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. AND BARNABAS AND SAUL RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM. It is impossible to determine with certainty whether they came to Jerusalem before, during, or after Herod's proceedings against James and Peter. Critics are divided between the first and last suppositions. But the natural inference from the language of the historian is that they arrived before it, in which case it must have been just before it; and as their mission would be soon fulfilled, they probably kept themselves quiet, and left as soon as Herod departed for Caesarea. WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THEIR MINISTRY, [ teen (G3588) diakonian (G1248)] or 'service;' referring to th...

25_And Barnabas and Paul. _The ministry which Luke saith Barnabas and Paul did finish, must be referred unto the alms, whereof mention was made before. For after that Agabus the prophet had foretold the famine and barrenness, the brethren gathered money at Antioch, whereby they might relieve the necessity of the church which was at Jerusalem; the carrying of this money was committed to Barnabas and Paul. Now Luke saith that they returned to Antioch, that he may pass over unto a new history. He addeth, _that they took with them John, whose surname was Mark, _whose mother was honorably commended before, that he might keep them company, who was afterward, as we shall see, a cause of grievous and dangerous [hurtful] discord between them....

20-25 Many heathen princes claimed and received Divine honours, but it was far more horrible impiety in Herod, who knew the word and worship of the living God, to accept such idolatrous honours without rebuking the blasphemy. And such men as Herod, when puffed with pride and vanity, are ripening fast for signal vengeance. God is very jealous for his own honour, and will be glorified upon those whom he is not glorified by. See what vile bodies we carry about with us; they have in them the seeds of their own dissolution, by which they will soon be destroyed, whenever God does but speak the word. We may learn wisdom from the people of Tyre and Sidon, for we have offended the Lord with our sins. We depend on him for life, and breath, and all things; it surely then behoves us to humble ourselves before him, that through the appointed Mediator, who is ever ready to befriend us, we may be recon...

Verse Acts 12:25. _RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM_] That is, to _Antioch_, after the death of Herod. _WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED_ their _ministry_] When they had carried the alms of the Christians at Antioch to the poor saints at Jerusalem, according to what is mentioned, Acts 11:29, to support them in the time of the coming famine. _AND TOOK WITH THEM JOHN, WHOSE SURNAME WAS MARK._] This was the son of Mary, mentioned Acts 12:12. He accompanied the apostles to Cyprus, and afterwards in several of their voyages, till they came to _Perga_ in _Pamphylia_. Finding them about to take a more extensive voyage, he departed from them. See the case,...

RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM - They had gone to Jerusalem to carry alms, and they now returned to Antioch, Acts 11:30. WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THEIR MINISTRY - When they had accomplished the purpose for which they had been sent there; that is, to deposit the alms of the church at Antioch in the hands of the eiders of the churches, Acts 11:30. JOHN, WHOSE SURNAME WAS MARK - See the notes on Acts 12:12. From this period the sacred historian records chiefly the labors of Paul. The labors of the other apostles are, after this, seldom referred to in this book, and the attention is fixed almost entirely on the trials and travels

EXPOSITION ACTS 12:1 _Put _for _stretched, _A.V.;_ afflict _for _vex, _A.V. The phrase, ABOUT THAT TIME, as in Acts 19:23, points to what had just before been related (Meyer). The interposition of the narrative in this chapter between Acts 11:20 and Acts 12:25 evidently implies that the bulk or rather the chief of the events narrated happened in the interval. Which of the events was the chief in the mind of the narrator with reference to his general narrative, and what are the coincidences which he wished to note, it is not easy to say with certainty. The narrative in this c

AND BARNABAS AND SAUL RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM,.... Two of Beza's exemplars, the Complutensian edition and the Syriac version, add, "unto Antioch"; and certain it is, that from thence they were sent, and thither they returned, for we find them there in the beginning of the next chapter: WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THEIR MINISTRY; which was the carrying the relief, or the money collected by the Christians at Antioch, for the brethren in Judea, on account of the famine that was there: AND TOOK WITH THEM JOHN, WHOSE SURNAME WAS MARK: the son of Mary, at whose house the disciples were met together, and praying; and where Peter first went, after he was delivered from prison, Acts 12:12 him they brought with them from Jerusalem to Antioch, being a kinsman of Barnabas; and a man of promising gifts and usefulness, and judged to be a fit companion with them in their tra

ACTS 12:25 Sau/loj After Sau/loj several Western witnesses (614 itp syrh with * copG67) add o]j evpeklh,qh Pau/loj (“who was called Paul”). This appears to be a scribal anticipation of Acts 13:9 (Sau/loj o` kai. Pau/loj), introduced here because of the presence later in the verse of a similar identification of John Mark (VIwa,nnhn to.n evpiklhqe,nta Ma/rkon). Furthermore, instead of Sau/loj manuscripts 2 57 326 436 441 _al_ read Pau/loj (102 reads Sau/loj Pau/loj)....

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The great Persecution by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1)._ 2. The miraculous deliverance of Peter (Acts 12:6). 3. The Presumption and Judgment of Herod (Acts 12:18). 4. Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem (Acts 12:24). With this chapter we reach the conclusion of the second part of this book. Jerusalem had heard the second offer concerning the Kingdom, and mercy was ready even for the murderers of the Prince of Life. But that offer was rejected. Stephen's testimony followed by his martyrdom marked the close of that second offer to the city where our Lord had been crucified. Then broke out a great p

FATE OF THE SOLDIERS AND OF HEROD. For the soldiers, _cf. Acts 5:21_ ff. Here they are led away to be put to death. The story of Herod's glorification and end is told by Josephus in a similar way; but our version is at some points defective. Herod's displeasure with Tyre dates from an earlier period; no disagreement with Sidon is reported. As king of Judæ a he had a hold on the two towns which depended on importation for their corn, and they might seek to work on him through Blastus, the Master of his Bedchamber; he was a good-natured man they could get round him. Acts 12:21_ b_ requires some such clause as is found in D, on his being reconciled to the Tyrians. His decision was evidently to be given at a splendid court ceremony. The scene is described by Josephus (_Ant._ XIX. viii. 2) who s