Acts 13:1-5 ~ Now

Acts 13:1-5

Now there were in the church at Antioch
prophets and teachers,

Barnabas,
Simeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch,
and Saul.

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.

Archaeology. Something you sift through to find meaningful analysis. Like Historical evidence. And God's Word.

God Word, 1 John 4, tells us never be afraid to examine what we know for truth.

Dang. Don't you wish the Disciples had been literate?
Dang. Wouldn't it be great if the Bible had been written before 400 A.D. and we hadn't had to deal with these dirty, illiterate, yutzes that "God" mistakenly chose?


Well. Maybe. When God said the creation was good, how many times? 11 times. God rarely repeats Himself like that, maybe God was supporting 11 Disciples. Saying these 11 men were wonderful. Chosen, special, loved.




Let's explode for all time some pop culture and look at Archaeology.
God has built Archaeology to be a clue for the faithful.
A tool of seeing with wonder what God has done.
It will be rare when something of Archaeology brings Salvation.
And yet, why would we ignore what others have found and in their experience - publish.








Home of Peter and Andrew in Capernaum. Next door to the Sea of Galilee and the Capernaum Synagogue. Became a House Church. Then had hundreds of pilgrims leave messages in the Plaster.

Peter and Andrew. Always looked for what God was doing. They were very aware of John the Baptist. Andrew knew from John about the Divinity of Christ. When we see their house, beside the Synagogue - we find plaster walls. A large home. Not a hut. Not something you'd find for dirty, illiterate men of little wisdom.

The spacious home of fishermen, was next door to the Synagogue - they knew kosher. Cleanliness. And water. See the Sea of Galilee.

Papyrus 46 which is owned by the University of Michigan. And lists 300 chapters of the New Testament in almost perfect condition. Argued over - are the verbs - 1st or 2nd Century?

Who was alive then? John the Beloved Disciple. A great historian called Polycarp. Polycarp was the Disciple of John the Beloved Disciple. Polycarp records John's approval after 'reading' the Gospels of Matthew, Mark (who wrote for Peter the greatest Chapters under popular discussion of Peter's recollections) and Luke (illiterate Physician?) - who stayed to the end with Peter and Paul.  Peter and Paul are historically recorded in Mamertine Prison as being imprisoned and executed for believing in Jesus Christ. Polycarp records literacy, among other useful information.












And so we leave Jerusalem, where 16 years after the death of Jesus, 340 years of Roman Emperor terror about Jesus Christ.  And 340 years later was still being investigated about 'that' Jesus as God. Unlike little Judea, which came to be known as Jesus' area. We leave and head to Syria - which was considered a Post worth having as a Roman Official.

And we look at  

ANTIOCH

You have your little Judea, your better Syria, but ahhhhhhhh Antioch. You've arrived. This is the Place. Beautiful Antioch. Twenty-one times the New Testament says 'Antiahhhhhhoch'.

Who was here?

1. Barnabas, Cousin to John Mark, Mark's gospel, with Peter to the end. Barnabas took some of the oldest Scripture to India.

2. Simeon who was called Niger, This is the Gospel. This is the first Civil Rights Movement. This man took the Gospel to Alexandria.

3. Lucius of Cyrene, Simeon probably traveled with Mr Libya. They are taking the Gospel to the Next Continent.

4. Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch  You are "Absolutely" in trouble for running around with Christian infidels if you are a pal of Herod. This Herod is Herod is Herod Antipas. A lesser known Herod? Oh noooo. This Herod is put on the throne by Census taking Emperor Augustus. Nephew of Caesar. King since 4 B.C. Married to his sister-in-law Herodias, this Herod is rather Touchy. One is in Danger traveling with the Christ Disciples

Giving a whole new meaning to - "Men the Roman Empire is upset who is running around Proclaiming Jesus as God."

5. Saul. Believe me, they were not grubbing around in Antioch. Paul was one of the best educated at the Temple by Gamaliel - himself. Paul had the best credentials.

Later...

6. John - This is the first man adopted by the incredible Sacrifice of Jesus. He is now the son of Mary, Mother of God. Plenty of courage. John stayed to the last breath of Jesus Christ.

These tile Mosaics - are they found in Judea - yes, thanks for thinking of this - yes, they are found in Caiaphas - High Priest Home. "Worship no 'Image'".

Antioch tells us - Living was not just hand to mouth. Not desperate times and desperate measures to worship "Something". Telling us just like Paul's superior education. Peter's superior style of living and gracious house.  Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch - not just the men who could squeak under the prosecution wire. Not just the outsiders.  The Light of Jesus Christ was reaching across Impossible Borders and Boundaries. Not just Susanna wife to Herod's Steward.





Antioch, northern Syria near the Turkish border. 300 B.C., Antioch was a very important political and cultural center of the Hellenistic East and one of the great metropolises of the Roman Empire.

Howard Crosby Butler, Princeton professor of Art and Archaeology and the founder of the School of Architecture, led a series of archaeological expeditions to Syria (1899-1900, 1904-5, and 1909). The collective aim was to record the remains of ancient buildings and settlements. The results of those expeditions were published in several volumes that remain standard research tools for the study of late antique architecture in Syria. Some of the buildings are from 200 A.D. He discovered a city blended from 200 A.D. to 500 A.D.

Although Antioch was mentioned in many literary sources, very little was known about the physical city until 1932, when a consortium of institutions led by Princeton University conducted the first of seven seasons of excavations that would eventually uncover a remarkable wealth of finds, expanding our knowledge of the metropolis and its culture. Despite the challenges posed by the fact that much of the ancient city had been buried by up to 10 meters of soil washed down from the slopes of Mount Silpios, which towers above the town at the east, the excavations there
and in the surrounding area were able to uncover the remains of more than
80 buildings,
including two theaters,
six public baths,
a hippodrome,
and two major churches.

In addition to these public buildings, some of the porticoed streets for which Antioch was famous in antiquity, were unearthed, along with numerous residential structures.

200 A. D.


Butler deemed this suburban residence a villa of a well-to-do family from nearby Bostra. The huge residence, measuring ca. 80 x 60 meters in plan, was later transformed into a village. Symmetrically organized around a central courtyard, the entire complex, including the residential wing, was enclosed by a high stone wall. The focus of the residential wing was a large (10 x 10 meters) two-story room, internally divided by a large arch resting on massive engaged piers. Probably introduced for structural reasons, internal transversal arches of this type became ubiquitous features of residential buildings in Syria.

These houses still had walls, 1700 years later. You can bet in Antioch, these visitors were not taken in lightly.

Now

Let's be real and frank. This is the statue of Minerva. Found as decoration for one of the Baths. 200 A.D. Just as archaeology does not create believers, not all people adored Jesus and flocked to Christ. What's the point in bringing this up? We see the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles have amazing, spectacular miracles. And many people think - well, God has gone to sleep. No matter the time, no matter the season, no matter the Disciple, Prophet, Preacher or Teacher - Jesus God told us, we will always have difficulties in this life. Jesus told us to expect some are wheat - some are weeds.

And with Love - bring forth the God of Love. The God of Encouragement. Our Father God Lives. Abba is working, Jesus, too, and His Word is the power upholding the universe, the galaxy, this planet and our very lives.




Our Abba,

From the first of the Gospels we find out:

Luke 1:37
For nothing will be impossible with God.

From the time of Kings

2 Chronicles 15:7
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

Isaiah saw Jesus 700 years ahead. He was not part of the New Covenant. And proclaimed:

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

And with this courage and this faith. We will believe 5% of life is in our control. About 95% is faith. Meaning we are flowers of the field and God alone is God. Prayer is really our most important work and brings forth our children and the people we love. The people we are given. And the people we hardly know or will see again. Prayer is the force changing hearts and calling up the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Abba, You alone are God. And in Your Great Love and Tender Mercy. God of Love and Encouragement, we tenderly place our cares for our loved ones, the people You have given us, our own concerns, our hearts and souls, the things we think are dire today and maybe not in a year. The issues of supreme importance. And give a moment of thought of Thanks for Your answers we have experienced. And will know. Wrapping with great care- Your Love around our workplaces, Schools, Churches, Cities, States, this Nation and cover the Creation with Your Love.

Knowing Your Tender Love for Edward, Steve, Paul, ears, Mother, Elaine, Jack, Maggie and Nick and the prayers you heard for Martha and Bill. For our beloved Children. Adult and child. For the dire prayer requests. For the laid back prayers.

We Entrust All this to Your Loving, Capable and Willing Hands. For Eternity begins today.


The riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 

That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.


Jesus bless us All in His Righteousness. Amen in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †