The Church Established Part 2 of 2

by John Lowe
(Laurens SC, USA)

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

The mission to the Gentiles in Antioch was very effective. A great number of Gentiles believed in Jesus as “Lord.” Luke said that “the hand of the Lord was with” the disciples in Antioch. The immediate growth of the Christian fellowship confirmed the validity of their preaching mission to the Gentiles. God gave His approval and blessing to what they were doing. The gospel was indeed a universal gospel. At Antioch, believers were called Christians for the first time.

The clause “believed, and turned unto the Lord” does not necessarily refer to two separate actions. The Greek construction often indicates that the two actions are simultaneous. This clause, then, means, “in believing, they turned to the Lord.”


Scripture reference and special notes

{1] Hellenistic—characteristic of or relating to Greek civilization in the Mediterranean world, especially from the death of Alexander the Great (323 b.c.) to the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra (30 b.c.). Hellenist—a non-Greek, especially a Jew, who adopted Greek culture.

{2] legate— an official who acted as a deputy general to governors of provinces conquered by ancient Rome in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, during the period of the republic. In the latter part of the 1st century BC, Julius Caesar initiated the practice of appointing legates to command legions in the army. This practice became customary under the emperor, Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). Under the early empire, in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, a province containing one or more legions was governed by a military commander with the title legatus Augusti pro praetore (propraetorian legate of the emperor).

{3] See Wars, VII. 3. 3

{4] (Acts 13:14) But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

{5] (Acts 6:9) Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

{6] (Acts 8:3) As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

{7] (Acts 8:4) Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.