February 1, 2026
When Believers Pursue the Great Commission the Enemy Attempts to Stop Us by Attacking Us. But Believers who REFUSE to BACKDOWN see God BACK THEM UP!
Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. New King James Version
Peter is mentioned for the last time in Acts 15:7 at the Jerusalem Council. God used him to open the door to the non-Jews, and then his work was done, and Paul becomes the central Church leader of the spreading of the gospel and teaching of doctrine. Peter stayed in Jerusalem being the Apostle of the Jewish Christian Church. In today’s text God is changing the headquarters of the church from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire and had a population of around 500,000. It was an ocean front city located in modern day Turkey. It was positioned to launch missionaries around the world. It was the most ethnically diverse city in the ancient world. It was made up of Greeks, Romans, Syrians, Arabs, Persians, Africans, Jews, and others. It was also an economic powerhouse.
God chose Jerusalem to start the church, and then He chose Antioch to be the missionary sending new headquarters of the church. Jerusalem’s limitations were a strong Jewish nationalism, temple-centered thinking, and cultural resistance to Gentile inclusion.
Why God Moved His Church Headquarters
This was not abandonment of Jerusalem, but advancement beyond it.
Acts 11:19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. New King James Version
Acts 11:22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. New King James Version
Acts 11:25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. New King James Version
Acts 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas (Jewish), Simeon who was called Niger (African), Lucius of Cyrene (from modern day Libya), Manaen (Jewish) who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (Eventually he only uses his Roman name, Paul. Jewish). 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. New King James Version
Acts 13:6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus (The Roman governor of this region), an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. New King James Version
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said,“O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. New King James Version
Acts 13:12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. New King James Version
Acts 13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. New King James Version
Acts 13:44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. New King James Version
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” New King James Version
Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord
Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. New King James Version
Acts 14:19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. . New King James Version
Acts 12:12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. New King James Version
Acts 12:3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. New King James Version
The church was praying for him to be released (Acts 12:5). Peter was sleeping in jail, and angel came and his chains fell off and the angel walked him out (Acts 12:6-11). Then he goes to the house where they’re praying for him, and they didn’t believe it was him (Acts 12:12-17). This made Herod very upset.
Acts 12:21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. New King James Version
Acts 15:1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. New King James Version
Acts 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” New King James Version
Acts 15:19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” New King James Version
Acts 15:35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. New King James Version
Acts 15:36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed (Greek: abandon, desert, remove from a commitment) from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. New King James Version
Acts 15:39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. New King James Version