Acts 13 and 14 Commentary

A Sent Messenger, Acts 13 and 14 (life group lesson)

 

Let us begin with context.

Acts 9: Paul converted, called, and commissioned, then he disappears from the narrative for a while. He states in Galatians 1:15-20 that he was in Arabia and perhaps Damascus for three years. This passage is an interesting aside about how he was not easily accepted in those first few years. Galatians also describes a conflict with the leaders in Jerusalem that could be seen as less than charitable.

Acts 10-11. Through Peter, the gospel breaks through to the Gentiles via Cornelius’ household.

Acts 12: Herod kills James (Zebedee), Peter is delivered from prison, and Herod is judged.

 

The focus of the narrative shifts to the Antioch Church in 12:25-13:1-3, referring back to 12:19-26.

1.     These four verses are sort of a model for missions and serving with spiritual gifts.

a.     Together, collectively, corporately. Not a one-man/woman show.

b.     As they ministered….they were called. They were not called outside the context of serving already in the church.

c.      Fasting was involved., apparently consistently (mentioned often).

d.     The Holy Spirit said. The text does not explain how the Holy Spirit spoke, but I envisage one or both of two ways: audibly (possible at that time since the New Testament was not completed and everyone did not have a copy of the Old Testament, and God was doing a “new thing”) or individually in the hearts of those praying and fasting and telling them all the same message and they shared with each other.

e.     Barnabas and Saul’s sending was confirmed by the whole church, “they.”

f.      It might be the whole church, or the 6 leaders who are “they.” Either way, “missionaries” are to be confirmed and sent by God’s people, not on their own account.

2.     Some thoughts on fasting. It is not commanded but is assumed. Biblically, it has to do with food. There aren’t many direct commands or directions on it; some are:

a.     It should be regular and purposeful; time limits are not clear (1/2 day? Day? Twice a week?) Health must be considered, hydration, not overworking, and breaking the fast.

b.     It should accompany purposeful prayer

c.      It should be practiced humbly (no sense of pride) and probably silently/secretly if possible

d.     It probably takes some training and discipline. We eat on a regular basis, so it is habitual. Fasting is about intentionally having a new habit.

e.     Personal example. After and during fasting for the colonoscopy, I realized that the hunger becomes less of a focus of your attention if you displace your thoughts.

f.      I am not going to be a hypocrite on this subject; the question is what do we want from God more than the next meal?

 

 Acts 12:14-5

1.     “Preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.” This seems to be their pattern. Sometimes they were rejected (violently), someties accepted.

2.     “John” was their assistant. This is John Mark. He has already been part of the narrative. In Acts 12 he was at the prayer meeting in his mother’s home. He is apparently young, and his family is more wealthy than the average. He is related to Barnabas, and in Acts 4 Barnabas sells property for a gift to the church.

 

Acts 13:6-12: Narrative about opposition from a false propet.

 

Acts 13:13: In Pamphylia John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. Luke records this for a reason; there are no asides or throw-ins/throw-aways in the Bible. This fact will come up again; however, Luke doesn’t give the reason for his departure.

 

Acts 13:14-41. Important section on how Paul preached; later we learn that he was usually the “lead speaker,” and Barnabas seems to be the relational or follow-up person.

 

Acts 13:42-48. Key passage.

 

Acts 14: Incidents in three cities; 19-20, example of violence they encountered.

 

Acts 14:21-28: Summary of the end of the journey and return to Antioch of Syria.

 

Two big takeaways:

1.     Missions is done personally and corporately. The whole church is involved. Brainerd, in my opinion, does it right; missions is not an afterthought, it is THE THOUGHT.

2.     The personal side of ministry has to be intentionally cared for. Case Study:

Barnabas and Saul/Paul is a very important story of friendship gone wrong for many years and finally made right, although maybe too late. Because of their conflict, Paul even criticizes Barnabas publicly in Galatians, writing “he played the hypocrite” by falling back into legalistic ideas about Jewish/Christian relationships.

The men worked together productively for several years and Barnabas seems, in Luke’s writing, to be the one who leads, his name often coming first. His name means “son of consolation,” often translated “encouragement.” I would love to have a name like that. (Barbara means “stranger.”)

They were very different personalities, though. Paul always strikes me as choleric, Type A, driving, often able to be hard-charging and in his early years not personally compassionate. It takes him years of Christian living and growth to develop empathy and compassion and close emotional ties with people. He does so by God’s grace, spiritual formation, and yes, a lot of suffering.

Their “split up” happened in the end of Acts 15, v. 36-41. This happens after a dramatic controversy and conflict in Jerusalem over accepting Gentiles, and I have to wonder if that also had put some strain on their relationship because it seems like Barnabas leaned toward his Jewish roots. Barnabas had been part of the church early on, so he would have loyalties, and Paul came along later. Yet Barnabas’ commitment to the Gentile ministry could not be stronger.

Either way, they disagreed over bringing John Mark on their second journey, and it was apparently contentious and public. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, and that is the last we read of Barnabas; Paul takes Silas on a second journey.

People want to say that one was right and one was wrong. They might say “this was the end of Barnabas’ ministry” and “the text says the church commended Paul but it doesn’t say that about Barnabas.” That is reading something into it.  This is not the whole story.

  Later in his life, in final letters, Paul asked for Mark to come visit him in prison (II Timothy 4:11) saying, “I need him.” He also mentions him fondly in Philemon 24. Paul, I think, is a different person by then, softer, more open, and an old man realizing his weaknesses and needs. And of course, John Mark wrote one of the gospels under Peter’s guidance. Barnabas made a choice to follow and use his gift of encouragement, and one of the results was a mature John Mark. He might not have written 13 letters (some say 14) of the New Testament and start churches all over Greece and Turkey, but that wasn’t his calling in the first place.

We have to accept that each of us has a different calling, gifting, and ministry, which is very hard to do in this celebrity culture.  It takes a lot of faith in God and sense of self to be true to what is your “place” and not be affected by the “success” of others, just like we can’t be envious of positions and wealth.

Be the best YOU, the best version of yourself. And that is to be conformed to Christ’s likeness.