The Church at Antioch

19 Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews 20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks[fn] as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 [The] hand of [the] Lord was with them, and [a] great number [of people] believed [and] turned to the Lord.

22 [When] news of this [reached] the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 [When] he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts. 24 [Barnabas] was a good man, full of [the] Holy Spirit and faith, and a great [number of people] were brought to the Lord.

25 Then [Barnabas] went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and [when] he found [him], he brought [him] back to Antioch. [So] [for] a full year they met together with the church and taught large [numbers of people]. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

27 In those days [some] prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up [and] predicted through the Spirit [that] a great famine would sweep across the whole world.[fn] ( [This] happened under Claudius.) 29 [So] the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending [their gifts] to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.