Author Archives: Phillip

Acts chapter 13 v13-20:

V13:  Paul and his companions now sail from Cyprus to “Perga in Pamphylia”, a province of Asia Minor. Luke simply records that here ” John ( Mark ) left them and returned to Jerusalem”. No reason is given, but the later dispute between Paul and Barnabas over Mark shows that Paul felt he had ” deserted” the work of mission, and could not be trusted again.( Ch 15 v37-39.)

V14:  Paul and Barnabas travel on to “Antioch in Pisidia”, one of 5 Antiochs in the Roman world. They go, as usual, to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

V15:  As was the custom, they are invited, as visitors, to bring ” a word of encouragement “, an opportunity Paul is quick to respond to. We too should be alert for any God-given opportunity to speak of Jesus.

V16-17:  He addresses both the Jews and the Gentile ” God-fearers “, and speaks of God’s dealings with Israel in the OT, of His sovereign choice of the Patriarchs, the growth of the nation in Egypt, and how God then delivered them from Egypt. Little detail is given, since he can rely on their knowledge of these things.

V18-19:  Briefly, he refers to the peoples’ stubbornness in the Wilderness – how God “put up with them ”for 40 years, then brought them into the Promised Land, His chosen inheritance for them.

V20:  He has summed up 450 years, and speaks equally briefly of the time of the Judges, and then Samuel. In all this, he is preparing for how God’s purposes and promises point to, and are fulfilled in, Jesus.

Acts chapter 13:6-12:

V6:  They travel across the island to Paphos ( the port on the West coast, for ships sailing to Asia.) Here they encounter a man named ” Bar-Jesus” ( probably not an act of mockery, for the name, the equivalent of the OT Joshua, was in wide use.) But he is called a ” magician” and a ” false prophet “. Again let us remember the realities of Satan’s deceptions and malice. ( See Ephesians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 2:11, 4 v 4, 11:14-15.)

V7: He has great influence over the “pro-consul” ( the Roman governor of the Island.) He is however an intelligent man, and with a seeking heart, and asks Saul and Barnabas to speak the Word of the Lord to him. God’s grace is surely already at work here.

V8:  Of course the false prophet, called here by his Greek name, Elymas, tries to turn this man from the truth.

V9-10:  Saul – now called Paul for the first time – perhaps his Greek name is now used, for his wider ministry to come – denounces Elymas for what he is, the tool of Satan, seeking to hinder the Gospel.

V11-12:  In an immediate judgement from God, and perhaps to authenticate the Holy Spirit’s work through Paul, he is struck blind ( though we are told this was a temporary judgement at this time ) but Sergius Paulus, both amazed at what he has witnessed but also we are told at the teaching about Jesus he has heard, comes to true faith that day. So God seals the work by grace.

Acts chapter 12:25 – chapter 13:5:

V25: The record returns to Barnabas and Saul, who return to Antioch, having completed their ” relief mission” to Jerusalem, and take with them young John Mark, perhaps with an eye on beginning to involve him in Christian service.

Ch 13 v1:  We learn of 5 gifted ” prophets and teachers” in that church – surely Elders in the later terms of Church office. The names and a little given detail suggest a wide range of background – Barnabas and Saul we know to be Jewish, some of the others may be Gentiles, one has ” royal connections” – though presumably his faith will have severed that connection with the corrupt Herodian family. God’s mercy touches and calls people from all kinds of backgrounds.

V2:  As they are worshipping and fasting before God, the Holy Spirit speaks clearly to them all, that they are to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a special work he is calling them to do. This will, of course, be missionary outreach on a wider scale than yet seen, the work that Saul especially was called to do back in ch 9 v15.

V3:  In obedient response, with prayer and the confirming laying on of hands, the others send them off to the work God calls them to. It’s sometimes said ” at God’s call, they sent away their 2 best men” – perhaps we can not say that as such – but what 2 men they did send off – as God still calls churches to do.

V4-5:  Taking John Mark as an assistant, they go to Seleucia, the nearest Mediterranean port to Antioch, and sail to Cyprus, landing first at Salamis, where at once they preach Christ in the synagogues there, still following the principal Paul will later lay down in Romans 1:16 – ” To the Jew first.”

Acts chapter 12:20-24:

V20-21:  Herod, ever the tyrant, has an unspecified dispute with ” the people of Tyre and Sidon”. They seek to make peace with him,through the intercession of one of his officials, being it seems dependent on his realm economically.

V22:  Herod decides to address them in the full pomp of his office. In flattery, they call his speech ” the voice of a god and not of a ( mere) man.” They seek to give this godless king the glory that belongs to God alone.

V23:  And solemnly, God – through an angel – strikes Herod down for his blasphemous willingness to accept this. The rest of the verse may suggest an established internal disease, but it is a clear act of judgement which brings it to a head at this point. ” God is not mocked” – Galatians 6:7.)  Let us pray for those who govern us in the spirit of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, and that God will show them His mercy and grace.

V24:  But against this solemn background of God’s judgement on sin, we learn of His grace at work too, as He blesses His Word, and the church continues to grow.

Acts chapter 12:16-19:

V16:  Peter persists in knocking ( just as we should persist in prayer – Matthew 7:7-8.)  Finally they open to him, and are amazed to see him safe and well. Again, we are reminded how we can pray sincerely, believing in God’s power, yet not truly expect or anticipate the answer we ask for!

V17:  Peter hushes their excited voices, tells them all that has happened, that they are to tell James ( the brother of Jesus, now the recognised leader of the Jerusalem church, it seems, and the author of the NT letter which bears his name ) and the other believers. There are of course so many believers in Jerusalem now that clearly only a selection of them could meet in any one home. Then Peter takes his leave, and goes to a place unspecified, probably knowing a search will be made for him and not wishing to endanger others – and to be free to continue the work the Lord has for him.

V18-19:  When Peter’s disappearance from prison is discovered, Herod does indeed instigate a search, which does not find him. So in characteristic brutality, he has the hapless guards put to death. Then we are told he goes to Caesarea for some time. Why this seemingly incidental detail? Presumably to lead in to the next verses.

Acts chapter 12:11-15:

V11:  Peter comes to himself and finally realises that the Lord has acted to deliver him, and that this is real. The Lord still has work for him to do!

V12:  He knows where the believers will be gathered, as indeed they are, praying for him, in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, here introduced into the record for the first time. This young man will have a rather chequered career in coming days, but will ultimately become the writer of the gospel which bears his name – tradition says with Peter as his main source.

V13-14:  He knocks at the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda comes out, but hearing and recognising Peter’s voice she is so overjoyed she runs in to tell the gathering, and forgets to let Peter in!

V15:  The others do not believe her – they say she’s out of her mind – or if not, it can’t be the ” real Peter”, it’s his ” angel” ( His ” guardian angel” ? His spirit? ) They don’t believe this is the answer to the very prayers they are gathered to make! Do we at times fail to realise God’s answers to our prayers? Or do we even pray not truly anticipating an answer?

Acts chapter 12:6-10:

V6:  Peter is in prison, chained to 2 soldiers with others outside his cell door, yet peacefully asleep – surely the “peace which surpasses all ( human ) understanding.” ( Philippians 4:7.) Herod intends to bring him out, no doubt for execution, the next day.

A hopeless situation? No, Peter is safe in the Lord’s hands, whatever the outcome.

V7:  A light shines in his cell, and an angel wakes Peter, telling him to get up – and his chains fall off. God works in Sovereign ways – in a similar situation in ch 16 He will send an earthquake to loosen Paul’s and Silas’ chains. Let us learn not to limit God in our thinking, or try to ” fit Him in” to a pattern.

V8-9:  The angel tells Peter to get ( fully ) dressed, put on his sandals, wrap his cloak around him, and follow him. Note how God is the God of the practical as well as the miraculous – he expects us to act sensibly, as He  deals with us. Peter does as he is bidden, but does not think this is ” real “, taking it to be a vision from God. Do we always recognise what the Lord is doing with us?

V10:  The angel leads Peter past the guards ( presumably in a deep sleep ) and the prison gate opens before them, after which the angel leaves Peter. In all this, we see the Lord’s mastery of any situation.

Acts chapter 12:1-5:

V1:  We learn of further persecution of the believers in Judea, instigated by King Herod. This is Herod Agrippa 1, the nephew of the Herod who murdered John the Baptist and consented to the death of Christ. He was characteristic of the whole corrupt Herodian line.

V2:  He has James, the brother of John, put to the sword – the first of the Apostles to die for his faith. Is this part of the Lord’s foretelling of how the sons of Zebedee would share in His sufferings? ( Mark 10:39.)

V3-4: When Herod sees this pleases the Jews, he has Peter arrested too. ( He was always trying to win the favour/support of the people, who actually despised his family, who were not Jews at all, puppet Kings under Rome, and of course notoriously cruel and corrupt.) The reference to ” the days of unleavened bread” – the whole period around the Passover – explains why ( humanly) he did not have Peter executed at once, so as not to offend Jewish ” scruples” ( which the Jewish leaders themselves had over-ridden in the trial and death of Jesus.)

V5:  So, Peter is kept in prison, perhaps expecting his own death, but knowing he is in God’s hand. Meanwhile, the church are in earnest prayer for him. Why should James be put to death and Peter not? We can only bow to the Sovereign will of God, who still has work for Peter to do, but has taken James home to Himself. Let us all realise, our times are in His hand.