Acts 11:19-30 - Developments In The Church In Antioch
19 Now the fugitives from the persecution that started over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to none but Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks too, and proceeded to tell them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 Now the news about them came to the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and so they sent Barnabas all the way to Antioch. 23 When he reached there and saw the spiritual blessing God had given them, he was delighted, and continuously encouraged them all with hearty purpose to continue to be devoted to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. So a large number of people were united to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went over to Tarsus to search out Saul, 26 and after he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now for a whole year their meeting with the church lasted, and they taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch too that the disciples first came to be known as "Christians."
27 At that time some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch, 28 and one of them named Agabus got up and, through the Holy Spirit, foretold that there was going to be a great famine all over the world, which occurred in the reign of Claudius. 29 So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each in proportion to his prosperity, to help the brothers who lived in Judea. 30 And this they did and sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.