Persecuted, scattered, and famine struck.

Acts 11:19-30

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• Persecuted and scattered Christians travel as far as Antioch in Syria.
• Barnabas brought Saul from Tarsus to Antioch at Syria.
• Barnabas and Saul deliver aid to the family of Christ during severe famine.

Persecuted and scattered Christians travel as far as Antioch in Syria.
“Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.” Acts 11:19-21

The persecution that arose over Stephen is described in Acts 7:54-60 and happened in Jerusalem. The persecution of the way of Christ was led by Saul, who later met Jesus Christ, was born-again, and became known as Paul. Paul wrote many of the books of the New Testament. The persecuted Christians traveled from Jerusalem to Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch at Syria. Cyrene [Cyrenaica] is located to the far west of the map below towards the bottom [circled in green]. Cyprus is the island northwest of Jerusalem [circled in green]. Phoenicia is north of Jerusalem [circled in green]. Antioch in Syria is north of Phoenicia.

Although the followers of Jesus Christ were being persecuted in Jerusalem, they continued to spread His Gospel to the places they fled to. Our Lord Jesus teaches us to flee persecution and to share His testimony to receptive hearts, those whose soul is good soil for planting the Gospel seed. “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:14-15 Jesus also teaches us that the night comes when no one will be able to work to spread His Gospel, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

In today’s culture, which is global, there is no place to run to escape persecution. The beast that has power over physiology is global and gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel. The beast unites the global culture through unbelief in God, the rejection of Jesus Christ, opposition to the presence of the Holy Spirit, and opposition to Christians and Christianity in entirety.

In the United States, the churches have abandoned the Gospel of Christ, government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible in laws, policies, and executive orders, the educational system bans the teaching of the Bible in the classrooms, and Christianity is not welcomed in any sector of society. In other countries, such as places in Africa, China, Russia, North Korea, etc. Christians are literally being imprisoned and killed. The majority of the nations of the United Nations are atheists and oppose the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the United Nations become the undisputed one world government, the persecution of the way of Christ [in various forms] will become the norm in every city around the world.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Matthew 5:3-12 is excellent words Jesus speaks to us.

Antioch at Syria was somewhat of a gathering place for those fleeing the persecution that arose in Jerusalem. People from Cyrene and Cyprus went to Antioch at Syria. When they had come, they spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Hellenists basically included Jewish people who adopted the Greek culture and language [let it be known that the New Testament was written in Greek]. Some Christians can do what other Christians cannot when it comes to reaching certain people or groups of people in the name of Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus Christ, never try to imitate what other people do, but always follow the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within you.

As we read in coming verses, Barnabas and Saul also came to Antioch in Syria.

Barnabas brought Saul from Tarsus to Antioch at Syria.
“Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” Acts 11:22-24

The Church in Jerusalem included the Apostles of Jesus Christ, who were the overseers of the Churches all around. They heard about the preaching of the Christians who were scattered after being persecuted in Jerusalem. Their preaching brought Jesus Christ to many of the traditional Jewish people and to the Jewish people who adopted the culture of the Greeks [Hellenists]. This was good news to the Apostles, as it is to us who live for Jesus Christ, to hear that people have made Jesus their Lord and Savior. Our Lord Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to encourage us in sharing our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” John 17:15-19

The Apostles sent Barnabas to Antioch at Syria, and Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. He encouraged the persecuted Christians who were preaching and encouraged the new converts who came to live by faith in Jesus Christ apart from the laws of Judaism. The Holy Spirit encourages every one of us to continue glorifying the name of Jesus Christ, even in this atheistic and evil world. He encourages us to continue in the Spirit and in the grace and mercy of our Lord.

“Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:25-26

Saul was the reason the Christians were persecuted in Jerusalem and why they scattered and ended up in Antioch at Syria, as described in Acts 8:1. What better news could the Holy Spirit bring to the persecuted Christians than that their persecutor had saw the Light and became a Christian? For that reason, the Holy Spirit motivated Barnabas to go to Tarsus and bring Saul to Antioch Syria where many of the persecuted Christians had gathered. For a whole year, Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. For a whole year, Paul proved himself to be harmless as a dove and wise as a serpent. This is why our Lord Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, sends us into this evil world [filled with wolves] as harmless doves but wise like a serpent. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

Barnabas and Paul assembled with the Church and taught many people. There in Antioch at Syria, the name of Christian was first used for the followers of Jesus Christ, and 2025 years later that name still stands. The Holy Spirit makes us harmless as doves so that the testimony of Jesus Christ can flow through us. If we are being critical of others, harming them in some way, how can we bring His Gospel to others?

The Holy Spirit makes us wise as serpents in that we understand there are some “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:5 “For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18 “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

Tarsus was the hometown of Saul [known as Paul after coming to Jesus Christ], “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia…” Acts 22:3 As seen on the map below, Tarsus is east northeast of Antioch in Syria. Antioch at Syria is circled in green, on the east side of the map and above Phoenicia and Jerusalem.

Barnabas and Saul deliver aid to the family of Christ during severe famine.
“And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.” Acts 11:27-28

All through the Bible, the Prophets spoke by the Spirit of God to show how famine is going to come to this earth. We see how vulnerable the food supply is around the world today as a shortage in one country causes food shortages in countries everywhere. This is spoken about in Revelations 6:6 “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” What happens in the events of the First Trumpet contributes to scarcity of global resources of the earth, “The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.” Revelations 8:7 On top of that, the resources of the oceans become scarce, “Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Revelations 8:8-9 The global economy collapses as described in Revelations 18.

Our Lord Jesus very plainly says not to invest in this world, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

The Holy Spirit wants us to be aware that a famine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is coming, and is present, in this world. The intent to drive Christianity into extinction is described in Revelations 12. In the United States, the churches have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ to form a partnership with the community agenda. Government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible into their laws, policies, and executive orders. The educational system does not allow the Bible to be taught in the classrooms. And no sector of the community network welcomes Christianity. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’” Revelation 12:17

The beast that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel despises the Gospel of Jesus Christ and intends to exterminate anything to do with Jesus. That beast gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people. The global population does not believe in God the Creator, rejects Jesus Christ, and opposes the presence of the Holy Spirit. By what they say and do they are groomed to the mark of the beast. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelations 13:8 “The “him” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” Revelations 13:6-7 “The “he” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

“Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 11:29-30

The Holy Spirit is guiding us to do whatever we can to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. Many are literally being imprisoned and killed in places around the world, and we are helpless to do anything. We are living in the days where our Lord Jesus Christ is being crucified on Cross, referring to Him speaking and living through us. Our hands are nailed to prevent us from helping those of the way of Christ. Our feet are nailed to prevent us from going to those in need of encouragement, comfort, and help of all types. A crown of thorns is put on our head to crucify the thoughts and inspirations we have to help one another. And a spear is driven through our heart by realizing the pain happening to those we love, cherish, and have a bond with. Our Lord Jesus says this, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

The day is coming when our Lord says, “It is finished!” and this present heaven and earth will be destroyed, and a new heaven and earth will be created. Our eternal home is the New Jerusalem of that new heaven and earth.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11