The scriptures in this lesson reveals once again the mighty move of the spirit of God in action, as the disciples moved further away from Jerusalem as persecution against preaching of the one God doctrine intensified. Many of the disciples travelled as far away as Cyprus and Antioch (Syria) preaching the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Dr. Luke records in verse 22, that the good news of the Spirit of God in action throughout the Mediterranean area of the Middle east, came unto the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas to visit these disciples and new converts who were preaching the gospel of the Kingdom in this new outpost.
When Barnabas got to Antioch and saw the mighty work that the Spirit of God was doing in the lives of the recently converted brethren, he exhorted them that they should with purpose and remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. The scriptures describe the character of Apostle Barnabas in verse 24, as a good man, full of the Holy Ghost, and full of faith, and as a result of these characteristics, many people were added unto the Lord.
The scripture says that after ministering in Antioch for a while, Barnabas left and went off to the city of Tarsus ( Southern Turkey) looking for the Apostle Paul. He found Apostle Paul ministering in Tarsus and they both went back to Antioch and spent an entire year there with the brethren, teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ on a daily basis.
Dr. Luke reported that in this city of Antioch – Syria, the people of this city called the followers of Jesus Christ and those who accepted the teachings of Paul and Barnabas, Christians. This name became the symbol and nomenclature for and of all those who had the characteristics of Jesus Christ and lives the life of The Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh.
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