“The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.”
Acts 11:21 (NLT)
Luke is taking us into the story of the church that blossoms in Antioch. While Peter has been doing this ministry in Caesarea, believers who were scattered from Jerusalem during the persecution brought on by Saul went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. And these believers that had been scattered, they preached the Word of God. It’s a reminder that in the early church, it’s pretty clear everybody knew the call to tell the Good News and actually did it.
Acts 11:20 shows a turning point in this ministry. Some believers from Cyprus and Cyrene notice the Gentiles and begin preaching the Lord Jesus to them. Luke doesn’t even give us their names. They aren’t part of the original apostles. They’re not big shots. It’s a no-name ministry. Just everyday believers who wouldn’t abandon their faith, even if it meant being scattered. And they looked at people who didn’t know Jesus with love, because they knew Gentiles needed Jesus too.
Then verse 21 tells us the secret ingredient: “The power of the Lord was with them.” Or, the hand of the Lord was with them. That language shows up when God is empowering someone for fruit beyond their ability. Luke 1 says the hand of the Lord was with John the Baptist. Genesis 39 shows the hand of the Lord with Joseph in Potiphar’s house, where everything he did was successful and blessed. That’s what I see in Antioch too. When the power of the Lord is present, that means Holy Spirit is doing the work, partnering with the faith in the room and the love in the room for those far away from God.
So here’s my prayer today: that another no-name ministry would pop up in your workplace, in your home, in your church, and in your community. It will occur when the ministry is not about you, but about Jesus, and when it becomes about Holy Spirit working through us (not us doing the work). Yield to the Holy Spirit placed in you and upon you today. Love the people who feel farthest from you. And watch what happens. Holy Spirit WILL come and mix with our faith, then a large number will turn to the Lord again.