Acts
Chapter 11: 19-30
The Church in Antioch
19Now
those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far
as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some
of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks
also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The
Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22News of
this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was
glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a
great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25Then
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found
him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church
and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27During
this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One
of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine
would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide
help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did,
sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
