Acts 11:27-30 ~ When Sin Shows Its Ugly Face

Acts 11:27-30

Now in the days of these [disciples] came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch. One of them, standing up, named Agabus, signified by the Spirit that a great famine was going to be throughout the whole world, because of what became of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, according to how each one was prospering, designated his relief to be sent for those brethren dwelling in Judea, as it also had been done for them, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (MAST) Now in the days of these [disciples] came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch. (MAST) Prophets from Jerusalem were used to courier messages back and forth in order to keep up with the news that was quickly spreading as a result of advancing the gospel, and to protect the local church from any unnecessary backlash and persecution from Roman and/or Jewish authorities. In other words, they wanted to stay ahead of the game, and be on top of the current events. But these prophets also preached the gospel as they would do this, and so these prophets were like traveling evangelists that were freed up from the slavery of serving as a pastor of one particular church. They were, however, subjected to the mother/founding church in Jerusalem, out of which they were born; and they would do this in aid of the Apostles until the government of the local church plant was self-sustaining. Some charismatics, however, want to argue that these prophets were greater in power and authority than the Apostles because of a personal ability to foresee events. But this really doesn’t hold up to other texts of Scripture. Nevertheless, these prophets did have a unique ability to foresee danger by using wise discernment, being able to understand the news that traveled through these couriers working and praying together to establish certain facts. In other words, because they traveled from city to city they were able to hear every angle of the news and the plans of how the local officials would respond to such news. Therefore, most likely, these weren’t charismatic prophets that received secret revelations by angels or visions. They were just 'in a position' to interpret events with precise accuracy, coordinating their privileged information. We also need to notice how Luke identifies “these days.” Luke is pointing out for us the historical time period, as it was connected to those particular disciples that were called Christians in the previous verse [ταύταις δὲ], and how "these days" are the logical connective to the historical event(s) concerning Claudius Caesar. Therefore, whatever the event was, regarding Claudius, it occurred during "these days." The phrase οστις και [because of what] is "relative" to "the days" of "the thing" that became of Claudius (v.28). Therefore, the question must be asked: "What happened to Claudius in these days?" It may be referring to the beginning of his reign. According to Hutchison's studies the Empire was in distress during his reign: Classical writers report that the reign of Claudius was, from bad harvest or other causes, a period of general distress and scarcity over the whole world (Dio Cassius lx.11; Suetonius Claudius 18; Tacitus Ann. xi.4; xiii.43). Hutchison, J. (1979–1988). Claudius. In G. W. Bromiley (Ed.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Vol. 1, p. 717). Wm. B. Eerdmans. The Bible doesn't give us "the what" or "the cause" of this famine in particular, but it does expect a famine to be the result of these events, whatever they may be, surrounding Claudius. His initiation as the next Caesar would most likely cause another round of taxation that would further rob the Jewish farming industry of the ability to care for and protect the harvests of her own lands, bringing further poverty to the region of Judea. Scripture doesn't specify the events, but we can be certain that whatever these events, they had their connection to the reign of Claudius.

One of them, standing up, named Agabus, signified by the Spirit that a great famine was going to be throughout the whole world, because of what became of Claudius Caesar. (MAST) For those who believe the church and the Apostles operated like a private Federal bank are mistaken. We find here that some of the Jerusalem saints, specifically the ones who preached, would travel, not to spy on the other churches like the Circumcision party, but to courier mail back and forth between the Christian churches. These were those who most likely brought the first news to Jerusalem from Antioch (v.22), concerning the division over ethnic issues, and to share that some were stepping up to reconcile their issues through the Word. This called for Barnabas to help Antioch order it. And so Barnabas was sent by the authority of the Jerusalem church, but the focus on these particular prophets show us that these were given a wider freedom to act on their own free-will. This helped the local church from the unnecessary burdens of carrying the politics of the Circumcision party and the like. Some of these prophets may have been operating off of the trust fund that was first formed to boost the growth of the church, and to build the infrastructure that would balance and stabilize its sphere of authority laid down by God. How this was formed specifically I cannot know. But what we do know is that the Word was the authority that shaped this infrastructure. Nevertheless, the financial success of the local church was not subject to other churches. In other words, it wasn’t a tax based system; it was a faith based system. It wasn't built according to the Old Covenant made with Israel, which was first and foremost a national covenant, built according to a system of "tithing/taxation." However, each church was subject to the Word of God. And the Word calls on them to help “their brethren” in need. And so this wasn’t at the authority of some private and elite group of Arch-bishops, as though they were a Synod of senators and governors, who were given the authority to tax one church for the sake of another. For the news came not from Barnabas (often viewed as an Apostle) but from the prophets, particularly this Agabus, who had to prove this need by the Holy Spirit. This demonstrates that there were spheres of authority even within the local church.

He wasn’t some secret IRS agent, who was sent out on the jealous authority of a smaller church, demanding equality with other churches like our State representatives often do. No! These prophets had to prove why they needed aid for the persecuted saints in Jerusalem. They weren’t bickering over who got what from a Federal trust fund. The business of the church grew (or fell) upon the sovereign will of God; and therefore, the local church wasn’t too big to fail. The local church is only meant to be like "the plant" that was a temporary shade for Jonah's head, but also at the expense of God's sovereignty, being able to be plucked up (Jonah 4:6-7). The gates of hell, however, cannot restrain the operation of the Holy Spirit in the universal church. And make no mistake, the church was a "for profit" institution, but it wasn't based on the motive of securing the financial success of the "local" church. It was motivated to plant churches in every nation, every tribe, and in every tongue; and the Spirit would "secure" only those churches that were abiding in the Word of Christ through the Holy Spirit (Rev.3:20,22).

You could say the "profit" of the church was the miracle shekel to pay the temple tax from the mouth of the fish that Peter was commanded to seek. Therefore, the church is not, nor has been, a "not-for-profit" institution. It's very existence is to "create" the temple tax out of the free-will offerings of its members, thus making a tremendous distinction between the Old and New Covenants in its operation and function. The profits that a local church "produced" was to "produce" more local churches by giving its neighboring community the spiritual education and life that was necessary for the them to thrive together, both now and forever.

Therefore, the persecution that usually arose wasn’t over money (grants) handed down through Caesar’s Federal household, but over the families leaving the temples of the idols. Most of the commerce was centered around these idols, from the education of a child to his adulthood. Therefore, when a family left, income was lost. It was now, therefore, an economic competition over particular religious educations and the sale of these molded idols. But Caesar didn’t promise to protect the cities from "monetary" religious persecution; only from invasion and civil uprisings. Therefore, the local governments were free to put these Christians to trial through their own laws, but most were just silenced through forced labor as slaves and "strangers." Jews, however, were free to set up their own local governments (Rom.2:22). And so we find the Circumcision "party" at odds with the politics of the Christians. For they wanted to take over Rome through political means instead of through spiritual reformation (Rom.2:23-24). And so it was the Christian "party" that desired a separation of charity and state in order to have true religious liberty and freedom of conscience. We also get a glimpse into the religious segregation of these towns and cities in this. We don't see this today because our (the American) constitution "has evolved" into promising to protect "monetary" religious freedom and speech, teaching that all these institutions are too big to fail. Matthew 17:24–27 (NKJV) 24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” Therefore, the church should not ask its government to permit it to be a tax free exemption; if we truly want to dwell together in the land of its idolatry, the church should pay the sin/sales tax like everyone else (Rom.2:21-22;6:23). God has given the church to "every nation" in order to be salt and light in the moral decay and darkness of this world system; and as a well of living water to the those left out in a weary desert to die of thirst; and as the bread of life in a empty field raped of its harvest to hunger in the wake of the gods who have forsaken its people for their own pride and lust for power. And therefore, to reform government is to recognize the separation of charity and state. Government (of the people) is used by God as a necessary evil to restrain anarchy (Rom.3:5), but it was never intended to be used as a charity. Its sole purpose was created for justice (Rom.13:3), but it doesn't have to be an ungodly injustice (Rom.13:6), as it was in the days of the Caesars who raped the land and its inhabitants of life and liberty. Surely, upon the guilty it was a justice, but justice without mercy is loveless. 2 Thessalonians 2:3–7 (NKJV) 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. This can be rather ambiguous and hard to understand. But it appears that there are things that can be called God which are not God. So what Paul means here, are those means by which God works through to interact with His people; things like the church, charity, earthly governments, and even private business. These things by themselves are not God, but when they are used to represent God’s character and attributes, they become the means of worshiping God. When the Holy Spirit is the Head that governs these "individual" entities, God’s attributes are clearly displayed, but when these things are usurped by the man of sin, they become worthless to God. And therefore, the strictest application of the man of sin limits this to one individual who exalts himself above these entities, and not just one of them, but all of them together. But my point here is to differentiate between the institutions in there operation and function, each having their own liberty and restraint. Before Claudius took over the reign of Caligula there was an attempt to demonstrate this point. Caligula had placed a statue of himself in rebellion to the Jewish authorities, declaring himself to be the God of all gods, exalting his sphere over the entire empire; and this most likely is what led to his assassination, offending not only the Jews, but also the other Greco-Roman temples .

The church was given to train and educate men (and women) about true godliness under the God of gods. But by making a distinction between the two institutions, there is room for each to freely function according to God's design. Each being a leg of authority; not one above another, but along aside each other; so that it promotes the growth of the society in godliness and holiness before Yahweh the Lord. These two legs of self-government, when in unity under the one and the same heavenly authority, truly make for an image in reflection of God.

Then the disciples, according to how each one was prospering, designated his relief to be sent for those brethren dwelling in Judea, as it also had been done for them, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (MAST) The church's infrastructure was built on love/charity and generosity, not obligatory taxation (tithes), which is the force of justice (Rom.6:23). Agabus was empowered by the Holy Spirit "to signify," in the form of speech, the purpose to motivate the disciples of Antioch to store up money to this effect; to get the body of this local church involved in giving for the cause of the "greater" commission and institution of the church. Agabus must have done this through pouring his heart out (in truth). The text reveals that this was done (signified) through the Holy Spirit who cannot lie.

Remember that it was Ananias and Sapphira who were killed by the Holy Spirit for lying, and therefore Agabus cannot be motivating these people to give through deceptive words. The text, properly translated, gives us the motivation of their giving, for "it also had been done for them." In other words, Agabus explained/signified to them how the message came to them thus far. It came to them through the physical and monetary sacrifices of those in Jerusalem who are about to suffer famine (again) because of the "crowning" of the reign of Claudius. Because the Jews were "the lowest" on "the totem pole," they would have been forced to make the greatest sacrifices to carry this new burden. This wasn't a society built on just scales; it was survival of the strongest, and only the strong survived, and therefore it was the "Christians" who were the slaves that cultivated the hard clay of the earth.

Therefore, we see the church of Antioch "designating" their gift to specifically the Jerusalem church at the bottom of the totem pole. They were indebted to their love having been established by her sacrifices. But our focus should be that this designating of the gift means that each disciple had the free-will to "appoint" his gift for the purpose of which he desired. It wasn't a forced charity. Agabus, though acting on his own free-will, challenges them to give through the kindness and thanksgiving of his heart, having a love for his local church.

And though he was most likely a rich man in the carnal sense of the eye, having been "better off" through the trust fund that was created in the beginning "for the greater commission," was not the recipient of these "designated" gifts. Notice that only Barnabas and Saul were sent back to Jerusalem, under the authority of the church of Antioch, to present this gift. Agabus, though trusted to receive his challenging words, was not trusted to take this gift back to Jerusalem. Why not just let Agabus return with the gift and let Barnabas and Saul begin their missionary journey from Antioch? Because the church is not a "private" Federal Reserve Bank that is too big to fail. Private business cannot be trusted for this means, for the temptation is too great to protect the personal "trust fund" instead of the souls redeemed by the blood of our Lord. We are not redeemed by the face of man, but by the face of God.

Barnabas and Saul proved themselves to the Christians in Antioch by working along side them, face to face, while they were storing up such a gift of love and thanksgiving. Therefore they alone were entrusted and sent with authority to deliver this gift. Doesn't this just make for good accountability? It separates bias government and increases genuine love and genuine trust. Matthew 6:1–4 (NKJV) 1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Our current government does a disservice to this text, requiring of us to give them the reward of our secret giving, and granting themselves the authority of the Father, robbing Him of the glory of the face of His reward. They have placed themselves in the Father's seat to "reward" us openly for our giving. This is blasphemy! and contrary to what our fathers promised us in the true understanding of separation of charity and state. If the church doesn't condemn this unjust practice, it has returned to "primitive" thinking and has lost all civility.

Luke 3:4–17 (NKJV) 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” 7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” 15 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”