Acts 13:4-5 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
 
THE Spirit has set Barnabas and Saul apart from the others in Antioch. We might think they are traveling on a long journey. Isn’t that what missionaries do? Not necessarily.
   The team, including John Mark, first stops in Seleucia, which was very close to Antioch. From their they go to Cyprus, Barnabas’ home. Barnabas is a missionary in his home country.
   Barnabas and Saul’s mission field was essentially at home in the Jews’ synagogues. Saul, who will soon be known as Paul, had a reputation among the Jews as a well-learned Pharisee. Synagogue rulers welcomed traveling rabbis and Pharisees to teach. Jesus did this often. It was a place God had prepared for the speaking and hearing of his Word.
   Home is the mission field for all of us, isn’t it? The Spirit sets us apart from the world, saved into Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. Set apart into Jesus, we are then set apart in Jesus’ command to be his witnesses to the world. Sometimes a church sets apart people to go into local neighborhoods to tell the gospel. Others may go to serve a food pantry. Some gather in prayer and Bible study. Others are commissioned to ministry in another state or country. There are many ways the Spirit-empowered churches set apart people for mission. We simply need to stop and understand what God is doing.
   Your mission could be a few steps outside our home or in a nearby town. God may send someone into your home, work place or your home church to use you for his mission to evangelize the gospel. Will you listen and respond?
   But what happens if people oppose you, even hatefully reject you? When Paul began speaking the gospel message, the synagogue’s welcoming words became harsh accusations. In the same way they rejected Jesus, the ruling Jews often threatened and abused the evangelists. For example, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:25a Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned. As he faithfully responded to the Spirit’s call, Paul experienced Jesus’ severe purpose for his life: “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:16)
   Most of us have not suffered in Jesus’ name. But maybe we will if we follow Jesus far enough. If Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, the apostles and countless others throughout the ages had decided to “stay safe” in their faith, there would be no church. God, indeed, would be dead in the hearts of the world if those he had set apart had rejected his commands. Let’s be firm and courageous to be a missionary wherever we are.  

​Chosen
 
Acts 13:1-3 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
 
THE missional church is shifting from Jerusalem to Antioch. Remember Acts 11:26 The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. This is the church that had sent an offering to help the church in Jerusalem. God was expanding his kingdom into the nations. Because of its geography, the missional disciples could more easily move into Asia, Europe and Africa.
   Note the church leaders’ diverse backgrounds. Luke reminds us Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus, an island 100 miles from Antioch (Acts 4:36). Simeon was also a Jew, but his Latin nickname Niger indicates he was of dark complexion, and he lived in the Roman culture. Lucius was from Cyrene in North Africa (Acts 11:20). Manaen had been raised in the same court with Herod the tetrarch. This is the Herod who grew up to rule in Galilee. He is the one who beheaded John the Baptist, and shamefully treated Jesus at his trial. Consider God’s authority to choose. From the same culture, God chose Manaan to become a disciple; whereas Herod became God’s enemy!
   Then we come to Saul, the last to come to Antioch (Acts 11:26). We also know he was a Jew trained in Rabbinical schools and at first a passionate enemy of Jesus. Even so, Jesus had declared his purpose for Saul: Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”
   God had formed different men to grow up in different cultures. They had learned the ways of the world around them. Then they learned of Jesus, Son of God, Savior of all who believe. The LORD shaped these men into his purpose. Their hearts came to love God and love others. They are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
   Then God makes another choice. He sets apart Saul and Barnabas to a particular mission.
   All Christians are set apart. Each one of us is called to do the good work God has prepared for us. The work can be nearby or far away. When we are faithful to God’s call, the work is always with God.   
 

Acts 12:18-24 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
 
HEROD Agrippa I seemed to have a firm grip on the area of Israel that Rome allowed him to govern. Friend of the ruling Jews and also a man of Jewish heritage, Agrippa became a deadly enemy to the apostles. At his word men lived or died. He also determined the food policy for Sidon and Tyre, cities outside of Israel. As all tyrants believe they are invincible, Herod was just in his own eyes, and his rule seemed strong and unchangeable. Emperors, kings and other rulers often believe they are as the gods whose words cause great change in their domain.
   Agrippa, though, neglected to learn from the Jews’ law regarding the LORD’s supremacy: Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. God’s justice will bless those who worship him and curse those who reject his Sovereign reign.
   Agrippa should have learned from King David’s prayer: Psalms 36:11 May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. David knew pride’s destruction. He watched it destroy King Saul’s relationship with God and with his people. David felt pride’s scourge against his integrity in the deep sins of adultery and murder. Pride destroyed some of David’s sons as they pursued their own lusts and revenge. Pride causes us to believe that in some way we are as a god who is invincible. How true is God’s law: Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Herod’s life and death perfectly illustrates this truth.
   How good to know the LORD’s authority overcomes persecution, and he will advance and spread the gospel. Barnabas and Saul had come from Antioch to Jerusalem to deliver the famine relief fund to the church. They return to Antioch, taking John Mark, who we saw at Peter’s release from jail. He is Barnabas’ cousin (Colossians 4:10), a fact that will have some influence on his future.
   Sovereign over kings, sovereign over disciples and ruler of his church, the LORD your God is God of gods. 

Acts 12:12-17 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
 
THIS scene is very similar to the disciples’ response to Jesus’ resurrection. The church meeting in Mary’s home did not believe, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind.” was their unbelieving response.
   In the same way, Mary Magdalene, Joanna of Cuza and other women went to tell the disciples, “He’s not here. He has risen!” (Luke 24:6) But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Luke 24:11) Both circumstances demonstrate a fundamental doubt in God’s Word and his power to fulfill what he says. In faith the disciples should have anticipated Jesus’ Word, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” (Luke 24:7) Because Jesus came out of the grave, would it not be easy for Peter to come out of the prison?
   But the church did not believe God would release Peter. They knew they needed to pray. But they seemed not to expect God to answer their prayer with a resounding, “Yes! I will bring Peter to you.” Did they believe Herod’s and the Jews’ power would destroy the church? Any hope for Peter’s life seemed to disappear behind the barred doors, armed guards and locked chains. If even Jesus and his apostles were subject to death, what hope was there for the church of “ordinary” people?
   Yes, it seems they had forgotten Jesus’ triumph over death. God’s life-power still ruled! Peter’s “resurrection” from the jail would become another seed of hope and faith the Spirit planted into the church.
   The Lord wants you to know his rule will triumph past the persecution and the evil human heart. Long ago in his grace, God promised to cover us with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. That hasn’t changed. Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest garment of praise possible. When we have a sure hope in the risen Jesus, we will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (from Isaiah 61:3)
   No jail can imprison true hope in Jesus.
 
Note: Mark mentioned here is John Mark, author of the gospel. James is Jesus’ half-brother, head of the Jerusalem church. Mary is Mark’s mother, apparently a leader in a house church in Jerusalem.     
           

Acts 12:9-11 Peter followed the angel out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; Peter thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”
 
THINK for a minute about Peter’s life to this point. He had watched Jesus speak healing to many. Peter had witnessed Jesus’ glory in the Transfiguration (Mark 9). Peter saw the empty tomb. Then he ate with and learned from the risen Savior. Jesus specifically commissioned Peter, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17c) The Spirit’s fire had then opened Peter’s mouth to preach at Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter healed the lame (Acts 3), and he raised the dead (Acts 9). Stll in this moment of freedom, Peter did not believe he was truly walking free of prison’s shackles, guards and iron gates. Is this typical of our Christian life? Even when we stop to consider the many ways God has moved in our lives, do we still wonder, “Is my Lord truly helping me now?”
   One of God’s answers comes from Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  
   Jesus, the Son of God, has walked where you are walking. He knows about the happiness you experience, and Jesus knows about your sorrows. Jesus understands the pain of a loved one’s death. He knows physical hardship. Jesus understands the need for rest. Your Lord has confronted evil. The Son has submitted to the Father’s will, so you can walk free of sin’s imprisoning shackles. Consider Jesus’ live and you can go to his throne to know Jesus’ mercy. Understand his grace to help you in your time of need.
   Do not let your mind be set too long on your challenges, weaknesses or disappointments. Jesus’ incarnation is to personally help you know, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:1-2)
   Peter followed the angel out of the prison. The gospel message reveals you can follow Jesus because God’s, goodness and love will follow (you) all the days of (your) life, and (you) will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

Acts 12:4-18 After arresting Peter, Herod put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
 
PETER was a marked man in Jerusalem for two reasons. He was the leader of this new sect that claimed Jesus is the Son of God. Salvation for all who believe comes through Jesus of Nazareth’s death, resurrection and ascension. The ruling Jews also knew of Peter’s ministry to Gentiles. This former fisherman from Galilee had to be stopped. His blasphemy was against God and the Jews. To please the ruling Jews, Herod imprisoned Peter. Jerusalem’s political and religious rulers conspired to kill Peter as they had killed Jesus, Stephen and James.
 
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
 
WHAT do we do when confronted with great obstacles? We should pray. But these Christians had surely prayed for James when he was arrested. Even though Herod killed James with a sword, the church remained faithful to intercede for Peter. They knew all is in God’s hands. The essence of praying your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10b). our daily faith is to fully accept and trust the psalm’s proclamation: Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
 
Acts 12:6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
 
PETER had been in jail before. But he and John were found free in the temple the next morning: Acts 5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. The authorities strengthened their guard to keep Peter bound. It is likely a guard was chained to each of his wrists. Still Peter is at peace. He’s sleeping amid his tormentors. He no longer fears for his life amid the storm as he and the others had the night on Galilee’s stormy waters (Mark 4:37-39).   
 
Acts 12:7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.
 
ANGELS work at God’s command. They are often forceful to move one to obedience. We consider the angels who urged Lot from Sodom’s destruction: Genesis 19:15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”  We also consider the angel who urged Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. Matthew 2:13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
   God speaks to us. Through his Word, a pastor, a teacher, a friend, a dream or even an angel, he tells us what we must get up and do. Keep a listening ear. Hear his love to warn, protect and direct you.   
 
Next: Prayer Answered. Was the church believing? 

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.