The city of Antioch in ancient times was the third most important in the world following Rome and Alexandria. It was founded by Antigenus one of Alexander’s generals. It stood on the banks of the river Orontes some three hundred miles north of Jerusalem. Its main street was over four miles long and was paved with marble and it was the only city in the ancient world to have its streets lighted at night. Half a million people from all over the empire made it there home, so it was a very cosmopolitan city. Therefore it presented the early church with a great opportunity in evangelism. The establishment of the church here at Antioch was an important milestone in the history of Christianity, for this was the first mainly gentile church. Several things about this important church can be deduced from this passage that we can learn from and apply to our own churches.

1. The founding of the church, v19-21.
What were the factors in the formation of this church?

A. It was founded by persecution, v19.
God can even use "the wrath of men to praise Him."

B. It was founded by preaching, v20.
This is God's ordained means of saving sinners, it is by "the foolishness of preaching" that men believe. Therefore all science and signs are excluded, cf 1Cor1v18ff.

C. It was founded by providence, v21.
"The hand of the Lord was with them." It was in God's providence that the scattered disciples found there way here for He had a purpose for them here. Their persecutors had "meant it for evil against them but God meant it for good."

2. The furthering of the church, v22-26.
There were two important contributory factors in the furthering of this church.

A. The testimony of it's members.
One of the key members of this church was Barnabus who had been sent to work with them. Barnabus's name means encouragement, notice how he encouraged Paul, cfv25-26. Paul had been ignored by the other Apostles but Barnabus seen something in him and went to get him to help him in the work here. Barnabus was "full of the Holy Ghost", Scripture commands believers to be filled with the Spirit, cf Eph5v18. The characteristics of Spirit filling are found in Eph5v18ff, they are,
1. Singing, v19.
2. Supplication, v20.
3. Submission, v21.
4. Service, 6v10ff.

The consequences of spirit filling are,
1. Boldness, - in preaching, Acts2v4, 4v8,
in prayer, Acts 4v31, in practice, Acts 13v9-12.
2. Blessing, - in growth, Acts2v41,
in grace, Acts 4v32-33,
and in giving, Acts4v34-37.

The way in which the believer can be Spirit filled is to yield to His control in our lives by submitting to the word of God, cf Col 3v16. With members like Barnabus it is no wonder that the church grew. But then it wasn't just Barnabus all the members here were exemplary believers. We know this from the name they were given by their enemies, "Christians", cf v26, this name means Christ like.

B. The teaching of it's members, V26.
Paul taught here constantly, there is no substitute for systematic teaching of truth. Churches that are fed on the word and who appropriate it will grow.

3. The functioning of the church, v27-28.
There are three things here concerning the functioning of this church that should characterise every church.

A. They made use of Spiritual Gifts, v27-28.
One of the most prominent gifts in the early church was this gift that Agabus used here the gift of prophecy. This gift has since ceased with the completion of the cannon of Scripture, cf1Cor13v8-10, (see Jam1v23-25, Num12v6-8,), but there are many other gifts which still function and are to be use to build up the body of Christ, cf 1Cor 12v4-11.

B. They ministered to other churches by the way of sacrificial giving, v29.
Though independent the church here also practised interdependence and sought to support other sister churches. Note the principle here namely that the people of God should support the work of God. I wonder if they were also aware of the promise, "he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

C. They maintained the church by sound government, v30.
In Acts 6 deacons were appointed to attend to the temporal affairs of the church, here by Acts 11 elders have been appointed to attend to the spiritual affairs of the church, cf 1Pet5v1-4.

4. The fruitfulness of the church, 13v 1-4.
Note the things that made them fruitful.

A. They were remarkable in service.
A young fledgling assembly and already they were thinking of reaching out beyond their borders.

B. They were responsive to the Spirit.
They had an ear for spiritual matters and so were responsive to the desire of the Holy Spirit when His will was revealed to them.

C. They were ready for Sacrifice.
This church was willing to release its best two members in order to further the work of the gospel.