Act 12:12, 25, Col 4:10 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 12. And when he had considered , etc. Thinking on the subject; considering what he should do in these circumstances. He came to the house of Mary , etc. Probably this house was near him; and he would naturally seek the dwelling of a Christian friend. The mother of John, etc. Probably this was the John Mark who wrote the gospel. But this is not certain. Whose surname . Greek, Who was called Mark. It does not mean that he had two names conferred, as with us, both of which were used at the same time. But he was called by either--the Greeks probably using the name Mark, and the Jews the name John. He is frequently mentioned afterwards, as having been the attendant of Paul and Barnabas in their travels, He was a nephew of Barnabas, . Where many were gathered together praying . This was in the night ; and it shows the propriety of observing extraordinary seasons of prayer, even in the night. Peter was to have been put to death the next day; and they assembled to pray for his release, and did not intermit their prayers. When dangers increase around us and our friends, we should become more fervent in prayer. While life remains we may pray; and even when there is no human hope, and we may have no power to heal or deliver, still God may interpose, as he did here, in answer to prayer. (a) "Many were gathered"

Acts 12:12

Verse 12. And when he had considered, etc. Thinking on the subject; considering what he should do in these circumstances.

He came to the house of Mary, etc. Probably this house was near him; and he would naturally seek the dwelling of a Christian friend.

The mother of John, etc. Probably this was the John Mark who wrote the gospel. But this is not certain.

Whose surname. Greek, Who was called Mark. It does not mean that he had two names conferred, as with us, both of which were used at the same time. But he was called by either--the Greeks probably using the name Mark, and the Jews the name John. He is frequently mentioned afterwards, as having been the attendant of Paul and Barnabas in their travels, Acts 12:25, 15:39, 2Ti 4:11 He was a nephew of Barnabas, Col 4:10.

Where many were gathered together praying. This was in the night; and it shows the propriety of observing extraordinary seasons of prayer, even in the night. Peter was to have been put to death the next day; and they assembled to pray for his release, and did not intermit their prayers. When dangers increase around us and our friends, we should become more fervent in prayer. While life remains we may pray; and even when there is no human hope, and we may have no power to heal or deliver, still God may interpose, as he did here, in answer to prayer.

(a) "Many were gathered" Acts 12:5

Acts 12:25

Verse 25. 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 elders of the churches, chap. xi. 30.

John, whose surname was Mark. Acts 11:30.

John, whose surname was Mark. Acts 12:12. From this period the sacred historian records chiefly the labours of Paul. The labours 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 of the great apostle of the Gentiles. His important labours, his unwearied efforts, his eminent success, and the fact that Luke was his companion, may be the reasons why his labours are made so prominent in the history. Through the previous chapters we have seen the church rise from small beginnings, until it was even now spreading into surrounding regions. We have seen it survive two persecutions, commenced and conducted with all the power and malice of Jewish rulers. We have seen the most zealous of the persecutors converted to the faith which he once destroyed; and the royal persecutor put to death by the Divine judgment. And we have thus seen that God was the Protector of the church; that no weapon formed against it could prosper; and that, according to the promise of the Redeemer, the gates of hell could not prevail against it. In that God and Saviour, who then defended the church, we may still confide; and may be assured that he who was then its Friend has it stir "engraved on the palms of his hands," and intends that it shall extend until it fills the earth with light and salvation.

Colossians 4:10

Verse 10. Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner. Aristarchus was of Thessalonica, and is mentioned in Acts 19:29, 20:4, as Paul's companion in his travels. In Acts 27:2, it is said that he accompanied him in his voyage to Rome, and from the passage before us it appears that he was there imprisoned with him. As he held the same sentiments as Paul, and was united with him in his travels and labours, it was natural that he should be treated in the same manner. He, together with Gaius, had been seized in the tumult at Ephesus, and treated with violence; but he adhered to the apostle in all his troubles, and attended him in all his perils. Nothing further is certainly known of him, though the Greeks say that he was bishop of Assamea in Syria, and was beheaded with Paul at Rome, under Nero." Calmet.

And Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas. John Mark, in relation to whom Paul and Barnabas had formerly disagreed so much as to cause a separation between Barnabas and Paul. The ground of the disagreement was, that Barnabas wished to take him, probably on account of relationship, with them in their travels; Paul was unwilling to take him, because he had, on one occasion, departed from them. Acts 15:37; Acts 15:38; Acts 15:39. They afterward became reconciled, and Paul mentions Mark here with affection. He sent for him when he sent Tychicus to Ephesus, and it seems that he had come to him in obedience to his request, 2Ti 4:11. Mark had probably become more decided, and Paul did not harbour unkind and unforgiving feelings towards any one.

Touching whom ye received commandments. What these directions were, and how they were communicated, whether verbally or by writing, is now unknown. It was, not improbably, on some occasion when Paul was with them. He refers to it here in order that they might know distinctly whom he meant.

If he come unto you, receive him. In Phm 1:24, Mark is mentioned as a "fellow-labourer" of Paul. It would seem probable, therefore, that he was not a prisoner. Paul here intimates that he was about to leave Rome, and he enjoins it on the Colossians to receive him kindly. This injunction may have been necessary, as the Colossians may have been aware of the breach between him and Paul, and may have been disposed to regard him with suspicion. Paul retained no malice, and now commended in the warmest manner, one from whom he was formerly constrained to separate.