Acts 12:1-3 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
 
AS we’ve noted, the early church’s story describes a time of fruitful harvest and peace. Then it moves to accounts of persecution and death as in Stephen’s and now James’ executions. James’ martyrdom seems to coincide with the church’s growth in Antioch. Government rulers can affect the church one way or another. We all live under such authorities who can persecute the church or allow it to prosper. We must pray and strive for godly leaders to permit the church to grow under the Spirit’s direction.
   The persecuting leader in Jerusalem was Herod Antipas I. He is the grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled Jerusalem when Jesus was born. He is another in a long list of Herods who ruled different regions of Israel. Herod Agrippa I died in 44 A.D. So we know James’ tragic death was within 10 years after Jesus’ ascension.
   We can never truly understand the ways God works to direct some to martyrdom and some to a long life of service. The brothers James and John illustrate both. James’ death was a very different outcome than he and John had envisioned for their lives. Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.”
   Jesus told James and John that to share in his glory they must first share in his suffering. James died for the gospel, suffering the same cup of suffering Jesus had suffered. John suffered persecution and torture throughout his long life. The suffering cup is a common drink for Jesus’ disciples.
   How do we respond to such a price for our faith? We begin by focusing on Jesus. Your salvation is the reason for his suffering. He has experienced the extreme humiliation and agony of a rejected life and tortuous death, so we may know the joy of our salvation wrapped in his eternal glory.
   Always direct your eyes to your eternal home: Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.  
   Discipleship’s cost is a bargain for heaven’s eternal glory. 

Acts 11:22-26 News of (God’s work in Antioch) reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
 
WOULD God describe you as a “good person”? This is how the Spirit-inspired text describes Barnabas. But does this conflict with Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.”
   Jesus’ point in his teaching was to direct us to the commands about our relationship with one another. Mark 10:19 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” Our good God has graciously established the law to reveal the right way, the good way, of living in harmony with each other. Because Barnabas is full of the Spirit, he diligently strived to obey God’s good commands.
   That’s why the church leaders sent Barnabas to Antioch. The apostles, who are the personal witnesses of Jesus’ good ministry, trusted Barnabas to correctly represent them in Antioch. Barnabas possessed the character to relate with all people. He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord.
   Barnabas was also good because he was full of faith. Barnabas knew he needed to help expand God’s work in Antioch. So he went to nearby Tarsus to get Saul. Barnabas had been instrumental in helping Saul gain the apostles’ confidence (Acts 9:27). Together the two of them could teach great numbers of people. Barnabas loved the Lord, and the text indicates he genuinely loved God’s people. We note this is where “Christian” began to describe Jesus’ followers. Is it because Barnabas and the others were good at representing the Christ to the Jews and Gentiles?
   To be good is to pursue God with wisdom and faithfulness. Jesus said in Matthew 12:35a “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him.” Know God’s commands. Then release the good into the world. Let your words and ways reflect God’s good commands. Barnabas wasn’t perfect, and none of us are. But we can help people know God is good as we strive in faith to live in the Spirit’s power.
 
Remember Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law… 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.