The Birth of the Christian ChurchSample

Acts 13 marks a shift in the story of the early church. Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark have just returned to Antioch after bringing the help offering to the Church in Jerusalem. The church in Antioch was a diverse, cosmopolitan church and chapter 13 begins by introducing five leaders representing that diversity. Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus. Simeon is a Hebrew name, and the word “Niger” means black. Simeon was likely a black man from North Africa and is believed by many in theology to be the man chosen from the crowd to carry the cross of Jesus. Lucius of Cyrene was also from North Africa. Manaen is a Greek name, and he is associated in some way with Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, having been brought up together.

The fifth leader was Saul of Tarsus. These five men, all very different in background, met together to fast and pray. The result of that time was the unified idea that the church should encourage and support Saul and Barnabas to take the gospel to other regions of the world. John Mark accompanied the two missionaries on this first journey.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)