Acts 12:25-13:3

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

 

    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. 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." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

 

We first hear about Barnabas and Saul’s mission to deliver food from the Gentiles to relieve Judean believers suffering from famine at the end of chapter eleven, right before the stories of James’ death, Peter’s imprisonment, Peter’s escape, and Herod’s demise. And we are told that the mission ended here, after Herod’s demise. Barnabas and Saul may well have been in Jerusalem carrying out their mission at the same time as God delivered Peter from prison. And when they returned from Jerusalem to Antioch, they took along John, also called Mark. It was John’s mom’s house that was hosting a prayer meeting for Peter and that Peter went to when he escaped from prison.

 

Luke signals a shift in the story at this point, though. “In the church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers…” Rather than continuing to tell the story, he sets out some information that he feels we ought to know before he continues. But it seems like kind of dry information. There were prophets and teachers? Isn’t that supposed to be true in all God’s churches? Yes. But remember, the church at Antioch was a non-Jewish church. So it was important for Luke to emphasize that God was working through them just as He was through the Jewish church. He had set people among them who were gifted in hearing God’s voice and proclaiming His truths.

 

The first and last leaders mentioned are Barnabas and Saul. The middle three include a man “called Niger” (was he from Africa?), a Cyrenian, and a man who had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch (not the first choice a Jew would make for a church leader). This was definitely a Gentile church, and God had clearly redeemed people the Jews would not previously have considered as part of God’s covenant people, even making some of them prophets and teachers in His church!

 

These prophets and teachers were worshiping the Lord and fasting. While they did so, the Holy Spirit told them to set Barnabas and Saul apart for another work to which He had called them – they were no longer to minister primarily in Antioch. The whole group of prophets and teachers received this message from the Holy Spirit. And these Gentile leaders obeyed. After fasting and praying and laying their hands on Barnabas and Saul, they sent them away from their service in Antioch to pursue the Lord’s calling.

 

And thus began the now-famous missionary travels of Barnabas and Saul. A team member from Jerusalem joined them before their travels were even official (John-Mark). And a group of Gentile church leaders listened to and obeyed the Holy Spirit. God was building His ethnically diverse church. The gospel was spreading!

 

Father, thank You that Your hand is so evident in history. Sometimes it is hard to discern what You are doing in the present. But it is comforting to see that You have been guiding all events toward Your purposes throughout history. And looking back, it is especially clear that You have been building Your church! Through Jews, yes. And through non-Jews, too – through Gentiles! Gentiles have been included in Your good plans and have been entrusted with Your directions for the church. And You have found them to be faithful. Today, too, continue to guide us. Continue to direct us and to build Your church through us – all of us, Jews and Gentiles.