Acts 11 - Show and Tell!

Read Acts 11

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
The church continues to grow exponentially for a couple of reasons. Even though the church was persecuted the believers were sent out to new places where they were able to preach the good news to both the Jews and the Gentiles.  Notice it is not necessarily the apostles doing this work. We don't even know the names of those who are spreading the word in such a winsome way.  Importantly it says, "The Lord's hand was with him, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord."  
Notice the simplicity of their strategy, "They began to speak to the Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus."  It would be interesting to hear the stories of how they did this.  How did they gather the people?  How did they meet them?  How did God open up the doors for them to have such great success?  
Sometimes I think we make things too complicated.  We are called and sent out to tell people the "good news about Jesus".  The good news about Jesus' showing us what God is like.  The good news about the love Jesus showed for all people.  The good news about Jesus' power that healed the sick and the lame. The good news about Jesus' provision, as he fed the five thousand and provided the wine at the wedding when it had run out.  
As we go out and "tell the good news about Jesus", the Lord's hand will be upon us as it was on these new believers.  But if we don't tell anyone about the good news of Jesus we will never get to see God's hand at work.  You don't have to be a missionary or pastor to tell people about the good news of Jesus.  God uses ordinary people who have experienced the good news, then share it with others.  It is really that simple!


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