BARNABAS MAKES A MISSIONARY TRIP AS FAR AS ANTIOCH—THE TALENTED, EDUCATED PAUL GOES TO HELP HIM—BOTH ARE ORDAINED AS AMBASSADORS TO THE GENTILE WORLD—THE CHURCH DIRECTED TO PROCEED IN ORDERLY, ORGANIZED WAY
By MRS. E. G. WHITE
THE gospel message spread rapidly through the regions lying beyond the limits of Palestine, and many small companies of believers were formed in important centers. The gospel was publicly taught in Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, by certain disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came "preaching the Lord Jesus." "The hand of the Lord was with them," and their earnest labors were productive of fruit. "A great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."
THE SERVICES OF PAUL SECURED
"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." His labors were richly blessed, and many were added to the number of believers there. As the work developed, Barnabas felt the need of suitable help, in order to advance in the opening providences of God; and he therefore secured the services of Paul, who, after a sojourn in Arabia and a visit to Jerusalem, had been laboring for some time in "the regions of Syria and Cilicia," proclaiming "the faith which once he destroyed."
In the populous city of Antioch, Paul found an excellent field of labor. His learning, wisdom, and zeal exerted a powerful influence over the inhabitants and frequenters of that city of culture, and he proved just the help that Barnabas needed. For a year the two disciples labored unitedly in faithful ministry, bringing to many, a saving knowledge of Jesus of Nazareth, the world's Redeemer.
FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS, AND WHY
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. The name was given them because Christ was the main theme of their preaching, their teaching, and their conversation. Continually they were recounting the incidents that had occurred during the days of His earthly ministry, when His disciples were blessed with His personal presence. Untiringly they dwelt upon His teachings and His miracles of healing. With quivering lips and tearful eyes they spoke of His agony in the garden, His betrayal, trial, and execution, the forbearance and humility with which He had endured the contumely and torture imposed upon Him by His enemies, and the godlike pity with which He had prayed for those who persecuted Him. His resurrection and ascension, and His work in heaven as the Mediator for fallen man, were topics on which they rejoiced to dwell. Well might the heathen call them Christians, since they preached Christ, and addressed their prayers to God through Him.
GOD GAVE THE NAME
It was God who gave to them the name of Christian. This is a royal name, given to all who join themselves to Christ. It was of this name that James wrote later: "Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" And Peter declared: "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you."
Paul's labors at Antioch, in association with Barnabas, strengthened him in his conviction that the Lord had called him to do a special work for the Gentile world. At the time of Paul's conversion, the Lord had declared that he was to be made a minister to the Gentiles, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me." Later in his Christian experience, while praying in the temple at Jerusalem, he had been visited by an angel from heaven, who bade him, "Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."
"I WAS MADE A MINISTER"
Thus the Lord had given Paul his commission to enter the broad missionary field of the Gentile world. To prepare him for this extensive and difficult work, God had brought him into close connection with Himself, and had opened before his enraptured vision views of the beauty and glory of heaven. To him had been given the ministry of making known "the mystery," which had been "kept secret since the world began,"—"the mystery of His will," "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof," declares Paul, "I was made a minister."
LABORS GREATLY BLESSED
God had abundantly blessed the labors of Paul and Barnabas during the year they remained with the believers in Antioch. But neither of them had as yet been formally ordained to the gospel ministry. They had now reached a point in their Christian experience when God was about to entrust them with the carrying forward of a difficult missionary enterprise, in the prosecution of which they would need every advantage that could be obtained through the agency of the church.
ORDAINED AND AUTHORIZED
"There were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, . . . and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Before being sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these apostles were solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands. Thus they were authorized by the church, not only to teach the truth, but to perform the rite of baptism, and to organize churches, being invested with full ecclesiastical authority.
MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION
The Christian church was at this time entering upon an important era. The work of proclaiming the gospel message among the Gentiles was now to be prosecuted with vigor; and as a result, the church was to be strengthened by a great ingathering of souls. The apostles who had been appointed to lead out in this work would be exposed to suspicion, prejudice, and jealousy. Their teachings concerning the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" that had so long separated the Jewish and the Gentile world, would naturally subject them to the charge of heresy; and their authority as ministers of the gospel would be questioned by many zealous, believing Jews. God foresaw the difficulties that His servants would be called to meet; and in order that their work should be above challenge, He instructed the church by revelation to set them apart publicly to the work of the ministry. Their ordination was a public recognition of their divine appointment to bear to the Gentiles the glad tidings of the gospel.
Both Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself, and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification. It was an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office, and a recognition of one's authority in that office. By it the seal of the church was set upon the work of God.
Paul regarded the occasion of his formal ordination as marking the beginning of a new and important epoch in his life-work. It148was from this time that he afterward dated the beginning of his apostleship in the Christian church.
Are Called to a Special Work
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COURAGEOUS THOUGH IN JEOPARDY
While the light of the gospel was shining brightly at Antioch, an important work was continued by the apostles who had remained in Jerusalem. Every year, at the time of the festivals, many Jews from all lands came to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. Some of these pilgrims were men of fervent piety, and earnest students of the prophecies. They were looking and longing for the advent of the promised Messiah, the hope of Israel. While Jerusalem was filled with these strangers, the apostles preached Christ with unflinching courage, though they knew that in so doing they were placing their lives in constant jeopardy. The Spirit of God set its seal upon their labors. Many converts to the faith were made; and these, returning to their homes in different parts of the world, scattered the seeds of truth through all nations, and among all classes of society.
Prominent among the apostles who engaged in this work were Peter, James, and John, who felt confident that God had appointed them to preach Christ among their countrymen at home. Faithfully and wisely they labored, testifying of the things they had seen and heard, and appealing to “a more sure word of prophecy,” in an effort to persuade “the house of Israel . . . that God hath made that same Jesus, whom” the Jews “crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
