Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

Scripture Reading — Acts 11:19-26

Those who had been scattered by the persecution . . . traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.
— Acts 11:19

For the past few days we have been tracking the spread of the gospel as recorded in the book of Acts. Jesus had said that his followers would be his witnesses in Judea and Samaria and beyond, “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In our reading for today we can see that the gospel spread further to the city of Antioch, which was about 300 miles (500 km) from Jerusalem.

There was also something else going on. When Jesus’ followers came to Antioch, they at first spread the word only to Jews, who shared their cultural and religious background. This was natural, of course, but the Spirit would not be held down! Some leaders also began sharing the gospel with Greeks, who did not have the background or traditions of the Jewish faith. And with that we see both Jews and Gentiles welcomed into the family of God.

Today we are able to witness and celebrate the gospel at work all over the world, expressed in a multitude of languages and cultures. Indeed, as Jesus said, the good news has spread “to the ends of the earth.”

When I am with brothers and sisters from across the globe, I am also humbly reminded that North America represents “the ends of the earth” to them. I need the gospel to resonate from them to me too.

Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us to be your witnesses not only in our own area but also to the ends of the earth. Bless all who serve you around the world. Amen.

Written by: Kevin DeRaaf