Acts 11:19–30

The Church in Antioch

¹⁹Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, ^pspeaking the message to no one except Jews. ²⁰But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, ^qrproclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. ^s21The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. ^t22Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel ^uas far as Antioch. ²³When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart, ^v24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit ^wand of faith. And large numbers of people were added ^xto the Lord. ²⁵Then he ^ywent to Tarsus to search for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples ^zwere first called Christians at Antioch. ^a

Famine Relief

²⁷In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ^b28Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. ^cThis took place during the time of Claudius. ^de29So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. ^f30They did this, sending it to the elders ^gby means of Barnabas and Saul.