Act 12:25, 15:39, 2Ti 4:11 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 25. Returned from Jerusalem . They had gone to Jerusalem to carry alms, and they now returned to Antioch, . 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 . . John, whose surname was Mark . . 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.

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.

Acts 15:39

Verse 39. And the contention was so sharp. The word used here-- παροξυσμος--is that from which our word paroxysm is derived. It may denote any excitement of mind, and is used in a good sense in Heb 10:24. It here means, evidently, a violent altercation that resulted in their separation for a time, and in their engaging in different spheres of labour.

2 Timothy 4:11

Verse 11. Only Luke is with me. Luke, the author of the gospel which bears his name, and of the Acts of the Apostles. For a considerable part of the ministry of Paul, he was his travelling companion, comp. Acts 16:10; and we know that he went with him to Rome, Acts 27:1.

Take Mark. John Mark, Acts 15:37. He was the son of a sister of Barnabas, and had been the travelling companion of Barnabas and Paul. There had been a temporary alienation between Paul and him, Acts 15:38, but this passage proves that that had been removed, and that Paul was reconciled to him.

For he is profitable to me for the ministry. In what way he would be profitable he does not say; nor is it known why Mark was at that time with Timothy. It may be observed however, that this is such language as Paul might be expected to use of Mark, after what had occurred, as recorded in Acts 15:38. He felt that he was now about to die. If he suspected that there was on the part of Mark any lingering apprehension that the great apostle was not entirely reconciled to him, or retained a recollection of what had formerly occurred, nothing would be more natural than that at this trying time of his life, Paul should summon him to his side, and express towards him the kindest emotions. It would soothe any lingering irritation in the mind of Mark to receive such a message.