Jesus was preached at
Antioch, and a great number believed_, &c., Acts xi. 21. 2. Upon
_Barnabas's_ preaching there, _much people was added to the Lord_, Acts
xi. 24. 3. _Barnabas_ and _Saul_ for a year together taught much people
there, and disciples there so mightily multiplied, that there Christ's
disciples first received the eminent and famous denomination of
CHRISTIANS, and so were and still are called throughout the whole world,
Acts xi. 25, 26.

2. From the multitudes of prophets and preachers that ministered at
Antioch. For, 1. Upon the dispersion of the Jews at Jerusalem, _divers
of them (being men of Cyprus and Cyrene) preached the Lord Jesus at
Antioch_, Acts xi. 20; here must be three or four preachers at least,
otherwise they would not be _men of Cyprus and Cyrene_. 2. After this
_Barnabas_ was sent to preach at Antioch; there is a fifth, Acts xi.
22-24. 3. _Barnabas_ finds so much work at _Antioch_, that he goes to
Tarsus to bring _Saul_ thither to help him; there is a sixth, ver. 25,
26. 4. Besides these, _there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch in
those days_; there are at least two more, viz. eight in all, Acts xi.
27, 28. 4. Further, besides _Barnabas_ and _Saul_, three more teachers
are named, viz. _Simon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen_, Acts
xii. 1-3. 6. Yea, "Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and
preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also," Acts xv. 35. Now
sum up all, what a multitude of believers, and what a college of
preachers were here at Antioch! How is it possible that all these
preachers should bustle themselves about one congregation (and doubtless
they abhorred idleness) in dispensing the ordinances of Christ to them
only? or how could so many members meet in one single congregation at
once, ordinarily to partake of all ordinances?

III. The church of Ephesus (_in Asia Minor_, Acts xix. 22) had in it
more congregations than one: For,

1. The number of prophets and preachers at Ephesus were many. _Paul_
continued there _two years and three months_, Acts xix. 8, 10; and
_Paul_ settled there about twelve _disciples who prophesied_, Acts xix.
1, 6, 7. And how should these thirteen ministers be employed, if there
were not many congregations? Compare also Acts xx. 17, 28, 36, 37, where
it is said of the bishops of Ephesus, that "Paul kneeled down and prayed
with them all, and they all wept sore." Here is a good number implied.

2. The gift of tongu