The Life of Paul Part 6 – Toward Antioch: The Day Paul Finally Saw the Gentile Church

So, it was that Agrippa, the grandson of Herod, had found himself in good stead with the emperor Gaius Caligulus and now the closest friend of Claudius. It is at this time that Agrippa proved that his uncle and his sister, Herodius and Herod Antipas, were plotting against the emperor, and Claudius put Agrippa in charge of Galilee. It is now the year 41, and what has happened during these years has ripped the empire apart financially. Claudius is now desperately trying to put his empire back on a stable footing.

Peter has baptized a gentile, and then Barnabas absolutely sends Paul off his feet. “Paul, do you remember the name of a man whose name was Simon of Cyrene?” Paul answers, “Yes, I’ve heard the tale. He is one of the Cyrenians who actually bore the cross of Jesus Christ.” Barnabas replies, “Well, he moved to permanently be in Jerusalem. When the persecution came under you, Paul, he moved out into the cities, and he and some others decided to go out and preach the gospel, and one of them suggested that they preach the gospel in Antioch.” Paul dropped his head into his hands. “I wouldn’t go to that place or anywhere in the world. I don’t care, gospel or not.”

“Paul, you’d better hold that thought for a moment.”

Simon of Cyrene and some other brothers preached the gospel in the synagogue there; many of the Jews turned to the Lord, and some of the Gentiles insisted on becoming followers of Jesus Christ. They did not know what to do, but they came by the dozens and then the hundreds. By now, Paul, the second-largest gathering of God’s people in the world, is in Antioch, Syria. “Oh no. Oh no.”

Barnabas said, “That’s the middle of the story, Paul. Peter was asked to come up there. Simon of Cyrene and others begged Peter to come. It seems as though a church is not officially recognized if Peter hasn’t come.”

Paul said, “That’s a tradition of man.”

“Well, that may be, but it’s also true that Peter felt he was too busy to go to Antioch. Paul, Peter called me, Barnabas, and said, “Go to Antioch, find out what’s going on, and report back to me.” And so, I did.

Paul answered, “When did you do this?”

Barnabas replied, “Just a few weeks ago.”

“What? Just a few weeks ago?” Paul was surprised. “Now, what are you doing here?”

Barnabas questioned him. “Did you not tell me on the day I met you that you had been sent by God?

“Yes, by the Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. It’s true.”