The mission of Paul and Barnabas

"Once arrived [at Antioch from Syria], [Paul and Barnabas] gathered the congregation and told all that God had done with them, and how he had opened to the nations the door of faith..." Acts 14. 27

It was in Antioch of Syria that the first non-Jewish church was founded, following the persecution of Stephen's death. The city then had more than 500,000 inhabitants. After Rome and Alexandria, it was the third most important city of the Roman Empire. She was called the Queen of the Levant or Antiochus the Beautiful. But behind this brilliant facade hid a moral depravity whose history offers few examples. It is in this city of debauchery that Christians receive their names (Act 11. 26). This church then serves as a rear base for the Apostle Paul. Returning from a campaign of evangelization and "consolidation," Paul and Barnabas report to their church on their mission to idolatrous regions unfamiliar with Jewish culture.

After a first stay to evangelize these lands, Paul and Barnabas courageously return there to strengthen the new converts in the Christian faith.

It is interesting to consider how they go about proclaiming the gospel to these people and to seat the new converts in their faith. The verbs used are significant in this respect.

Paul and Barnabas had told them the good news by urging them to "turn to the living God, who created the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in it..." (v.15-17). In this way they put before them the greatness of the God of creation, instead of imposing on them a list of religious precepts.

But "they strengthened the souls of the disciples" (v.22) : this is to strengthen their trust in Jesus, reminding them of his love shown on the cross for their salvation. "They exhorted them to persevere in the faith". Their testimony should inspire them to persevere in what they believed by showing them how the gospel meets the needs of man. "They warned them" (v.22) also that they would encounter difficulties : they do not hide from them that the gospel arouses opposition.

Our world of today resembles by its indifference and interests to this idolatrous world in which Paul and Barnabas announced the gospel. We are witnesses to our fellow men of what we have understood about the gospel: a presence that leads us into our lives.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)