The Church at Antioch Helps Others

After trouble scattered many believers from Jerusalem, some travelled to places like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. At first they told the message about Jesus only to Jews. But some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and also spoke to Hellenists about the Lord Jesus.

The Lord was at work among them, and many people believed and turned to him. News of this reached the assembly in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When Barnabas arrived and saw God’s grace among the people, he was glad.

Barnabas encouraged the believers to stay near to the Lord with steady hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many more people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.

When Barnabas found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they gathered with the assembly and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Later, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, Agabus, showed by the Spirit that a great famine was coming. So the disciples decided that each person who had plenty would send help to the brothers and sisters living in Judea. They sent this relief to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.