Today’s Scripture: Acts 11:19-30

The last we heard of Saul [Paul] is in Acts 9—after the Damascus Road experience, he starts preaching Jesus, eventually has to leave Damascus, goes to Jerusalem, and eventually has to leave Jerusalem; he heads back to his hometown, Tarsus.

There is about a 10 year gap between that return home and the next we hear of him in Acts 11.

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Through the church in Antioch, Gentiles start to trust in Messiah Jesus for salvation—in our language, they become Christians.

The Jerusalem Church hears about this startling development—remember that all the Jerusalem Christians are Jewish Christians—and they send Barnabas—a total stud—to check it out.

He must be both impressed by what the Spirit is doing in the Antiochene Church, and burdened by the need to train up these new Christians in the faith. “Ah,” he thinks, “I need someone who knows the story of Israel”—the Old Testament—”backwards and forwards, someone who is an effective preacher, and someone who is able to communicate well with Greek-speaking Gentiles. I have just the guy—that firebrand Saul.”

So Barnabas travels to Tarsus to find him!

For almost 10 years Saul has been in Tarsus and has dropped out of the story, but now Barnabas finds him and brings him back to Antioch, and the next part of the Gospel’s movement begins.

Those 10 years must have raised lots of questions in Paul’s mind—”What are you up to, Lord?” But I expect those 10 years were important years of development for Paul. And when Barnabas showed up at his door one day, he was ready.

How might God be preparing you now for what he wants to do then?

Don’t despise today—assume God has you where he needs you.