Actsc13:26

Acts 13: 26 says, Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.  Paul made the message personal for those who were listening.  To the children of Abraham, and those that fear the Lord, salvation was sent.  We must ultimately let everyone we witness to know that Christ died to bring salvation to them.  It has to become personal and not just an abstract idea.  Verse twenty-seven adds, For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. Then, Paul told them that since they didn't even recognize what was read to them each Sabbath, they demanded the death of Jesus, even though they found no fault with Him.  Attending religious services does not bring salvation, only Christ does.  Neither does attending religious services and hearing God's word bring salvation.  A lot of sinners are hiding out in the church every week.  Only the belief in Christ as one's personal Savior can bring salvation.  Verse twenty-eight continues, And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.  Having found no guilt in Him, Jesus was crucified, and the religious leaders were just as responsible for His death as were the secular leaders. When those who are supposed to be representing God work against Him and in harmony with the world, then they need a word as Paul delivered to the synagogue leaders that day.  Paul knew what the religious leaders believed about Jesus, because he had believed the same thing until his personal encounter with God on the road to Damascus.  People will never change their belief about Christ until they encounter Him personally.  Verse twenty-nine says, And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.   Jesus was placed in a tomb.  It was a borrowed one, because Jesus was not going to need it very long.  Verse thirty adds, But God raised him from the dead:  Jesus did not stay in the grave, as God raised Him form the dead, as He had promised to their forefathers.  As Christians, it really doesn’t matter where we are buried from spiritual point of view, because we are not going to remain there forever.  Like Jesus Christ Himself, one day we will rise again.  This is the good news that we have to share with the world today.  Verse thirty-one continues, And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.  The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was witnessed by many people.  We can either believe the truth of this or not, but by faith we should never doubt it.  Verse thirty-two states, And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,  Paul said he had good news for them about the promise made to their fathers.  Even in the period when the Jewish people were under the Law of God, the promise to them was that a Messiah was coming to save them.  This has always been God’s plan of salvation, and it always will be.  Verse thirty-three adds, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.  Paul said that as the second Psalm said, Jesus was the only begotten Son of God.  He was therefore the only One qualified to redeem mankind and He always will be.  Verse thirty-four continues, And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.  Paul said that since Jesus defeated death, never suffering the corruption of death, that God was going to give them the mercies of David, whose descendant, Jesus Christ, was the fulfillment of God’s promise to him that he would make him a great nation.  We are a part of that promise as Christians.  Verse thirty-five states, Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  More than one Psalm pointed out that the coming Messiah would suffer no corruption, and this could not apply to David as the next verse points out.  Verse thirty-six continues, For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:  David died, and like all other people, his body was corrupted.  Being a descendant of David was a point of pride for the Jewish people, but it did not bring salvation.  David could not save them.  Verse thirty-seven concludes, But he whom God raised again saw no corruption.  Paul said the scripture said neither did He see corruption.  Jesus is the only One Who fulfilled that promise.   

The Israelites chose Saul as their king.  Saul ruled for forty years, but became more concerned with Saul than he was with God, so God chose David as the new king while Saul was still alive.  God called David a man after His own heart who would obey His will.  They needed a leader who was willing to follow God.  We need the same thing today.  From David's descendants God raised up a savior as He had promised.  Now, Paul moved from what the Jewish leaders knew to what they had not acknowledged, that the Savior wasn't just coming, He had already come.  The Savior was Jesus.  John had preached repentance to the people of Israel, and he had quite a following, but he was quick to point out that he was not Messiah they looked for.  The people might have accepted John more easily than Jesus, but John was true to his call.  Our actions should always point people to God and not to us.  As Christians, we cannot separate the world into what we do for God and what we do for self.  Any action we take must be for God's glory, not our own.  In Acts 13: 26, Paul made the message personal for those who were listening.  To the children of Abraham, and those that fear the Lord, salvation was sent.  We must ultimately let everyone we witness to know that Christ died to bring salvation to them.  It has to become personal and not just an abstract idea.  Then, Paul told them that since they didn't even recognize what was read to them each Sabbath, they demanded the death of Jesus, even though they found no fault with Him.  Attending religious services does not bring salvation, only Christ does.  Neither does attending religious services and hearing God's word bring salvation.  A lot of sinners are hiding out in the church every week.  Only the belief in Christ as ones personal Savior can bring salvation.

Acts 13:17

Acts 13: 17 says, The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.  Paul began to review the history of God's relationship with Israel, from the time He delivered them from Egypt.  I don't know why Paul chose to start at that point, but he was about to tell them of the ultimate delivery of all people of all time by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, if they will accept Him..  Verse eighteen adds, And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.  Paul reminded them that their lack of faith led to forty years in the wilderness.  Paul did not berate them for the actions of their forefathers, but simply stated a truth they could not deny.  We as Christians too often spend time wandering in the wilderness of sin instead of following the leadership of the Holy Spirit or wandering in the wilderness of sin because we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, which is much worse.  Verse nineteen continues, And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.  Despite their disobedience in the wilderness, God gave them the land that He promised them.  God does not forget His promises, and Paul was moving them ahead to the fulfillment of the promise of the coming Messiah. Verse twenty states, And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.  Paul said Israel was under judges for four hundred fifty years, until the coming of the prophet Samuel.  By now, we might have been bored with the word of exhortation that Paul was sharing.  He was speaking in the synagogue after all, and he was seemingly giving them a history lesson.  We sometimes look for a fiery preacher to excite us, when often what we need is a knowledgeable preacher to exhort us.  We seldom extol a preacher that we find boring, no matter how accurately he proclaims God's word.  Verse twenty-one adds, And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.  Paul then reminded them of their ancestor's desire for a king.  Why did they want one?  Basically, it was because the other nations had one and Israel didn't.  They were once again forgetting that God was to be their leader, and the fact that He had set them apart from the rest of the world.  When we as Christians start wanting to be like the rest of the world, we have forgotten who we are.  We are God's people set apart from the world for His purpose.  We are to allow God to work through us to redeem the world, not to be conformed to the world.  When the things of this world begin to matter more to us than the morality of God, then we are useless servants of God.  Verse twenty-two continues, And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.  The Israelites chose Saul as their king.  Saul ruled for forty years but became more concerned with Saul than he was with God, so God chose David as the new king while Saul was still alive.  God called David a man after His own heart who would obey His will.  They needed a leader who was willing to follow God.  We need the same thing today.  Verse twenty-three declares, Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:  From David's descendants God raised up a savior as He had promised.  Now, Paul moved from what the Jewish leaders knew to what they had not acknowledged, that the Savior wasn't just coming, He had already come.  The Savior was Jesus.  Verse twenty-four adds, When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.  John the Baptist had preached repentance to the people of Israel, and he had quite a following, but he was quick to point out that he was not Messiah they looked for.  We don’t need to look anywhere but to Jesus Christ for salvation.  Verse twenty-five continues, And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.  The people might have accepted John more easily than Jesus, but John was true to his call.  Our actions should always point people to God and not to us.  As Christians, we cannot separate the world into what we do for God and what we do for self.  Any action we take must be for God's glory, not our own.   

When Paul and Barnabas were asked if they had a word of exhortation, Paul was ready.  Since he was speaking to Jews, he started at a point that he knew they would understand.  He began in Acts 13: 17 to review the history of God's relationship with Is real, from the time he delivered them from Egypt.  I don't know why Paul chose to start at that point, but he was about to tell them of the ultimate delivery of all people of all time by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Paul reminded them that their lack of faith led to forty years in the wilderness.  Paul did not berate them for the actions of their forefathers, but simply stated a truth they could not deny.  In spite of their disobedience in the wilderness, God gave them the land that He promised them.  God does not forget His promises, and Paul was moving them ahead to the fulfillment of the promise of the coming Messiah.  Israel was under judges for four hundred fifty years, until the coming of the prophet Samuel.  By now, we might have been bored with the word of exhortation that Paul was sharing.  He was speaking in the synagogue after all, and he was seemingly giving them a history lesson.  We sometimes look for a fiery preacher to excite us, when often what we need is a knowledgeable preacher to exhort us.  We seldom extol a preacher that we find boring, no matter how accurately he proclaims God's word.  Paul then reminded them of their ancestors desire for a king.  Why did they want one?  Basically, it was because the other nations had one and Israel didn't.  They were once again forgetting that God was to be their leader, and the fact that He was set them apart from the rest of the world.  When we as Christians start wanting to be like the rest of the world, we have forgotten who we are.  We are God's people set apart from the world for His purpose.  We are to allow God to work through us to redeem the world, not to be conformed to the world.  When the things of this world begin to matter more than the morality of God to us, then we are useless servants of God.

After Paul and Barnabas departed Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia.  They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.  They didn't go in demanding to be heard.  Sometimes it is better to listen to others a while before we begin to share the gospel.  If we attempt to beat them over the head with the gospel when we first encounter them, they may become defensive and never listen.  The leaders of the synagogue read the law and prophets.  They knew God's Word pointing to the Messiah, but that was now old news.  After reading, they asked Paul and Barnabas if they had a word of exhortation.  I'm not sure what they expected, but I don't think it was what they got.  Then Paul stood up and asked the religious leaders, who he called men of Israel and those that fear God, to give listen to him.  He did not start by telling them they were lost and doomed to hell.  He started by addressing them with respect.  I don't think we will ever be really effective in presenting the gospel if we look down on those we are trying to reach.  I am not saying standing on the street corner preaching the gospel is wrong.  Yet, if we do this, we need to do it out of compassion and without an air of superiority.  Paul met them where they were spiritually and then preached to them Jesus.  We have to start where people are spiritually and lead them with respect to understand Who Jesus is.  Paul, who had been ready to drag Christians bound to Jerusalem to be punished now reached out to the leaders of the synagogue with compassion.  Then, as we will see, he let them know that he indeed had a word of exhortation.

Acts13:13

Acts 13:13 says, Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.  Paul and his company departed Paphos. Notice until this point it had been Barnabas and Saul (Paul).  Now, it was Paul and his company.  We aren't given any explanation as to why this change occurred, but it would seem that Barnabas was now in a secondary position to Paul.  What kind of problems could occur in the church today if someone who had been the leader suddenly found themself in a secondary role?  Since usually the pastor moves to another church when replaced, it would likely be a deacon, Sunday school teacher or some other position in the church.  There is no evidence that Barnabas was jealous or upset, but for some reason John departed from them when they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and he returned to Jerusalem.  We aren't told why, but there was a split.  What we must realize is that serving God is not about position, but about obedience.  We know Paul had a miraculous call, but he also was left dependent on others for a period of time, so it may be that at this point he had finally grown in faith enough to be a leader of others.  We should never take on a position of service to God unless we have been called to that position, and even when called, we must grow in faith to fulfill that call.  Yes, if God calls us, He will equip us, but it still requires us to grow in the faith of that call.  As we serve God in any position, we should, through faith in God and what He wants us to do, continue to be more effective.  I believe that Saul, until he grew in faith to be Paul, was not ready to lead others, but now he was fully doing what God called him to do, and Barnabas continued to go with him.  I don't believe Paul suddenly said he would be the leader.  I think God led the group to that position.  There may have been no thought given to the change, other than John leaving, but the fact remains that often there is.  The only position we need to think about is our position of service to God.  Verse fourteen adds, But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.  After Perga, Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch, where they went on the Sabbath Day and sat down to worship.  They did not just assert their right to share the gospel with the people there but sat down to join them.  I believe that we should always meet people as equals and not with an attitude of moral superiority.  Verse fifteen continues, And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.  After the reading of the law and the prophets, the part of the scripture that they had then, they asked Paul and Barnabas if they had any word of exhortation for the people there.  We should always make sure that the Bible is the source of anything we teach in the church today. Verse sixteen concludes, Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.  When Paul and Barnabas were asked if they had a word of exhortation, Paul was ready. Since he was speaking to Jews, he started at a point that he knew they would understand.    

In Acts 13:13, we are told Paul and his company departed Paphos.  Notice until this point it had been Barnabas and Saul (Paul).  Now, it was Paul and his company.  We aren't given any explanation as to why this change occurred, but it would seem that Barnabas was now in a secondary position to Paul.  What kind of problems could occur in the church today if someone who had been the leader suddenly found themself in a secondary role?  Since usually the pastor moves to another church when replaced, it would likely be a deacon, Sunday school teacher or some other position in the church.  There is no evidence that Barnabas was jealous or upset, but for some reason John departed from them when they came to Perga in Pamphylia, and he returned to Jerusalem.  We aren't told why, but there was a split.  What we must realize is that serving God is not about position, but about obedience.  We know Paul had a miraculous call, but he also was left dependent on others for a period of time, so it may be that at this point he had finally grown in faith enough to be a leader of others.  We should never take on a position of service to God unless we have been called to that position, and even when called, we must grow in faith to fulfill that call.  Yes, if God calls me He will equip me, but it still requires me to grow in the faith of that call.  As we serve God in any position, we should, through faith in God and what He wants us to do, continue to be more effective.  I believe that Saul, until he grew in faith to be Paul, was not ready to lead others, but now he was fully doing what God called him to do, and Barnabas continued to go with him.  I don't believe Paul suddenly said he would be the leader.  I think God led the group to that position.  There may have been no thought given to the change, other than John leaving, but the fact remains that often there is.  The only position we need to think about is our position of service to God.

False prophets are nothing new.  There were many encounters between the prophets of God and false prophets in the Old Testament, so it should not come as a surprise that those in the early church soon encountered one.  When Barnabas, Saul, and John had gone through Paphos, they found a sorcerer, a false prophet, and a Jew named Barjesus.  We might have to ask how one person could be all three.  Yet, today we have Christians who follow their horoscope as religiously as they do their Bible, if not more so.  You really cannot believe both.  If you follow Christ as your Lord and Master, then you cannot follow His creation, the stars, as the determining factor in your life.  Barjesus was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, who was said to be a prudent man.  Sergius Paulus called for Barnabas and Saul, because he wanted to hear a word from God.  This must have made Barjesus (Elymas by interpretation) mad.  He withstood Barnabas and Saul, trying to turn the deputy from the faith.  He would have lost a lot of influence if the deputy believed.  If false prophets feel threatened, they will be even more determined to keep people from the truth.  Saul, also called Paul, full of the Holy Spirit, told Elymas what he really was, a man full of all subtility and deceit, a child of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness.  Now, one man can easily be all those things.  Then Paul told him that the hand of the Lord was upon him and he would be blind for a season.  It happened immediately.  God judgment was not deferred.  The deputy believed and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Acts 13:1

Acts 13:1 says, Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  We learn more about the growth of the early church.  We are told that in the church at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers.  In the Old Testament, prophets were those who foretold the future, as it affected God's people and the coming Messiah.  The prophets and teachers in the church pointed to the accomplished fact of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His impact on the world then and in the future.  I don't believe they saw themselves as a small church, but as the beginning of a world-changing movement.  Any church that God is at work in is never small.  Those mentioned at the church in Antioch were Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Luscius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  They were believers from diverse places and backgrounds, but they were united in the church.  God calls all people from everywhere, but when they become His followers, He calls them to unity in the church.  Verse two adds, As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost spoke to them.  Maybe we don't have the Holy Ghost speak as much to us today because instead of ministering we are mumbling and instead of fasting we are feasting.  They were to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work God had for them to do.  Verse three continues, And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.  They obeyed, again fasting,  and praying and laying hands on them and sending them on their way.  The members of the church did what God directed them to do, and now it was time for Barnabas and Saul to be obedient.  The same is true for Christians today.  Verse four states, So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.  Barnabas and Saul, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, left Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus.  As followers of Christ, we should always go where the Holy Spirit leads us.  Verse five adds, And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.  At Salinas, they preached the gospel in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had John as their minister.  They were still being somewhat exclusive with the gospel, but even if we act in an exclusive manner, the gospel will not be contained to an exclusive group.  Verse six continues, And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:  On the Isle of Paphos, they met a sorcerer named Barjesus, who was a false prophet.  There are many false prophets in the world today as well as those who practice sorcery.  We need to be able to recognize them for what they are when we meet them.  Verse seven says, Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.  Barjesus was with one of the deputies of the country, who was called a prudent man who desired to hear what Barnabas and Saul had to say.  We need to pray for the lost people today, even those who may be following false gods, that they might be prudent enough to want to hear about Jesus.  Verse eight adds, But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.  The sorcerer, who is called Elymas here, which we are told was an interpretation of his name, withstood Barnabas and Saul.  He wanted to turn the deputy away from pitting his faith in the gospel, the only way to become a part of the faith, or Christianity.  There are still plenty of people today who will do all that they can to keep people from accepting the gospel.  Verse nine continues, Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.  We are told that Saul, also known as Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes on Elymas.   I believe this means he looked at him intently.  We need to be willing to meet those who oppose Jesus Christ eye-to-eye.  Verse ten declares, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?  Paul called Elymas what he was, a child of the devil, and asked him if he would cease from perverting the right ways of God.  I don’t believe that Paul said this looking down on the man, but he did it out of a genuine concern for him.  Though we need to witness to people and ask them if they will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, we don’t need to do so in an attitude of being superior to them.  Verse eleven adds, And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.  Paul told Elymus that he was going to be struck blind, and he immediately was.  He had been leading others away from God, and now he needed someone to physically lead him around.  Until we accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, we are always going to be spiritually blind.  Verse twelve continues, Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.  When the deputy saw what happened, he believed the gospel and was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.   When we accept Jesus Christ, we should be astounded at the doctrine of God, which for us to understand it, must begin with the astounding fact that Jesus Christ died for sinners such as we all are.   

In Acts 13: 1-5, we learn more about the growth of the early church.  We are told that in the church at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers.  In the Old Testament, prophets were those who foretold the future, as it affected God's people and the coming Messiah.  The prophets and teachers in the church pointed to the accomplished fact of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His impact on the world then and in the future.  I don't believe they saw themselves as a small church, but as the beginning of a world changing movement.  Any church that God is at work in is never small.  Those mentioned at the church in Antioch were Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Luscius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  They were believers from diverse places and backgrounds, but they were united in the church.  God calls all people from everywhere, but when they become His followers, He calls them to unity in the church.  As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost spoke to them.  Maybe we don't have the Holy Ghost speak as much to us today because instead of ministering we are mumbling and instead of fasting we are feasting.  They were to seperate Barnabas and Saul for the work God had for them to do.  They obeyed, again fasting and praying and laying hands on them and sending them on their way.  The members of the church did what God directed them to do, and now it was time for Barnabas and Saul to be obedient.  The Holy Ghost sent them forth, and they departed for Seleucia, and then for Cyprus.  At Salinas, they preached the gospel in the synagogues of the Jews, and they had John as their minister.  They were still being somewhat exclusive with the gospel, but even if we act in an exclusive manner, the gospel will not be contained to an exclusive group.

Acts 12:18

Acts 12:18 says, Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.  The next morning there was much discussion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter.  He was their responsibility, and he was gone, but they didn't understand how.  People often fail to understand when a miracle happens today. Verse nineteen adds, And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.  When Herod sought Peter in the prison and he couldn’t be found, he had the guards put to death, although they could have done nothing to keep Peter in.  We could question why they should die since God was the One Who set Peter free, but we need to understand that God was not responsible for their death. I say that because I believe in the free will of people.  Those who believe every action is dictated by God will have more difficulty accepting what happened.  His plans foiled, Herod left Judea for Caesarea, where he abode.  Verse twenty continues, And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.  While the followers of Christ were rejoicing, Herod was angry. When the plans of those who plot against God fail, and they ultimately all do, then they get angry.  Herod was angry with those at Tyre and Sidon.  The people there had to have known that if Herod was angry, it would not be good for them.  They had made friends with Blastus, his chamberlain, and came to him with one accord desiring peace.  Sometimes, the world can unite with someone who stands against God, but they will never find peace.  Verse twenty-one states, And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.  On a specified day, Herod was dressed in his royal robes, sitting on his throne and made a speech to the people.  He wanted to look important, even if he couldn’t keep Peter in prison.  There are still people who want to look important in the world today even if they are helpless against God.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.  The people, wanting to please Herod, began to say he was a god and not just a man.  Verse twenty-three continues, And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.  When people begin to treat a man as if he is a god, then the One true God is going to notice.  In Herod's case, he died immediately and was eaten by worms.  There have been many to come since and are even a few today who proclaim themselves to be a god, and they haven't immediately fallen dead, but one day they will. Evil will sometimes appear to triumph, but God has proclaimed the final victory.  Verse twenty-four proclaims, But the word of God grew and multiplied.   Herod’s plans fell through, and he died, but the word of God, the gospel, grew and multiplied.  God’s word will always triumph over any power in this world.  All we have to do is live by faith in it.  Verse twenty-five adds, And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.  Barnabas and Paul, along with John Mark returned from Jerusalem at this time, having fulfilled their ministry there.  We must go where God sends us, and if we have fulfilled our ministry there, we must go where God sends us next.  Peter was in prison for a little while, but the other disciples were still actively doing God’s work.  We cannot let the imprisonment of some Christians stop us from doing what God has called us to do.