19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (Acts 11:19-24 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. That Antioch becomes the Jerusalem of the Gentile Christians: That is, the chief place whither the Gentile converts resorted; as Jerusalem, before the dispersion by persecution, was resorted to by the Jews, and made the principal seat of their residence.
Observe, 2. How God over-ruled the persecution and aspersion occasioned by St. Stephen’s death for disseminating and scattering the gospel as far as Antioch, Ac 11:19. “They which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Antioch, preaching the word.” Thus has the blood of the martyrs all along been the seed of the church, and what the devil and his instruments have designed for the extirpation, God has constantly over-ruled for the propagation of the gospel.
Observe, 3. The great success which the ministers and ministry of the gospel had at Antioch: “The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed.”
By the hand of the Lord, is meant the power and assistance of the Lord, which did accompany them in dispensing of his word, and enable them to work miracles for the confirmation of it. The hand is the organ or instrument of working in man. When it is attributed to God, it denotes his power and help: The hand of God was manifested in the miracles which they wrought, and in faith and conversion, which the sight of those miracles produced.
Learn hence, That faith and conversion are wrought by the hand of the Lord; they are his work: Study and endeavour is the minister’s, the blessing and success is God’s; when he takes the sword of the Spirit into the hand of the Spirit, then shall it work wonders.
Observe, 4. How the joyful tidings of the success of the gospel at Antioch, being heard and understood by the apostles that remained at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to confirm the new converts at Antioch in the Christian faith.
Learn thence, That the news of any sinner’s, much more of many sinners, conversion unto God, by the preaching of the gospel, is matter of great delight and rejoicing to the ministers of Christ.
Observe, 5. The holy and honourable character which the Spirit of God gives of Barnabas; “he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith; and much people were added unto the Lord.” By a good man, is meant a kind and charitable man: he having actually sold his estate, and laid it at the apostles’ feet, for the benefit of the poor, as Ac 4:36-37, informs us; and his good works accompanyhing his good preaching, his good life seconding his sound doctrine, was a great mean of the conversion of so many, and that much people were added to the Lord.
Observe lastly, The holy exhortation which Barnabas gave these new converts at Antioch: “He exhorted them, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord;” That is, with a firm and fixed resolution of will keep close to the profession of the truth of Christ, whatever tribulation or distress they might meet with. Young converts need exhortation and counsel, to establish and confirm them in the faith of the gospel, and to encourage them to hold fast to Christ.