Antioch became a missions base or world outreach base. If we take a closer look, Antioch was actually a local church. If the base is not a local church, then it is not going to last.

There are some characteristics of the base in Antioch we want to see because we're going to see the same thing in the bases or churches of the last days.

Antioch was the prototype from which the other bases were modeled. We can only duplicate what we've already seen. Paul said, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do..." (Phil. 4:9).

So the base is going to be a local church with a strong flow of the Word and a powerful move of the Spirit. It will be a place saturated in prayer, the gifts of the Spirit, and demonstrations of the Holy Spirit.

People will come to receive, learn, hear, and then pick up a log from the fire and head for another location to duplicate the same thing!

In Acts 11 we read:

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch....
(Acts 11:19-26)

Notice we have a group of radicals: people who don't seem to fit anywhere else. Their message was, "The Gospel is not for the Jews only, but for everyone."

Verse 19 tells us they had preached in Phenice, Cyprus, and a number of other places besides Antioch, but when they found Paul, they brought him back to Antioch. Why?

What was it about Antioch that was different than any other place? Antioch was the place that touched nations! Antioch had a heart to touch the world. Those who were a part of the base in Antioch took the Gospel out and did not keep it confined to one particular group or location.

Then in verse 26, "...And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people." Again, a base has to be a local church.

For an entire year Barnabas and Saul assembled with the church and taught the people. It sounds as though they had a one-year Bible study, almost like a school.

So we can see the base had a strong teaching center. And the people they taught were not just considered disciples, they were Christians. "...And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (vs. 26).

They didn't stay "babies" for long; they grew in the things of the God to the point they were called "Christians" or "Christ-like."

Copyright © 2003 Mark Brazee Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.