4th week in Easter Time, Tuesday – 2nd May 2023 – Acts 11,19-26; Jn 10,22-30
Moving and Stable Church
The first reading presents the story of the Church being founded in Antioch in Syria. In fact, it was immediately after the martyrdom of Stephen and the violent persecution which followed and scattered the Jerusalem Christians to many directions like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. The first mainly Gentile local church was located here. In many ways, it would become the headquarters for the mission to the Gentiles. Later we find, that Paul from here would launch his three missionary journeys. The apostles first evangelized to their fellow Jews only but due to the persecution, the good news started to be preached to non-Jews as well. Many Gentiles came to believe and the early leaders of the church, like Barnabas, began to see how God can work in the lives of non-Jews. As representative of the Jerusalem leaders, Barnabas encouraged and supported the Christians in Antioch. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus’ Way were first given the nickname “Christians.” This indicates that the name “Christ” became personal rather than a title. Whether the followers adopted this name for themselves, or whether their enemies used it as a term of contempt, the title ‘Christians’ became very fitting and has remained for centuries.
