by Don Hooton
There are many ways the modern church should learn from the first century church. We too often look for inspiration from peers or other churches when instead, right in front of us, are early Christians who let the gospel transform them personally and empower them collectively. We can see this in cosmopolitan Antioch!
Luke said, “Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul (Acts 13:1, NLT). These five leaders, prophets and teachers, represent a broad racial, cultural and socio-economic span of culture. This diversity gave the church great strength – and unity with a broad scope of experiences that fastened them together to keep the unity of the Spirit.
Barnabus and Saul are the most well-known. Barnabus was a Levite from Cyprus and “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” who brought “a great number of people … to the Lord” (Acts 11:24). Though he had respect, wealth, and other standings in the world before (c.f. 4:36-37), he followed Jesus. When the Apostles were afraid of Saul, Barnabas vouched for him (9:28). At Lystra, Barnabus’ demeanor triggered pagans to call him “Zeus” while Paul, who did most of the speaking, was “Hermes” (14:12). Even though Saul had been trained at the feet of Gamaliel (22:3), Barnabus obviously took no passive place next to Paul in the work; he led. They both did. While Jews, they partnered with non-Jews to lead.
Then there are three rarely observed as leaders. One is Simeon, who “ministered to the Lord” in the same way. He was called Niger (or, the black man, see NLT). The Greek word, “Niger,” is translated black and is the source word for Nigeria. Also, it was a common Roman name, so Simeon wasn’t Jewish and strongly Gentile. His ethnicity did not stop his leadership in Antioch.
Then there is Lucius, from Cyrene. In the first century, Cyrenaica was an African territory roughly corresponding to eastern Libya. While mostly Greek, it did have a community with 100,000 Judean Jews who had settled there under force during Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC). Yet, Luke does not identify any Jewishness but instead, his locale – which suggests his origins from north Africa because he was another African who ministered to the Lord and expanded the ethnic diversity of this evangelistic church.
Last, there is Manaen (the Greek form of a Hebrew name), likely a Hellenistic Jew. Luke says that he grew up with Herod Antipas, the one who killed John the Baptist and before whom Jesus stood trial. This has been interpreted as “foster-brother” (ASV), “childhood companion” (Berkeley), or “courtier” (cf. RSV). Whatever the precise meaning, it was a relationship of honor and distinction Luke emphasized which placed Manaen in the upper levels of society. Yet, his upbringing did not prevent the Antioch church from allowing him to lead them as prophet and a teacher.
The naming of these five men reminds us of several things. First, the church needed leaders who were prophets and teachers – and these three would carry on when Barnabas and Saul leave on their journey. Second, the church was proactive in including everyone. The names, along with details supplied by Luke, indicate the early church was unafraid in being culturally diverse. Third, leadership reflected the makeup of the church. While these five are not called elders or deacons, their qualification to be used by the Spirit was in their character – not skin, not heritage and not wealth – but none of those prevented them either.
While I am grateful to God that our congregation grows more diverse, we need to grow more. It’s true that the gospel is not about percentages: it’s about people. It’s true that it’s not about ethnicities: it’s about souls. Yet it was Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, who made the point to share information that reflected the diversity in the church in Antioch. As we grow, we need to reach out to everyone around us – and not just the people who look like us – so we can look more like Antioch did.
Over the last twenty years, our membership has become more diverse but there is more that we can do, particularly among Asians and especially Hispanics. Second, our evangelistic support has grown to include different ethnicities in countries like Uganda, Italy, India as well as even a Spanish speaking work in our County. And third, our leadership has started to reflect the same diversity. Yet, it is my hope that as qualified men who desire to serve will mature, as opportunities arise in the support of foreign work, and as days unfold to teach the gospel to a person from another culture living in ours, that the gospel will transform all of us personally and empower us collectively to be like Antioch.
Paul told the Thessalonians “that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk).. excel still more,” so should we. We have come far – but we have more to do and more with which, to excel.