T(r)oy's Marbles
cyrene's pioneers (6th part)
Previously, in another part of the world
You recall that Saul had approved of Stephen’s death. And you recall that a group of Cyrenian Jews instigated the stoning. Finally, you recall that the stoning of Stephen spawned a whole campaign of persecution, driving believers to the far reaches of the known world.
There was one person in particular who kept dogging the believers wherever they went. This person was Saul. On one occasion, Saul was making his way to Damascus to arrest and perhaps kill some other believers. That’s when the Lord Jesus miraculously appeared to Saul and changed his life.
Thankfully, Ananias was there. He ministered to the new convert and Saul gained a new kind of strength. Because of this, Saul was able to give testimony to the Jews in Damascus that Jesus was, indeed, alive. This was a remarkable turnaround for a man who had come to Damascus to kill and arrest people who were preaching that very message. This disturbed the Jews in Damascus, so they threatened to kill Saul. The believers, however, helped Saul escape to Jerusalem.
“When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him…But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.” With Barnabas’ encouragement, Saul was able to testify in Jerusalem as well.
After some time, however, Barnabas took Saul to Tarsus. While Saul was there in Tarsus, Peter had his vision and the core brothers in Jerusalem had given their assent that salvation was not just for Jews but for Gentiles as well. Then, while Saul was still in Tarsus, the Cyrenian believers had taken the gospel to Antioch and had seen a large number of Gentiles believe. Barnabas visited Antioch to see what happened, and, in his customary style, he encouraged them in their work.
That’s when Barnabas had an idea: “I must bring Saul to see this. I must bring Saul to Antioch.” I wonder: did Barnabas want to bring Saul to Antioch to show Saul what his persecution unwittingly caused? After all, the Cyrenian believers were in Antioch partly because of Saul and the persecutions he used to lead.
Whatever Barnabas may have been thinking, we do know that he went back to Tarsus and promptly returned to Antioch—this time with Saul.
Saul and Barnabas in Antioch
“For a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church [in Antioch] and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)
So many “firsts”! The first martyr sparks the first organized persecution of believers—all because of Cyrenian Jews. The first city to gain Gentile believers in large numbers was Antioch—all because of the Cyrenian believers. And now... “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch”—all because of the Cyrenian believers again!
It turns out that here at Antioch, under the influence of these remarkable believers from Cyrene, Saul would receive his commissioning to become the first missionary to the Gentiles. We read about this in Acts 13:
“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene…and Saul. 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.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
On their first stop, we find out that Saul’s name has been changed to Paul and the rest, as they say, is history.
The conclusion of the matter
If the story of redemption begins with a little known man from Cyrene assisting the Lord Jesus on his trip to Golgotha, it ends with Simon’s immediate and extended family. It’s interesting to note that (from beginning to end) these are the people who receive so little recognition for doing so much. The Cyrene unbelievers started a firestorm of persecution in the stoning of Stephen which caused the followers of Jesus to grow as the Cyrene believers took the gospel to Antioch. And, in Antioch, Saul became Paul—all because of these Cyrene believers. Even Paul acknowledges his debt to them when he writes this concerning Simon of Cyrene’s son and wife, some time after his commissioning: “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.”
His greeting is significant, even if it is hidden in a long list of salutations. Pity that it sort of gets lost in the grander stories we all know so well. But something tells me: That’s just how the Cyrenian believers would have wanted it.
teachings | Comments (0) | July 02, 2005