to the lives 00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:52.560 of these people. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:54.320 How does your life 00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:56.240 measure up? 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:58.340 Are you regularly 00:34:58.340 --> 00:35:00.820 and widely proclaiming 00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:02.640 the gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:05.019 Are you full 00:35:05.019 --> 00:35:06.140 of the Holy Spirit 00:35:06.140 --> 00:35:07.940 and of faith? 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:10.360 Are you giving leadership 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.980 to others? 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:14.220 And are you generous? 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.820 Let's pray together.