The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Jerusalem church didn't just hear about the Gentiles coming to faith; they sent Barnabas to them, showing an immediate embrace of God's work beyond their immediate community. This proactive step reveals a faith that eagerly extended beyond its own walls, actively supporting and validating God's new work in Antioch.
The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, some traveled as far as Antioch, preaching the word not only to Jews but also to Gentiles, leading to a significant number of conversions. News of this incredible outreach and the growth of the church in this major Gentile city reached the mother church in Jerusalem, prompting them to send one of their own, Barnabas, to assess the situation and offer support.
When good news about God's work reaches believers, what's the natural response? Does the church simply marvel, or does it do something?
This verse highlights a crucial dynamic: the early church's responsiveness. When 'tidings' – reports of God's amazing work – arrived in Jerusalem, the response wasn't passive observation. Instead, the church, acting collectively, 'sent forth Barnabas.' This wasn't just a casual decision; it was a mission dispatched by the community. It shows us that genuine faith isn't static; it propels us to engage with and support the unfolding of God's kingdom, even in new and unexpected places like Antioch.
Think about it:
Why Barnabas? What made this specific man the right choice to investigate and encourage the new believers in Antioch?
The selection of Barnabas wasn't accidental. The text calls him a 'good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith' (v. 24, though this verse focuses on his being sent). His background likely played a role too; being from Cyprus (a Hellenistic Jewish background), he would have had a natural bridge to the Gentile and Jewish believers in the cosmopolitan city of Antioch.
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His qualities made him perfect for the task:
Understand the original words
ekklēsia · Greek Noun
The called-out assembly of God's people. In the New Testament, it refers both to the universal body of believers and to local congregations gathered for worship and witness.
c. AD 34-36
Persecution after Stephen's death
Following the martyrdom of Stephen, intense persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, causing many believers to scatter to various regions.
c. AD 34-36
Believers spread the gospel while fleeing
Those who fled Jerusalem traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, sharing the message of Jesus with Jewish communities along the way.
c. AD 34-36— this verse
Gentiles believe in Antioch
In Antioch, a major Gentile city, the good news about Jesus began to reach and impact non-Jews, marking a significant expansion of the early church.
c. AD 34-36
Jerusalem church learns of Gentile conversions
News of the successful ministry and the conversion of Gentiles in Antioch reached the established church in Jerusalem.
c. AD 34-36
Barnabas sent to Antioch
The church in Jerusalem, upon hearing the news, commissioned Barnabas, a respected and Spirit-filled believer, to travel to Antioch to support and guide the new Gentile believers.
This passage shows the church at Jerusalem's established practice of sending leaders, like Philip, to support and guide new believers and ministry initiatives in other locations, mirroring the mission to Antioch.
This shows how the Jerusalem church, even after many years, remained a central authority and decision-making body, receiving reports and sending representatives like Barnabas and Paul to address theological and practical issues in other churches.
Galatians 2:1-10This passage highlights Barnabas's earlier work and partnership with Paul in Antioch and Jerusalem, demonstrating his established reputation and suitability for the task of inspecting and encouraging the growing church there.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13This reveals the potential for division and partisanship even in early churches, underscoring the need for the Jerusalem church to send a unifying figure like Barnabas to ensure the Antioch believers remained grounded in their faith.
barnesActs 11:22: "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."
Then tidings ... - The church at Jerusalem heard of this. It was natural that so remarkable an occurrence as the conversion of the Gentiles, and the extraordinary success of the gospel in a splendid and mighty city, should be reported at Jerusalem, and excite deep interest there. And they sent forth - To aid the disciples there, a…
jfbActs 11:19-24: "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."
Ac 11:19-24. The Gospel Being Preached to Gentiles at Antioch Also Barnabas Is Sent Thither from Jerusalem, Who Hails Their Accession and Labors among Them.19. they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen—and who "went everywhere preaching the word" (Ac 8:4).t…
The Jerusalem church didn't just hear about the Gentiles coming to faith; they sent Barnabas to them, showing an immediate embrace of God's work beyond their immediate community. This proactive step reveals a faith that eagerly extended beyond its own walls, actively supporting and validating God's new work in Antioch.
After persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, some traveled as far as Antioch, preaching the word not only to Jews but also to Gentiles, leading to a significant number of conversions. News of this incredible outreach and the growth of the church in this major Gentile city reached the mother church in Jerusalem, prompting them to send one of their own, Barnabas, to assess the situation and offer support.
After persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, some traveled as far as Antioch, preaching the word not only to Jews but also to Gentiles, leading to a significant number of conversions. News of this incredible outreach and the growth of the church in this major Gentile city reached the mother church in Jerusalem, prompting them to send one of their own, Barnabas, to assess the situation and offer support.
"The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch." — The Jerusalem church didn't just hear about the Gentiles coming to faith; they sent Barnabas to them, showing an immediate embrace of God's work beyond their immediate community. This proactive ste…
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Last reviewed October 2026