Monthly Archives: April 2026

ACTS THE SEQUEL…ENTER JOHN MARK – 25

Bible Study, ,

“When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke added, at this point in his story, by the way, the name of a young man who would play an important role in breaking up the partnership of Paul and Barnabas as the story unfolds. Who was John Mark?

If we go back a chapter, the prayer meeting that resulted in Peter’s rescue took place in the home of John Mark’s mother, Mary. It seems that this family played an important role in the early church. 

John Mark, in Mark’s gospel, may have been the unnamed young man who fled naked when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

So, John Mark has a history in the story of the early church…first, a coward, 

“A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭51‬-‭52‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…then a quitter and splitter… 

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭36‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…but, finally, in Paul’s own words, helpful…

“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What had happened to John Mark that transformed his life? According to Paul, he was changed from a quitter to “helpful”. A second chance? A “Barnabas” in his life? 

How much the church needs the “Barnabas” kind of people who see the potential when others see only failure…who recognise the face of Jesus in the faces of mere humans. 

John Mark’s story is echoed in the lives of many believers down the centuries. Without the “Barnabas’s” who saw light when others saw only darkness…who saw potential when others saw failure…how many of God’s precious children might have been lost to His kingdom. The church still needs those who stand by the weak ones, propping them up until they can stand. Thank God for grace that still  reaches out to pick those up who fall by the wayside. 

To be continued 

ACTS THE SEQUEL…DON’T MESS WITH GOD’S GLORY – 24

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“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. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing 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. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.”

‭‭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. But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter’s mysterious disappearance from the prison caused no end of a stir. The unsuspecting guards had to pay the price. 

Meanwhile, Herod was on his own mission…he was asked to make peace with the people of Tyre and Sidon with whom he had quarrelled. His speech was so moving on the day that they hailed him as a god! 

Well! That did it! Herod had to learn a good lesson…to his great loss. Never mess with God‘s glory. Never take credit for anything because God is the source of everything. To Him alone belongs all the glory. 

Herod paid the price for his foolishness with his life…not just death but a most humiliating demise. This pompous fool loved the limelight…and the accolades of humans. His pride cost him his life…in a most horrific way… and it will cost the lives of all who follow in his steps. 

If there is anything God hates, it is pride because pride takes the glory from Him and gives it to those whom He created. How can a creature take credit for what he did not do? 

So, God rightfully removed a man who had not respect for Him. Herod would no longer be able to harass God‘s people, although…in His sovereignty, there would be many others in the coming days whom the Father would use to refine the faith of His servants. 

And so, against all odds, God’s Spirit continued to work deeply in human hearts…bringing to faith many who were steeped in paganism. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…EXIT PETER – 23

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For a short while, the attention shifted…back to Jerusalem. Peter and his fellow believers became the target. First James, then Peter,  were in the firing line…

“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To please the Jews, Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, who was appointed by the Emperor Claudius as king of Judea, became the proxy for the Jewish rulers. He had James, John’s brother, killed…then he went for Peter.  If he could wipe out the leaders, perhaps the movement would die. 

So, first, James exterminated…then Peter…arrested and put in jail, awaiting the inevitable verdict of “guilty”! For what?

 “He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he 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.”

What kind of trial? The same kind that had condemned Jesus to death…had Stephen stoned…and James slaughtered with a sword? But…Peter had a backup…a body of faithful people who cared about him…a people who believed in prayer…so they appealed to a higher authority. They went straight to mission headquarters…to God the Father.  They prayed…earnestly…all through the night…to the Father…to intervene!

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God heard their cries…and acted…with a flourish. He delighted in messing with a corrupt Roman government and an impenetrable prison system. He did it more than once! He sent an angel…a heavenly messenger with heaven’s power and heaven’s authority, to do the impossible. 

Before Peter could blink, he was standing in the street outside the jail, his chains miraculously gone, and all the prison doors open while the guards slept! Just like that, he was free! Was he dreaming? Would he wake up to the same fate that befell his beloved fellow disciple, James…the one who had been Jesus’ companion with him when they walked with Him on earth?

No, it was true. Peter was not dreaming. He was really free! Best he get away from the prison before the guards woke up. The angel who had rescued him was gone…he was on his own now. 

“Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 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.”

The church was fervently praying, calling on the Lord for help…firmly believing that He wouid answer them. When it happened, they were gobsmacked, incredulous! Well! So much for their faith!

“Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 

“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬-‭16 NIV‬‬

Isn’t the reaction of these people just typical of human nature and true to life! We pray believing and…when God answers, we are shocked and surprised. We act like our faith was somewhat shaky to begin with…but God answered anyway. How gracious He is and how accommodating to our human frailty! Jesus said that all we need is faith as miniscule as a grain of mustard seed for  Him to answer…and He does.

There we have it… in black and white…their unbelief on record! When Peter stepped through the door, the result was deafening. He has to use hand signals to get their attention. 

“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 other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A quick explanation…and then he was gone. In the dead of night…under cover of darkness…Peter disappeared. Luke gives no details. Peter had another mission to fulfil but, for Luke’s purpose…of telling the story of the church from Jerusalem to Rome, the hub of the known world…Peter’s part must fade into the background and Saul/Paul must take centre stage. 

Peter would briefly emerge once more…in Paul’s story in Antioch… in a spat between him and Peter. Peter, still a Jew at heart, was not above correction. He slipped for a moment, back into Jewish scruples. Paul quickly spoke in defence of the gospel of grace. 

“When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Even good old Barnabas was caught up in the error. 

Paul, using truth as his weapon, pulled Peter and Barnabas back to reality…and, in the process, made one of the most profound statements in the New Testament…not only a testimony of his own life but also also a directive for the way of life of all believers. 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, Peter was left to fulfil his ministry to the Jewish arm of the church while the focus shifted to Saul. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE CHURCH SPREADS – 22

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“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

They just could not keep quiet! Everywhere the scattered disciples went, they spoke about Jesus….Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus, Cyrene…Jesus was the subject of their conversation…but only to Jews. They had obviously not yet heard about Cornelius and his household.  

Some of the converts in Cyprus and Cyrene, Hellenistic Jews, didn’t care about Jewish scruples. They took the message to Antioch and told the Greeks about Jesus. Soon Antioch became the hub of non-Jewish believers. In fact, so great was their influence that it was in Antioch that the people of “the Way” were nicknamed “Christians”, people who resembled Jesus.  In Antioch, there was another explosion of new life…the church there grew apace until… 

Jerusalem got to hear about it and reacted. “What’s going on in Antioch? We’d better fine out.” So, they sent good old Barnabas to find out. 

Of course, Barnabas was delighted with the new development and threw his weight behind the church. In fact, he hurried off to Tarsus to fetch Saul. Why should Saul sit around twiddling his thumbs when there was work to be done? In any case, Saul had had quite enough time to cool his hot-headed zeal, to sort out his theological issues, and gain an understanding of how Jesus and the Hebrew Scriptures perfectly dove-tailed.  With Saul’s knowledge, understanding and experience, he would be an asset in this new development in the Gentile branch of the church. 

Little did Barnabas know that the Holy Spirit was positioning him and Saul/Paul for a partnership that would take them deep into hostile territory…into the Gentile world of paganism, hatred, violence, and persecution that almost cost Paul his life.

Barnabas had made the right decision. 

“…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.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For a whole year, the soon-to-become comrades-in-arms cemented the believers in Antioch in their faith. The outcome was a  maturing church that became the centre of the missionary outreach into Asia Minor and eventually into Europe and the known world. 

“During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When famine, predicted by Agabus, a Christian prophet, hit the Roman empire, the church in Antioch detailed Barnabas and Saul to take help to the church in  Jerusalem.  

“The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…As we progress through this account of the partnership between the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ, despite serious opposition and cruel acts of violence against them, the church grew.  It spread from Jerusalem into Judea, Samaria and, eventually, into the Greek and Roman world. 

The Holy Spirit, the administrator of this grace, choreographed every movement, every step of growth and progress, drawing people together from far and wide, cementing relationships, and opening new doors of opportunity. Not even their 

hardships and suffering were wasted. Every dark and light thread of this marvellous tapestry was being woven together to reveal a picture of the infinite love, power, and wisdom of God. He was at work, creating something that would transform the world and set the body of Christ on a course to be the salt that preserves a decaying society and the light that shows the way back to the Father. 

The story of Acts, a partnership between God, the Holy Spirit from heaven…and the church, the image ofJesus, the Son of God, on earth…is only a fragment of a much bigger story. It will never end until the whole earth has heard…and Jesus returns to write the final chapter. 

To be continued 

ACTS THE SEQUEL…PETER IN TROUBLE – 21

Bible Study, ,

“The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter…the spokesman…the leader…the one who set the record straight on the day of Pentecost…when the Holy Spirit had come…was in trouble with his Jewish counterparts! Not only had he had a part in the new believers in Samaria being filled with the Holy Spirit…

“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…but now, also, a whole Gentile household had believed…and Peter was there when it had happened. He had preached the gospel to them…in their house! Peter, a Jew, actually hob-nobbing with Gentiles, eating with them! What was he thinking?

Once again, Peter was the forerunner in this world-changing event. The Holy Spirit had come, as Jesus had promised, but not exclusively to the Jews. The good news of Jesus was for the whole world…and also the baptism of the Holy Spirit since He, the Spirit, was Jesus’ ”other self”. He had come to make real in every believer what Jesus did on earth. 

So, Peter told his story. At first, he had been a puzzled participant…trying to decipher the clues, like a runner in an obstacle race. He had baulked at the idea of setting aside Jewish protocol…going into a Gentile home…they did not mix with Gentiles!

However, as the story unfolded, it was clear to his colleagues that Peter was following divine directions. The vision on the  rooftop…the three men from Caesarea…the request from Cornelius the centurion…all the details began to fall into place. Peter obeyed the Spirit’s instruction and…the rest, as they say, is history. 

The Holy Spirit Himself provided the final piece in the puzzle…He came, in power and confirmation, to seal God’s prophetic word through Isaiah. 

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations… “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was Peter’s next learning curve…and he would be Jesus’ instrument for this momentous event…to open the door, officially,  for the first Gentile believers after Pentecost, to enter the kingdom of God.  

Peter’s story ended with his grand conclusion… 

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 

Finally convinced and satisfied with Peter’s story, the church in Jerusalem opened their hearts to the new chapter in God’s glorious plan for the whole world. 

“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And so, the church moved on…marching on with unerring steps, into the very portals of hell…the Roman empire under the ruthless hostility of Nero!

To be continued