Atos 12
Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Cole points out that "There is a marked contrast between the love of the racially mixed church in Antioch for the famine-afflicted Jewish church in Judea (Acts 11:27-30) and the hatred of Herod and the Jews in Jerusalem for the church there (Acts 12:1-3)....So we see mingled together the wickedness of an evil tyrant and the sovereignty of God who allowed this tyrant to operate on a leash. We would be greatly in error if we thought that somehow God could not prevent Herod from his evil deeds. (Read Ps 2:1-4) No wicked act, not even the slaughter of the righteous, takes place apart from the sovereign will of God. God did not lose control when Herod Antipas got drunk and gave the head of John the Baptist on a platter to the sensuous Salome. Even the terrible deeds of the Antichrist in the end times are under God’s control: He will remove him when it is His time, but before then many godly people will suffer and die (Rev. 6:9-11)." (The Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:1-25) Mistreat (KJV = "vex")(2559)(kakoo from kakos= bad, evil) means to do harm or do evil to someone - physically to mistreat (Acts 7:6) or morally to embitter or poison one's mind causing them to think badly about another (Acts 14:2). Here of course the context shows that the sense of kakoo is Herod's desire to physically harm the church. This same verb is used in the Septuagint of Ex 1:11 which describes Israel's mistreatment in Egypt. In Nu 20:15 Moses records "the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly (Lxx = kakoo)." This verb kakoo is used outside of Acts only by Peter asking "Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?" (1 Peter 3:13+). Luke does not give us details of how the Church in Jerusalem was mistreated, but it would not take much imagination to see them being physically beaten and their homes attacked and/or destroyed. The crescendo of the physical mistreatment of the Church was reached when Herod murdered one of the main leaders in Acts 12:2. THOUGHT - Clearly these early believers were being forced to count the cost of following Jesus (cf Lk 14:28+ - sermon by Mike Andrus; What does it mean to “count the cost”?). Although believers today are not (yet) physically mistreated (at least not in America, but they are in many areas of the world), they are often verbally mistreated, ostracized, and generally denigrated, put down, vilified, impugned and even slandered and satirized on television and in many movies (cf Mt 5:11,12+ - cf Religion on the Simpsons). Yes, the Gospel does teach that "God has a wonderful plan for your life," but that truth needs to be balanced with the truth that every true disciple of Jesus (and EVERY believer is a disciple!) will be persecuted in one way or another (cf "God's Promise" book = 2 Ti 3:12+ = "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus", Php 1:29+ where "granted" ~ "a gift of grace!"). New converts need to be taught this fact. I was not taught this truth and when a major wave of persecution came suddenly against me for focusing on teaching of the Word of God ("You are teaching the Bible too much" was the accusation of the church leaders - believe it or not!), I was totally caught off guard and came close to "throwing in the towel" regarding the gift of teaching God had graciously given me. Forewarned is forearmed! ILLUSTRATION - When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez understood the price of commitment—and he paid it. All NT uses of kakoo - Acts 7:6; Acts 7:19; Acts 12:1; Acts 14:2; Acts 18:10; 1 Pet. 3:13 Church (1577) (ekklesia from ek = out + klesis = a calling, verb = kaleo = to call) literally means called out (but Louw-Nida does not agree - see discussion of ekklesia) and as commonly used in the Greco-Roman vernacular referred to citizens who were called out from their homes to be publicly assembled or gathered to discuss or carry out affairs of state.
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Cole points out that "Those who teach that it is always God’s will to deliver us from sickness, tragedy, and death are false teachers. The so-called “Word of Faith” teachers say that deliverance from any trial is ours if we simply claim it by faith. They brazenly state that God must obey us when we speak a word of faith! If you are not healed, then obviously the problem is your lack of faith. I cannot understand why these arrogant charlatans get such a large following. None of them are able to avoid disease and death! (The Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:1-25) Related Resources: Is the Word of Faith movement biblical? Are faith healers for real? Does a faith healer heal with the same power as Jesus? What does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel? What is seed faith? What is a seed faith offering? What is the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)? Are all prosperity preachers charlatans and/or false teachers? - excellent, balanced summary Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. KJV Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. prayer for him Acts 12:12; Isa 62:6,7; Mt 18:19; Lk 18:1; 1 Cor 12:26; 2 Cor 1:11; Eph 6:18-20; 1 Th 5:17; Heb 13:3; Jas 5:16 PETER WAS BOUND BUT PRAYER WAS "LOOSED!" So (oun) - A term of conclusion. Because of what Luke had just recorded about the urgency of the situation. The church took advantage of the 8 days of the Passover feast to pray, fully aware that after this time it might be too little, too late to save Peter from the grips of Herod! This was indeed a crisis for the Church in Jerusalem as they knew that Peter's head might soon be on the chopping block just as had happened to James. When you are in a situation or circumstance where you realize that your only hope is God, you are in a good place. And so they did the only thing they could do - they prayed. They did the BEST thing they could do! Prayer was not their last resort, but prayer was their first response! There was a desperate situation that led the church to desperate supplication. The situation looked hopeless, but the church was not helpless! (Play "My Help") (Read Php 1:19+, Philemon 1:22) J. Edgar Hoover once said, “The force of prayer is greater than any possible combination of man-made or man-controlled powers because prayer is man’s greatest means of tapping the infinite resources of God.” John Stott observes that 'Here then were two communities, the world and the church, arrayed against one another, each wielding an appropriate weapon. On the one side was the authority of Herod, the power of the sword and the security of the prison. On the other side, the church turned to prayer, which is the only power which the powerless possess." (Borrow The message of Acts : the Spirit, the church & the world page 208) Brian Bell introduces his sermon on this chapter with these observations - Man has only 2 opportunities in this life: Self-Exaltation or God-Exaltation! Ps:1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish. We’ll meet one Living a Self-Exalting Life (Herod); & another Living a God-Exalting Life (Peter). Faith is fundamentally God-Exalting; Glory seeking is fundamentally Self-Exalting…and the 2 can’t fit into one person! Peter was kept in the prison - Luke uses a second verb kept (tereo) in addition to guard (phulasso Acts 12:4), to paint a picture of the (futile) human efforts to make sure Peter remained in prison. Humanly speaking Herod had Peter held fast and secure, but he did not take into account the power of God, for he did not know God. Such is the deceptive reasoning of all unregenerate men be they rich or poor, wise or not. One day they too like Herod will realize the vanity of their deceptive security and power. Ask Adolph Hitler! It is ever the Throne in heaven that is in control, not the throne on earth! Kept is in the imperfect tense and in the passive voice (indicating action from outside source) in the Greek language and means that he was continuously guarded. Kept (5083)(tereo from teros - a guard or warden) means to keep an eye on, to observe attentively, to keep watch over so as to retain in custody.. Tereo speaks here of of guarding Peter watching attentively so he does not escape or be rescued! Perhaps Herod had heard the story of Peter and the other apostles' escape in Acts 5:18,19+. Luke used tereo to describe Paul and Silas imprisonment in Philippi where the officials commanded "the jailer to guard (tereo) them securely." (Acts 16:23). Tereo is used by Luke to describe Paul's imprisonment prior to his transfer to Rome (Acts 24:23; Acts 25:4; Acts 25:21). Tereo was used figuratively of observing the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). THOUGHT - The Church was facing a crisis. The question arises when we are facing a crisis of faith how do we respond? What do we do when things happen to us or our loved one or a brother and sister that we do not understand? What is your "knee jerk" response (pun intended!)? But - Term of contrast. What is contrasted? Prison and prayer. God's men may be in prison but prayer by God's men for God's men can never be imprisoned. A T Robertson thinks this is not marking a contrast but should simply be translated as "and." Ray
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Cole notes 3 applications of the supernatural liberation of Peter... (1) God is most glorified when we are most helpless and totally dependent on Him. If Peter had engineered his own escape, he would have been praised for his ingenuity and daring exploits. But what could he say about his part in this escape? He wasn’t even thinking about escaping—he was sleeping! Can you imagine him boasting, “Yeah, I had to gird myself and put on my own sandals and coat. The angel didn’t fly me out! I had to walk out of there on my own two legs.” Peter had nothing in himself that he could boast about! His testimony was, “The Lord led me out of prison” (Acts 12:17). Peter’s deliverance is a picture of how God saves sinners. Before God saves us, we are like Peter, sleeping in the darkness, insensitive to our sin, and not able to see the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ. Our sins chained us so that we could not escape, even if we had wanted to. We were under God’s sentence of death. While we were in this desperate and helpless condition, God broke in with the light of His glory, woke us out of our spiritual slumber, and caused our chains to fall off so that we could willingly and joyfully follow Him out of this prison of death. Since our salvation was totally from the Lord in His great mercy, He gets all the glory. We can only praise Him because He saved us. We had nothing to do with it. (2) God often waits until the eleventh hour to deliver us so that we will be motivated to pray. The text does not say whether the church was praying for James, but I assume that they were. There is no hint that they were somehow at fault for his death because of their lack of prayer. But the camera zooms in on the church at the eleventh hour with Peter. It was the very night before Herod was planning to execute him that we see the church gathered in this all-night prayer meeting, praying fervently (Acts 12:5). Fervently is an athletic term that pictures an athlete straining every muscle as he puts everything into a race. Luke 22:44 uses the same word to describe Jesus’ fervent prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is nothing like an eleventh hour crisis to get us praying as we should be praying the rest of the time! If we only could see it, we’re always on the brink of disaster and death, because our adversary, the devil, is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. So at all times we should be a praying people! But the Lord often delays the answers to our problems or crises so that we will recognize how much we really do need Him. (3) God is not limited by the prayers of His people, but He works through our prayers to teach us to depend totally on Him. I say that God is not limited by our prayers because clearly, although the church was praying, they were not praying in faith. If they had been expecting God to work, they wouldn’t have been so surprised when He answered! They would have been jubilant, as Rhoda was when she recognized Peter’s voice on the other side of the door. But they would not have said, “You’re out of your mind! It couldn’t be Peter. It must be his angel!” Prayer is a mystery. Why do we need to pray when God already knows our needs? A major part of the answer is, so that we will recognize that we are totally dependent on Him. And yet, He can work even if my prayers fall short in their form or in their faith. Sure, I should believe in Him with a strong faith. But even if my faith is weak, He is able to do far more than I can ask or even think (Eph. 3:20). His answers do not depend on any merit in my prayers, but only on His sovereign grace and mercy. We’ve seen that although God is almighty, He does not prevent the untimely deaths of some of His choicest servants. And, since God is almighty, He can easily deliver us from humanly impossible situations. (Acts 12:1-25 The Unstoppable Gospel) Acts 12:9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. KJV Acts 12:9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. NET Acts 12:9 Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. And he went out and continued to follow Acts 26:19; Genesis 6:22; John 2:5; Hebrews 11:8 he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real Acts 10:3,17; 11:5; Genesis 45:26; Ps 126:1; 2 Corinthians 12:1-3 FOLLOWING GOD'S LEAD EVEN WHEN UNSURE And he went out and continued to follow and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real - It is interesting that this is Peter's second angelic deliverance but this time he does not initially grasp what is actually transpiring. Nevertheless, he following the God's messenger. Follow (note above) is a verb of motion describing the maze-like journey that followed which is why the angel commanded Peter to “keep behind me." But - Term of contrast - It was really happening but Peter thought it was a vision. Thought he was seeing (blepo) a vision - Thought is dokeo which means seem or suppose. The imperfect tense indicates he kept on thinking for he was puzzled. It seemed like a vision to Peter. Vision (3705)(horama from horáō = to see, behold; English - panorama) describes literally that which is seen, as opposed to a figment of one's imagination (Mt 17:9; Ac 7:31; 10:3, 17, 19; 18:9). It is something that is viewed with one’s eye. Here Peter supposes he is having supernatural vision. Horama is communication distinct from a dream. Uses of Jesus appearing to Ananias in a vision and told to go to Saul who had seen Ananias in a vision (Acts 9:10, 12). Of the vision of Cornelius at God begins to open the Gentiles to the Gospel (Acts 10:3) by showing Peter a vision (Acts 10:17, 11:5). Horama in Acts - Acts 7:31; Acts 9:10; Acts 9:12; Acts 10:3; Acts 10:17; Acts 10:19; Acts 11:5; Acts 12:9; Acts 16:9; Acts 16:10; Acts 18:9 A T
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Cole says "To seek glory for ourselves is to declare war against God. God will not give His glory to another (Isa. 42:8; 46:11). If we seek to exalt ourselves, the Lord will surely humble us. We must all beware of the temptation of pride, of taking credit for ourselves when it is God alone in His mercy who deserves the praise. To declare war against God is to commit eternal suicide, because God always wins. Herod’s glory was short-lived, and his misery is eternal. Even the Antichrist and the false prophet will only enjoy three and a half years of glory before God casts them into the lake of fire, where Satan himself will end up. All who never submitted to God will be thrown into that cauldron, to be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 15). (Acts 12:1-25 The Unstoppable Gospel) John
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Cole - At the beginning of Acts 12, we have James dead, Peter in prison, and the tyrant Herod basking in his popularity and power. At the end of the chapter, we have Peter free, Herod eaten by worms and dead, and the Word of God growing and multiplying. Luke is showing us that the gospel is unstoppable. If you oppose the gospel, you may temporarily win, but you will finally lose and lose big. If you stand for the gospel, you may temporarily lose, but you will finally win and win big....Since God is almighty, no force can stop the spread of His gospel according to His purpose. (The Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:1-25) The Word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied - What is the Word of the Lord? This is surely the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of salvation available in Him to all who repent and believe. One is reminded of the glorious description of God's Word in Isaiah “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11) NET Note on the word of God - A metonymy for the number of adherents to God’s word. The Word of the Lord in Acts - Acts 8:25; Acts 11:16; Acts 12:24; Acts 13:44; Acts 13:48; Acts 13:49; Acts 15:35; Acts 15:36; Acts 16:32; Acts 19:10; Acts 19:20; In Acts 19:20 we read a parallel description - "So the Word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing." Warren
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Cole concludes his sermon on Acts 12 with an illustration - So the bottom line is, whether the Almighty God delivers us from persecution or whether we die for our faith, we must commit ourselves wholly to the furtherance of His gospel. John Paton was born in Scotland in 1824. As a young Christian, he labored as a city missionary in the slums of Glasgow. But he felt God’s call to take the gospel to the fierce cannibals of the New Hebrides islands in the South Pacific. John Williams and James Harris made the first attempt to take the gospel there in 1839. They were clubbed to death and eaten within a few minutes of their landing. Paton and his new wife landed there on November 5, 1858. On February 12, 1859, she gave birth to a son, but on March 3rd, she died from complications after childbirth. On March 20th, the baby died. Of course Paton struggled with his grief and loneliness. Just before his wife died, she expressed her wish that her mother could be there with her. Then she added, “You must not think that I regret coming here, and leaving my mother. If I had the same thing to do over again, I would do it with far more pleasure, yes, with all my heart. Oh, no! I do not regret leaving home and friends, though at the time I felt it keenly. Her dying words were, “Not lost, only gone before to be for ever with the Lord.” Paton lived into his seventies, devoting himself to the cause of the gospel among these cannibals, experiencing many divine deliverances. At the end of his life he exclaimed, “Oh that I had my life to begin again! I would consecrate it anew to Jesus in seeking the conversion of the remaining Cannibals on the New Hebrides” (John G. Paton Autobiography [Banner of Truth], pp. 84-85, 496). Whatever the cost, may we all commit ourselves to the cause of the unstoppable gospel of Jesus Christ! (The Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:1-25) Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark. KJV Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. Paraphrase Barnabas and Saul, having faithfully delivered the gift to the suffering saints in Jerusalem, returned to continue the work of the gospel, now joined by John Mark, whom God was preparing for future service. Barnabas Acts 11:29,30; 13:1-3 ministry Acts 13:5,13; 15:37 John Acts 12:12; 1 Peter 5:13 THE INCEPTION OF THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem - That is they are making the 300 mile return trip to Antioch. So here we see Acts 12 closing with the account of God’s dramatic deliverance of Peter from prison and the judgment on Herod. With that episode concluded, Luke turns our attention back to the missionary work that will dominate the rest of the book. Barnabas and Saul, who had been sent from Antioch to Jerusalem to deliver relief for the saints during the famine (Acts 11:29–30), now complete their mission and return. Their return marks a transition point, as they bring with them John Mark—the cousin of Barnabas—who will later accompany them on part of the first missionary journey. This verse sets the stage for the expansion of the Gospel beyond Judea into Gentile lands, emphasizing God’s providence in preserving His church and raising up laborers for the harvest. Hallelujah! Thank You Lord of the Harvest! When they had fulfilled (pleroo) their mission (diakonia) -They had brought the relief from Antioch for the disciples suffering from the famine in Jerusalem. This supports the premise that Barnabas and Saul were in Jerusalem when the events in Acts 12 transpired. Fulfilled (pleroo) conveys the sense of finishing their task fully, not halfway. Taking along with them John, who was also called Mark (note) - Recall the prayer meeting was at Mary's house, the mother of John Mark. Were Barnabas and Saul in that prayer meeting interceding for Peter? From the text it certainly seems possible. Jack Arnold sums up this last verse - Barnabas, Paul and John Mark, who were to become great missionaries to the Gentile world, were allowed to be in Jerusalem during these events mentioned in Acts 12. They were observers, but they would remember what happened to James, Peter and Herod, and when in difficult circumstances themselves, they would cling to a sovereign, supernatural working God to deliver them miraculously Maps of the Three Missionary Journeys: Paul's First Missionary Journey - Acts 13:4-14:28 Paul's Second Missionary Journey - Acts 15:36-18:32 Paul's Third Missionary Journey - Acts 18:23-21:26 Mission (1248)(diakonia probably from dioko = to pursue, "to be a follower of a person, to attach one's self to him" - note on origin from Vincent) means the rendering or assistance or help by performing certain duties, often of a humble or menial nature serve, including such mundane activities as waiting on tables or caring for household needs—activities without apparent dignity. Diakonia is related to diakonos, a servant, not in his relation (like doulos) but more in regard to his activity. The term covers both slaves and hired servants. Other sources feel this word group is derived from dia = through + koneo possibly related to konis, “dust”. Some scholars suggested this gives the sense of “raising dust by hastening to serve.” While picturesque, most modern linguists consider this a later, popular etymology rather than the true historical origin. Still, the imagery captures the essence: a servant so eager to meet needs that he runs through the dust. "The basic idea...always had to do with humble, submissive, personal service, not simply with an office or a particular function." (See MacArthur 1 & 2 Corinthians Commentary) DIAKONIA - 32V - ministries(1), ministry(19), mission(1), preparations(1), relief(1), serve(1), service(7), serving(2), support(1). Lk. 10:40; Acts 1:17; Acts 1:25; Acts 6:1; Acts 6:4; Acts 11:29; Acts 12:25; Acts 20:24; Acts 21:19; Rom. 11:13; Rom. 12:7; Rom. 15:31; 1 Co. 12:5; 1 Co. 16:15; 2 Co. 3:7; 2 Co. 3:8; 2 Co. 3:9; 2 Co. 4:1; 2 Co. 5:18; 2 Co. 6:3; 2 Co. 8:4; 2 Co. 9:1; 2 Co. 9:12; 2 Co. 9:13; 2 Co. 11:8; Eph. 4:12; Col. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:5; 2 Tim. 4:11; Heb. 1:14; Rev. 2:19 As J Vernon McGee said "We have come now to the end of the second period of the Book of Acts. The gospel has gone into Judea and Samaria. Beginning with the next chapter we will see the movement of the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth. We are still in that movement today. I hope that you and I are both involved in it." And so we come to end of the First half of Acts (Peter‘s half)! Chapters 1-12: Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Chapters 13-28: Uttermost part of the earth. Similarities: Peter Paul First Sermon Acts 2 Acts 13 Lame man healed Acts 3 Acts 14 The Sorcerer Simon, Acts 8 Elymas, Acts 13 Influence shadow, Acts 5 handkerchief, Acts 19 Laying on hands Acts 8 Acts 19 Worshiped Acts 10 Acts 14 Raised Tabitha, Acts 9 Eutychus, Acts 20 Imprisoned Acts 12 Acts 28 ILLUSTRATIONS - 1. The Relay Race Baton Picture a relay race where one runner completes their segment and hands the baton to the next. Barnabas and Saul had “fulfilled their mission” in Jerusalem; now John Mark joins them, like a fresh runner added to the team. The gospel mission is passed from one faithful servant to another, ensuring it continues without interruption. (cf 2Ti 2:1-2+) 2. The Completed Delivery Think of a courier safely delivering a precious package across difficult terrain. Barnabas and Saul had carried the “gift” of relief from Antioch to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29–30+). Having completed the delivery, they now return, this time not with goods but with a person—John Mark—showing that God’s work multiplies beyond material aid to raising up new workers. 3. The Apprenticeship Model An older craftsman completes a big project and invites his younger apprentice to join him on the next one. Barnabas and Saul had done the work; now John Mark joins, learning from them as they move into the next phase of gospel ministry. This highlights the importance of mentoring in God’s mission. 4. The Transition Bridge Imagine a bridge connecting two lands. Acts 12:25 acts like a bridge: it connects the story of Jerusalem’s church (relief in famine, persecution of Peter, judgment of Herod) with the launching of worldwide missions. The addition of John Mark shows God’s plan expanding from local aid to global proclamation. 5. The Orchestra Growing An orchestra begins with a few instruments but soon adds more players, enriching the music. Barnabas and Saul return with John Mark—another instrument in God’s symphony of grace—hinting at the harmony of teamwork in advancing the gospel. “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.” God’s work often moves in seasons of assignment and transition. Barnabas and Saul were sent with a specific mission—to deliver relief to the believers in Jerusalem. They did not abandon it halfway, nor did they linger longer than necessary. Luke says they “fulfilled their mission.” That phrase reminds us of the importance of finishing what God calls us to do, whether it feels large or small. But the verse also shows us that when one assignment is complete, God often opens the door to the next. On their return, Barnabas and Saul did not come back alone—they brought John Mark. This detail may seem small, but it reveals a truth: God multiplies His work by bringing in new workers at the right time. Like a relay baton passed or an apprentice joining the workshop, John Mark entered the scene as God was preparing the missionary thrust that would carry the gospel to the nations. In the same way, our obedience today prepares the way for others tomorrow. 🙏 THOUGHT - Have you been faithful to fulfill the task (the diakonia, the servile work) God has given you? Or are you being tempted by the lure of a brighter billboard and applause from the crowd? Let us all seek to obey Paul's warning to Archippus "Take heed (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) to the ministry (diakonia) which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill (pleroo) it.” (Col 4:17+) Ministry is received, not achieved We serve because God entrusts ministry to us, not because we create it or deserve it! QUESTION - Who was John Mark in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org ANSWER - John Mark, often just called Mark, is the author of the gospel of Mark. He was a believer in the early church mentioned directly only in the book of Acts. John Mark is first mentioned as the son of a woman named Mary (Acts 12:12), whose house was being used as a place for believers to gather and pray. Later, Mark is mentioned as a companion of Barnabas and Paul during their travels together (Acts 12:25). John Mark was also Barnabas’ cousin (Colossians 4:10). John Mark was a helper on Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). However, he did not stay through the whole trip. John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas in Pamphylia and left the work (Acts 15:38). The Bible does not say why Mark deserted, but his departure came right after a mostly fruitless time in Cyprus (Acts 13:4–12). Only one conversion is recorded in Cyprus, but there had been strong demonic opposition. It could be that the young John Mark was discouraged at the hardness of the way and decided to return to the comforts of home. Some time later, after Paul and Barnabas had returned from their first journey, Paul expressed a desire to go back to the brothers in the cities they had previously visited to see how everyone was doing (Acts 15:36). Barnabas agreed, apparently upon the provision that they take John Mark with them. Paul refused to have Mark on the trip, however, citing Mark’s previous desertion. Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp disagreement” about John Mark (verse 39) and wound up separating from each other and going on separate journeys. Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas with him through Syria and Cilicia to encourage the believers in the churches in those areas (Acts 15:39–41). Barnabas, the “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36), desired to forgive John Mark’s failure and to give him another chance. Paul took the more rational view: pioneering missionary work requires dedication, resolve, and endurance. Paul saw John Mark as a risk to their mission. Luke, the writer of Acts, does not take sides or present either Paul or Barnabas as being in the right. He simply records the facts. It’s worth noting that, in the end, two groups of missionaries were sent out—twice as many missionaries were spreading the gospel. John Mark sails off to Cyprus with his cousin Barnabas, but that is not the end of his story. Years later, he is with Paul, who calls him a “fellow worker” (Philemon 1:24). And near the end of Paul’s life, Paul sends a request to Timothy from a Roman prison: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). Obviously, John Mark had matured through the years and had become a faithful servant of the Lord. Paul recognized his progress and considered him a valuable companion. John Mark wrote the gospel that bears his name sometime between AD 55 and 59. There could be a veiled reference to John Mark in Mark 14:51–52. In that passage a young man, roused from sleep on the night that Jesus was arrested, attempts to follow the Lord, and the mob who had Jesus in custody attempts to seize him. The young man escapes and flees into the night. The fact that this incident is only recorded in Mark’s gospel—and the fact that the young man is anonymous—has led some scholars to surmise that the fleeing young man is actually John Mark.