1. Actes 11:26 (NEG79)
  2. Explication du texte

How did Saul and Barnabas go about meeting with the church and teaching large numbers of people?

Actes 11:26 (NEG79)

26 et, l'ayant trouvé, il l'amena à Antioche. Pendant toute une année, ils se réunirent aux assemblées de l'Eglise, et ils enseignèrent beaucoup de personnes. Ce fut à Antioche que, pour la première fois, les disciples furent appelés chrétiens.

In Jerusalem, the temple precinct was a natural gathering place for public teaching and discussion. Even so, most of the church met together in homes (Acts 2:42–47). Assuming that this same model was also continued in Antioch, then Saul and Barnabas would have met with believers in homes. No doubt they were also active at the local synagogue. In either case, evangelism and Christian discipleship go together.1 As believers are instructed in the faith, they invite others to come and join them in learning more about Christ. The fact that Saul and Barnabas are able to teach for a year also suggests that they were supported by the church with financial gifts to enable them to do this work.2