James: the Lynchpin of Our Faith — Chapter 11 Continued

The rapid growth of the Gentile church in Antioch and Paul’s arrival there begins a transition within the Book of Acts. Up to this point Peter has been the main character in the narrative, but from this juncture forward Paul assumes the role of the main character. After Peter’s imprisonment and miraculous release in chapter twelve, he plays only a minor part in the remainder of the book.

One should not assume that Peter’s ministry was diminished, while Paul’s excelled. Instead, this transition within the Acts narrative largely reflects the experience and perspective of Luke, the book’s author. Luke was Paul’s personal doctor and a companion on his missionary journeys. (See Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 24.) Furthermore, Luke was a Gentile, so the explosive growth of the Gentile church was quite naturally of particular interest to him.

In many respects, Luke played the role of Paul’s personal publicist. He ensured that Paul’s struggles and triumphs were recorded for posterity. None of the other apostles had a publicist, someone who acted as their press secretary. The inclusion of the Book of Acts in the canon of scripture guaranteed that Christians would be forever reminded about the exploits of the apostle Paul. Undoubtedly, the other apostles accomplished similar feats. Some are heralded in legend, but because these miracles and exploits were not recorded in scripture, memory of them has faded or vanished with the passage of time.(1)

Acts chapters thirteen and fourteen continue the narrative of the Church’s explosive growth among the Gentiles. A time of worship, fasting, and prayer at the church in Antioch sets in motion a chain of events that would rock the Roman Empire.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:1–3)

What was this work to which Barnabas and Saul (Paul) had been called? No direct answer is provided in the text, but from the actions and events that follow, it is obvious that these two men are on a mission to bring the gospel message to the Gentiles. This is in full agreement with the word spoken to the disciple Ananias immediately after Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15–16)

Paul is about to begin fulfilling the great purpose for which the Lord has called him to service. Many years later, while speaking in his own defence before King Agrippa, Paul gives this account of his initial encounter with Jesus and the purpose of his calling:

About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Then I asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:13–23)

It is evident from Paul’s testimony that he sees his calling as bringing the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. The prayer meeting in Antioch set him on a course to fulfill his life’s mission. Barnabas and Paul began their first missionary journey with a trip to Cyprus. Cyprus was the point of origin for the explosive church growth now evident in the Syrian city of Antioch, and furthermore it was home turf for Barnabas. Undoubtedly, he had many contacts on the island.

A pattern quickly begins to emerge in their ministry on this first journey, first in Cyprus and later in the regions of Pisidia and Lycaonia. They would begin by proclaiming the gospel message in the Jewish synagogues. Their message eventually meets with stiff resistance from many of the Jewish leaders in the community—however, the gospel is received with joy by many of the Gentiles who embrace it with much gratitude.

Often the proclamation of the gospel is accompanied by signs and wonders. On the island of Cyprus, Elymas is struck blind for resisting the gospel (Acts 13:6–12). In Iconium, “Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3). In Lystra, with a single command Paul brought healing to a man who was unable to walk from birth (Acts 14:8–10). Undoubtedly, many believed their message because God confirmed the truth of the apostles’ words by the miracles that accompanied the gospel’s proclamation.

Eventually, persecution becomes acute to the point where Paul and Barnabas’ lives are at risk. So, as a result, the apostles move on to virgin territory with their message, where the pattern is repeated yet again. It is worth noting that, according to Luke, persecution and resistance to the message comes largely from the Jews rather than from the Gentile
population. (See Acts 13:6–8, Acts 13:44–52; Acts 14:2–7; Acts 14:19–20.)

Finally, Paul and Barnabas retrace their steps passing through the towns where they have already ministered.

They preached the gospel in that city [Derbe] and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. (Acts 14:21–25)

The appointment of leaders was of great importance because it ensured the continuance of the church after the apostles’ departure. This tried and proven pattern of ministry was repeated in Paul’s subsequent missionary journeys.

Having achieved tremendous success in their mission despite fierce opposition, Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch in Syria.

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. (Acts 14:26–28)

It was the success of Paul and Barnabas in bringing the gospel to the Gentiles that precipitated the next great controversy in the church. The wind of the Spirit had blown the “door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27) wide open, but there were those in the church who were determined to shut that door—and lock it permanently.

What position would James take in this growing controversy?

(1) For a detailed examination of the historical evidence regarding the mission and exploits of Christ’s original twelve apostles visit: http://www.biblepath.com/apostles.html.

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