Black Men were Leaders in the Early Church
Acts 11:19-26; 13:1-3
There have been and still are big lies propagated about Christianity and black people.
Eurocentric teaching presents Christ as a white man, leading some to think Christianity is a white man’s religion.
That black people were introduced to Christianity on the slave plantations.
History contradicts the lie that the earliest churches were started in North Africa.
Church in Carthage (North Africa) under the leadership of Tertullian (C. 130-202)
Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
Athanasius and Augustine were African-born, which was a hub for early theological development.
The Holy Bible contradicts this lie: Acts 11:20 & 13:1
Not only did Black people know about Christ and His church, but they were instrumental in the spread of Christianity throughout the known world.
Black men were leaders in the early church; they took part in the shaping of theology.
They were prophets, pastors, preachers, and leaders in the early church.
Luke’s letter is dated around A.D. 60, which is 60 years after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven with the Father.
Time also contradicts the lie; particularly, black people did not know anything about Christianity until we arrived on the slave plantation.
In August 1619, the first slave ship arrived in Hampton, Virginia, and was traded to Jamestown, Virginia.
This is 1600 years after the 13th chapter of the Books of Acts.
I have presented enough historical evidence, Biblical evidence, and chronological evidence that one would not be deceived by this lie to get black people out of the Lord’s church.
God entrusted black people with His Word to change the world.
Black people were instrumental in God’s plan for humanity.
Black people’s worth and value are found in God
Barnabas reports in verse 23, “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.”
The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch!!!
The church they led was like Christ, because the pastors were like Christ!
Eurocentric teaching presents Christ as a white man, leading some to think Christianity is a white man’s religion.
That black people were introduced to Christianity on the slave plantations.
History contradicts the lie that the earliest churches were started in North Africa.
Church in Carthage (North Africa) under the leadership of Tertullian (C. 130-202)
Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
Athanasius and Augustine were African-born, which was a hub for early theological development.
The Holy Bible contradicts this lie: Acts 11:20 & 13:1
Not only did Black people know about Christ and His church, but they were instrumental in the spread of Christianity throughout the known world.
Black men were leaders in the early church; they took part in the shaping of theology.
They were prophets, pastors, preachers, and leaders in the early church.
Luke’s letter is dated around A.D. 60, which is 60 years after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven with the Father.
Time also contradicts the lie; particularly, black people did not know anything about Christianity until we arrived on the slave plantation.
In August 1619, the first slave ship arrived in Hampton, Virginia, and was traded to Jamestown, Virginia.
This is 1600 years after the 13th chapter of the Books of Acts.
I have presented enough historical evidence, Biblical evidence, and chronological evidence that one would not be deceived by this lie to get black people out of the Lord’s church.
Black men leaders in the early church!
- Black men are powerful preachers- 11:20-21
- Black preacher’s ministry impacted their world- vs. 22-23
- Black men are great pastors leading people to be like Christ- vs. 13:1-2
God entrusted black people with His Word to change the world.
Black people were instrumental in God’s plan for humanity.
Black people’s worth and value are found in God
- Black men are powerful preachers- vs. 11:20-21
Cyrene is in North Africa“And some of them were men of Cyress and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.”
- Being black is not what made their preaching powerful; it was the content of their preaching.
- It was not name it and claim it.
- It was not call it and haul it.
- Power preaching is proclaiming Jesus as Lord.
- Powerful preaching is explaining why Jesus is Lord.
- It is God, the Holy Spirit, who makes preaching powerful!
- Powerful preaching brings sinners to the Savior, and He saves them.
- They were called by God, empowered by God, and used by God.
- Black preacher’s ministry impacted their world- vs.22-23
“Then tiding 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.”
- Black preacher’s preaching was evangelistic in nature.
- Evangelism was the focus of these preachers.
- They were concerned about souls being saved.
- Not a get-rich scheme.
- Their ministry sounded loudly throughout the regions and reached Jerusalem.
- Effective ministry of souls being saved draws the attention of the saints and sinners.
- The Jerusalem church sends Barnabus to check out the awesome work of these black preachers.
Barnabas reports in verse 23, “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.”
- Barnabas got excited seeing black men at work with the grace of God upon them.
- Black men are great pastors leading people to be like Christ- vs. 13:1-2
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul."
- Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen were black men whom God trusted with pastoring a large church.
- These black men were prophets and teachers.
- Prophet is one who God talks to and talks through.
- Teacher is one who teaches what God has taught him.
- These black men were mighty men who served a mighty God.
- They were effective and efficient pastors who made a difference at the Antioch church.
- They were purpose-driven pastors who understood God’s plan to make us like Christ.
- Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren.”
The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch!!!
The church they led was like Christ, because the pastors were like Christ!
