Finding Saul

Today’s reading: Acts 11

“Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to find Saul.” - Acts 11:25

The experience in Caesarea was just the beginning for Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus. Primitive Christian missionaries from Cyprus and Cyrene made a bold move to go preach in Antioch. This city had experienced rapid growth and became the third largest city in the Roman Empire (around 500,000 people) — only behind Rome and Alexandria.

The Gospel found readied soil there. “Large numbers” is used twice to describe the work there. Barnabas was sent there from Jerusalem and helped to compound the growth.

Yet Barnabas doesn’t become content in the experience. He knows how to blow this thing wide open. He has to get Saul of Tarsus (now 12 years into his Christian life).

How many of us would have wanted to absorb the credit? Barnabas thought much bigger than that, and as we will see from this time on — it would help the entire Roman Empire hear about Jesus.

May we release others into leadership to promote further growth!