By: Pastor Rick Smith

The first church was blessed with apostles, deacons, and elders, but missionaries didn’t appear at first. Perhaps God wanted them to settle in to the life of that local church, or, maybe it was simply not in God’s timing to send out missionaries. That early church was made up of locals and foreigners. They had to learn how to be the church. They had to handle the growing pains of having such a diverse group of people. But then came persecution and martyrdom. “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.” (Acts 11:19). They were ordinary missionaries that God used in miraculous ways.

Who were these that were scattered because of the persecution after Stephan’s death? Looking back to Pentecost in Acts 2 we are told that the crowd was made up of “…Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians…” (Acts 2:9-11). It was this mixed group of foreign born Jews and proselytes that were scattered. The regions that they settled in were places dominated by Gentiles that spoke Greek. Initially the contacts were made sharing the gospel with other Jews. This is the pattern that was practiced later by the apostle Paul. These, though, probably limited themselves to the Jews, because they were more comfortable communicating the gospel to them. They were Jews and they would have common ground to proclaim the gospel.

But among those that were scattered were those from parts of the Roman world where the Jews would have to do commerce and live among the Gentiles. “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:20-21). This is a prayer point for us. We want the hand of the Lord to be with all of our mission work. The gospel of Jesus Christ is precious seed that must penetrate into the depth of the soul and grow. We want all men to turn to the Lord. That should occupy our prayers and our work.

Once the church at Jerusalem heard about it they sent Barnabas to check it out. “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.” (Acts 11:22). Jerusalem was approximately fifteen days journey to Antioch. When Barnabas saw what God had done he “…exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:23).

At this point in the book of Acts there is a turning of the page. Up to this point the emphasis had been on the work of the original apostles, especially Peter. But now, Barnabas seeks out Paul in Tarsus to bring him into the work at Antioch. You will remember that when Paul turned to Christ it was Barnabas who presented him to the Jerusalem church. Now, Barnabas brings Paul into the work of disciplining the new Gentile believers. Paul and Barnabas, along with others, for a year gathered with the “…with the church, and taught much people.” (Acts 11:26). The new disciples were edified and Paul and Barnabas were able to bring others to faith in Jesus.

The goal of ordinary missions and missionaries is to present every man prefect in Christ (Colossians 1:28). The disciples were no longer Jew or Gentile, but something new and part of the mystery of the gospel. It really is summed up in the statement: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26). Through the ordinary members of the scattered church acting as missionaries God open the door to the Gentiles. Our mission, as individuals, is the same as that of every true church. Our mission is to bring the gospel to all men everywhere.

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday. Worship at 10:50 A.M. We are located at 711 West Washington Ave. Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541. Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

Rick Smith is the Pastor at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Artesia.