“Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who were sent to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles. about the Lord Jesus. The power of the the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And may were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas wen to Tarsus to look for Saul. when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed with the church a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was the church in Antioch that the believers were first called Christians).” (Acts 11, vv. 19-26, NLT)