1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and it came to pass that a 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: much people, and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 4 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: Thank you for giving me the heart of Barnabas Lord, 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: Thank you for allowing me to encourage and to speak 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: life into all those willing to listen as I grow 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: and evolve in my faith. I pray that my life 8 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: would be a beacon of hope and a model for 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: others to follow. As you begin to expand your number 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: of believers around me, I pray that we would operate 11 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: in such a way that people can see the resemblance 12 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: of Christ in our every day actions and deeds. Through this, 13 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: I pray that revival will break loose in my city, 14 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: in my state, and in my country. I pray that 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: we would make such a noise that the whole world 16 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: will look in our direction and wonder where we get 17 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: our joy, our peace, and our power from. When asked, 18 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: we will rejoice because you are now giving us the 19 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: opportunity to share the greatest love story ever told, the 20 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen, listening to 21 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing 22 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: from the Lord by listening to today's Bible in a Year, 23 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a Year dot. 24 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: Com Little Christs. In our last story, Peter discovered that 25 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: the Kingdom of God expanding to more than just the Jews. 26 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: Through his interactions with Cornelius, Peter began to learn that 27 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 2: God was going to extend his reach to all the nations. 28 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 3: Now we see the Church expand and grow despite persecution. 29 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 3: Everywhere the Family of God goes, positive change follows, and 30 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 3: the believers begin to create a reputation that would echo 31 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 3: thousands of years into the future. 32 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,679 Speaker 4: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and 33 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 4: of your podcast today. The Bible any of your podcast 34 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 4: is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come 35 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 4: to you each week through the support of listeners just 36 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 4: like you. Your support today is so important that we 37 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 4: want to thank you for your gift by giving you 38 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 4: a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. It 39 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 4: is a powerful guide that shows how every book of 40 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 4: the Bible points to Jesus and how his living word, 41 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 4: the truth of God's Word, will transform your life. You 42 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 4: get a copy of the Jesus Book. Simply go to 43 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 4: Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot 44 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 4: org slash Jesus, and thank you for your support. In 45 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 4: our last episode, we heard how God showed Peter that 46 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 4: the Gospel of Jesus Christ is meant for everyone, all nations, 47 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 4: not just the Jewish people, but people everywhere. Peter then 48 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 4: shared the Gospel with the household of a Roman centurion 49 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 4: named Cornelius, and his whole family came to faith in Christ. 50 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 4: The good news of Jesus was beginning to spread beyond 51 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 4: the Jewish world and Jerusalem, and now the Word of 52 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 4: God is moving throughout the earth. Today we'll hear how 53 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 4: more non Jews around the world began to embrace the Gospel, 54 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 4: and as the church grew, Barnabas was sent to Antioch 55 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 4: to strengthen and encourage the new believers. So let's listen 56 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 4: now to today's reading from the exciting Book of Acts. 57 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 3: The heavy clanging of chains echoed through the streets of Jerusalem. 58 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 3: Vers and Jesus were rounded up like cattle and thrown 59 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 3: into prison for their faith. Soon, the jail cells were 60 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: overflowing with people singing psalms and praises to God. So 61 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 3: the violence increased. Men were fed to lions, and women 62 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: were ripped away from their children. Whoever did not receive 63 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 3: a beating received humiliation. So the people of God scattered 64 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 3: to the outer regions of the Roman Empire. Believers in 65 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 3: Jesus fled to Cyprus and Antioch for safe haven. Before 66 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,239 Speaker 3: the Word was only preached to the Jews, but now 67 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: there were rumblings of the revival erupting forth from the Hellenists, 68 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 3: who were Jewish Greeks. So many started coming to know 69 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 3: Jesus that the Apostles sent Barnabas to go and lead them. 70 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 3: They needed someone rational yet caring. They needed a man 71 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 3: strong enough to lead, but gentle enough to comfort others. 72 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 3: Barnabas was all of these things and more. God had 73 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: appointed him with a sharp mind and saintly heart. It 74 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 3: was this mind and heart that resonated with Saul. Barnabas 75 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 3: had taken Saul under his wing and discipled him the 76 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 3: two spoke of God, Jesus, the Word and miracles. Slowly 77 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 3: Saul was growing in the power and wisdom of Christ. 78 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: The Hellenistic believers created an infamous reputation in Cyprus and Antioch. 79 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 3: When there was a great famine in the land. The 80 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 3: disciples of Jesus sent a great deal of resources to 81 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 3: meet the city's needs. Believers worked day and night to 82 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: ensure everyone was fed and clothed. People observed their self 83 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 3: sacrifice and kindness. They saw thousands of people being fed 84 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 3: and hundreds of people being healed. The gentiles noticed that 85 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: there was something strange about them. They looked and acted 86 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 3: like Jesus himself. They were like little Christs. Thus people 87 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 3: began to refer to them as Christians. 88 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 4: As we begin today's reading, we see that the Gospel 89 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 4: is on the move. The Church is on the move. 90 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 4: The persecution that came as a result of faith in 91 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 4: Jesus Christ has now scattered the church in Jerusalem. As 92 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 4: believers now moved from their safe haven from Jerusalem to 93 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 4: the uttermost parts of the earth, They're going to places 94 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 4: like Cyprus and Antioch. Though many of the believers were 95 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 4: still stuck in the mindset that the Gospel was for 96 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 4: a select group only and therefore only preached the word 97 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 4: to people who were religious, there were others who, like Peter, 98 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 4: understood that there was a much greater mission, a broader mission. 99 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,239 Speaker 4: So in Acts eleven, verses twenty and twenty one, here's 100 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 4: what we find. But there were some of them, men 101 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 4: of Cyprus and Sirene, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke 102 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 4: to the Helenists, also preaching the Lord Jesus, and the 103 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 4: hand of the Lord was with them. And a great 104 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 4: number who believed turned to the Lord. Helenis were Greek 105 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 4: men and women. They were gentiles, and we see that 106 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 4: as they heard the good news, they also received it 107 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 4: by putting their faith in Christ and following him. The 108 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 4: Church is multiplying and now is experiencing an explosion of 109 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 4: growth in these distant cities. This, of course was great 110 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 4: and all a part of God's plan. And when the 111 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 4: Church in Jerusalem received the news that people were being 112 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 4: saved at distant places, they sent a trusted brother in 113 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 4: Christ to help strengthen and instruct these new believers. Barnabas 114 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 4: was one of these men. He was known to be 115 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 4: full of faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. He 116 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 4: had been the first in Jerusalem to welcome Saul, who 117 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 4: became Paul in his miraculous conversion, And so when Barnabas 118 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 4: saw the need in Antioch, he went to Tarsus to 119 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 4: find Saul and bring him to Antioch. And together these 120 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 4: men taught the believers for an entire year, and their 121 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 4: teaching paid off. These followers of Christ stood out from 122 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 4: the crowd in Antioch. Their generosity and kindness did not 123 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 4: go unnoticed, and soon they earned a moniker little christ 124 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 4: or Christians. This is the name now with which we 125 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 4: are so familiar, and it began back at Antioch when 126 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 4: the believers there were first called Christians because of their 127 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 4: christ Like attitude and actions. Today's reading reminds us of 128 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 4: the importance of discipling new believers in the faith, and 129 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 4: that this is something that takes time and intentional investment 130 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 4: by more mature believers. Barnabas knew that the believers in 131 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 4: these places needed to be instructed in the faith so 132 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 4: that they would remain true to the Gospel and to 133 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,319 Speaker 4: the Word of God. He also understood that Saul, though 134 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 4: he was highly educated in Jewish law and tradition, needed 135 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 4: a mentor in his new faith, someone to walk with him, 136 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 4: to encourage him and prepare him for the ministry to 137 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 4: which God had called him. We all need a Barnabas 138 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 4: or two in our lives and we should also seek 139 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 4: to be a Barnabas to others, encouraging, mentoring, and bringing 140 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 4: people up in their faith. This reading is also a 141 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 4: reminder of what it means to be called a Christian. 142 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 4: This is not simply a group or a club that 143 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 4: we joined. We are called to reflect Christ into the world, 144 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 4: to remind people of Jesus that people will see Christ 145 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 4: working in us and therefore call us Christians. Let's pray together, 146 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 4: Dear God, how we praise you for your goodness and 147 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 4: your grace in taking the Gospel to the whole world 148 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 4: and including all of us who believe in trust in You. 149 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 4: Help us, like those believers in Antioch, to remind people 150 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 4: of Jesus, to be models of Christ in the world, 151 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 4: so that when people see our good works, they will 152 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 4: glorify God and believe and follow Jesus himself, For it 153 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 4: is in his name that we pray. Amen. Thank you 154 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 4: for listening to today's Bible into Your podcast, and before 155 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 4: we go, I wanted to let you know that the 156 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 4: Bible into Your Podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries 157 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 4: and can only come to you each week through the 158 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 4: support of listeners like you. Your support today is so 159 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 4: important that we want to thank you for your gift 160 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 4: by giving you a copy of my book called The 161 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 4: Jesus Book. This book is a powerful guide that shows 162 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 4: how every book in the Bible points to Christ and 163 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 4: how you can better read and understand the Bible and 164 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 4: how God's Word transforms our lives. So to get your 165 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 4: copy of the Jesus Book, simply go to Jaggraham dot 166 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 4: org slash Jesus. That's Jaggraham dot org slash Jesus and 167 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 4: thank you for your support.