In Acts 11, we are introduced to the church in Antioch. This congregation was born in the wake of persecution in Jerusalem, yet it became one of the most influential churches in the New Testament.
Antioch was the third-largest city in the Roman world, behind only Rome and Alexandria. Thousands of Jews lived there, along with a growing number of Gentile converts. At first, the early Christians shared the gospel only with Jews (Acts 11:19). It wasn’t in their mindset to imagine the gospel reaching non-Jews.
But that soon changed.
“Some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus” (Acts 11:20).
This was a turning point. For the first time, large numbers of Gentiles were coming to faith in Jesus Christ. The message was simple: Jesus is Lord. And it met with great success: “a large number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21).
When news of this reached Jerusalem, the church sent Barnabas to investigate. What he saw filled him with joy. He found a church that can still serve as a model for us today.
Aggressive Outreach to the Lost
The Antioch church was outward-focused. They didn’t just wait for people to come to them; they went out proclaiming the good news about Jesus (Acts 11:20). The Lord’s hand was with them, and multitudes believed (Acts 11:21).
For a whole year, Barnabas and Saul taught “large numbers” (Acts 11:26). The mission was clear: to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). It’s the same mission Jesus gave us in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Grace-Focused, God-Praising Worship
Barnabas and Saul met with the church, worshiped, and built up the disciples (Acts 11:26). Worship was not a ritual; it was a reset—a way to recenter life around God’s grace and praise His name.
The early Christians made assembling a priority because it strengthened them, lifted their hearts, and helped them endure. For them, Sunday was not just another day; it was the Lord’s Day.
Warm, Inclusive Fellowship
At first, the message was only to Jews (Acts 11:19). But by Acts 11:21, Jews and Gentiles were worshiping side by side. Imagine the mix: devout Jews, Hellenistic Jews, and former idol-worshiping Gentiles: all united in Christ.
The name “Christian” first appears here (Acts 11:26). It was their shared identity that broke down cultural and social barriers. What once divided them was replaced by fellowship in Christ (Galatians 3:26-27).
Committed Discipleship
Notice Acts 11:26 again: “The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.” The keyword is disciples. These believers weren’t content with a label; they were learning, maturing, and becoming like Jesus.
Paul later described the goal this way: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity… growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness” (Ephesians 4:12-13).
Benevolent Service
The Antioch church also took care of others. When they heard about a famine in Judea, “each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief” (Acts 11:29-30). They didn’t just look inward; they saw themselves as part of a larger family.
That same spirit moves Christians today when we support missions, disaster relief, food pantries, or help a neighbor in need.
The Antioch Model
What do we learn from Antioch? A growing church:
Reaches out aggressively to the lost.
Prioritizes God-praising worship.
Practices warm, inclusive fellowship.
Commits to discipleship and growth.
Serves others with love and generosity.
The church in Acts didn’t just hope for growth; they expected it. And the Lord gave it.
“Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
May the same be said of us.
Great messages, like this, are formed by explaining what happened in context. It sure helps one to appreciate the church.