29 May. Paul and Barnabas take aid from Antioch to Jerusalem
"About that time [in 44AD] some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Holy Spirit. He said, 'A very hard time is coming to the whole [Mediterranean] world. There will be no food to eat.' (This happened when [the Roman emperor] Claudius [who invaded Britain in 43AD] ruled.)"
"The believers [at Antioch in Syria] all decided to help the followers who lived in [Jerusalem and throughout] Judea, as much as each one could. They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who brought it to the elders in Judea..."
"After Barnabas and Saul finished their task in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark [who was Barnabas's nephew] with them."
"In the church at Antioch there were these prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger) [i.e. a black Christian], Lucius (from the city of Cyrene) [in Libya, in north Africa], Manaen (who had grown up with Herod [Agrippa] the ruler and Saul [whose Greek name was Paul]."
"They were all worshipping the Lord and gave up eating for a certain time [by fasting]. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, 'Set aside for me Barnabas and Saul [Paul] to do a special work for which I have chosen them."
"So after they had given up eating and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out."
(Acts 11:27-30; 12:25; 13:1-3)
During their year based in Antioch (43-44AD), Barnabas and Paul travelled to Jerusalem, taking a gift from the believers in Antioch for the members of the Jerusalem church who were suffering because of a famine. This is the first recorded instance of Christian aid being sent to believers in another part of the world.
We know that this Biblical reference is accurate as King Herod Agrippa is recorded in other contemporary records as dying while Paul and Barnabas were in Jerusalem in 44AD (see also Acts 12:19-23).
When Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch, they took with them John Mark, who was a young man in his late teens at the time (see Acts 12:12) and who was Barnabas's young nephew.
After two more years teaching in Antioch, Barnabas and Paul, accompanied by John Mark, were sent by the church in Antioch to Cyprus in 46AD. They were the first Christian missionaries to be sent overseas.
Luke tells us that Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were "set aside" to do a special work. The word meaning "set aside" - 'hagia' (in Greek), 'sancta' (in Latin) - is the word we often translate as "holy". It's the same word we use to describe "saints" i.e. those who are "holy" or "set aside" to do God's special work. That, of course, should include ALL Christians. All followers of Jesus are special. We are "holy" - "set aside", the "saints" whom God has chosen to do his work here on earth.
The photo shows the Ulu Cami (the Great Mosque) of Antioch from Rana Bridge which crosses the River Orontes in Antakya in Turkey (Biblical 'Antioch in Syria').
You can read more about Antioch @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/the-gentile-church-at-an…/.