The Word for Wednesday, May 26

A recent WfW post by my blogging role model Jean came to mind as I read from Acts chapter 11, beginning with verse 19:

So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

So there's the church, growing as believers are scattered by persecution. I look over this passage, searching for the place where it tells us that this growth was caused, or even aided in any way, by teacher-led prayers in the public schools, or by a National Day of Prayer, or by believers policing the radio or TV stations to eliminate smutty or blasphemous programming, or by military invasions of heathen territory; but I look in vain.

Barnabas seems to have played a significant part in the early life of the Antioch church. And he's described as "full of the Holy Spirit and faith." Hmmmm, there might be a clue here ...

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