Jesus. : Trusting Jesus First, Only, Now, and AlwaysSample

When the early church was persecuted after Stephen’s death, followers of Jesus from Jerusalem scattered far and wide and shared the Gospel with every Jew they came across on the way. Some of the Jews who heard them put their faith in Jesus and then took the Gospel to a place called Antioch. Many of the Greeks who lived in Antioch put their faith in Jesus, too.

When the church in Jerusalem heard about what was happening in Antioch, they sent Barnabas to check things out. Barnabas was the man who had helped Saul convince the apostles that Jesus really had changed him (see Acts 9:27). When Barnabas arrived, he could tell that the Holy Spirit was at work, so he began to teach and train people who had put their faith in Jesus. When the number of new followers of Jesus became too many for Barnabas to encourage and train alone, he went to get Saul. Together, they taught people who had been saved through faith how to live by that same faith. Barnabas and Saul stayed in Antioch for a whole year.

Followers of Jesus in Antioch were the first people to be called Christians. They didn’t name themselves. The word “Christian” means “Christ’s [people].” To be called a Christian is to be called a slave of Christ. The people who made up this term were trying to insult followers of Jesus by calling them slaves, but followers of Jesus considered it a big compliment. We have used the term ever since.

The ministry of Barnabas and Saul was effective. They weren’t responsible for the change that happened in the people they trained—the Holy Spirit brings change—but they helped people grow by teaching them how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. When we pass on to others what God has taught us, we make His name famous. We help people understand that Jesus is enough. Period.