missionary work

Acts 11:19-30 (JDV)

Acts 11:19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the trouble that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
Acts 11:21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:22 News about them reached the congregation in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw the favor of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,
Acts 11:24 because he was a good man, full of the Sacred Breath and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.
Acts 11:25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul,
Acts 11:26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the congregation and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Acts 11:27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Acts 11:28 One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Breath that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius.
Acts 11:29 Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who resided in Judea.
Acts 11:30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

missionary work

The elements of missionary work are highlighted in this passage.

• Notice the cross-cultural evangelism (19-21);
• the encouraging exhortation of the new believers in Antioch by Barnabus (22-24);
• the comprehensive instruction from Barnabas and Saul (25-26);
• and the fund-raising for disaster relief (27-30).

The closing movement of this section in Acts widens the horizon of the story. The gospel has reached Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and now Caesarea. Each step required divine initiative, human obedience, and a willingness to cross boundaries that once seemed immovable. The pattern continues throughout the book: whenever the mission appears to slow or encounter resistance, God raises up people, opens doors, and sends messengers into places where the good news has not yet taken root. The narrative insists that the mission is not a temporary phase in early church history but an ongoing work sustained by God’s own determination to bring life to the world.

The needs described in Acts still exist across the globe. Communities without access to the gospel, regions marked by suffering, and cultures unfamiliar with Christ’s story continue to call for those willing to serve. Acts portrays mission not as a relic of the past but as a living movement that persists until the return of the Lord. The era of the missionary is not a closed chapter. It remains an essential expression of God’s desire to rescue and restore creation.

The passage also invites reflection on how individuals and communities discern their place within this mission. Not everyone is called to travel across continents, but the book of Acts shows that God uses a wide range of people—travelers, hosts, teachers, encouragers, translators, caregivers, and ordinary believers whose faithfulness creates openings for the gospel. The question is not whether the mission continues but how each person participates in it. Some are sent outward; others support, teach, or nurture those who go. All are drawn into the same divine purpose.

The prayer that concludes the reflection—asking God to reveal where each person fits within the mission—captures the heart of Acts. The early believers did not invent their assignments. They received them through prayer, discernment, and attentiveness to the Spirit’s leading. The same posture remains essential today. The mission belongs to God, and the role of the believer is to listen, respond, and step into the opportunities God prepares.

The story of Acts, therefore, continues to shape the imagination of the church. It reminds communities that God is still at work, still calling, still sending, and still rescuing. It encourages openness to the Spirit’s direction and confidence that the mission will endure until its fulfillment at the Lord’s return.

Lord, show us where we fit in so we can do missions!

“Jeff, isn’t this a bad time to talk about missions?” (video)