Call to Commitment

 

Roman baths in Corinth

  1.     Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.   

  2.     But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 

  3.     But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 

4.     whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 

5.     For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 

6.     For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

 Ministry means service and it is performed by a servant. Let me amplify the meaning of the Greek words, diakonia and diakonos from the Strong’s Greek dictionary. Diakonia means attendance (as a servant); aid, service; diakonos means to run on errands, an attendant, a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically, a Christian teacher and pastor, deacon, minister, servant.

 “God…who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:6). Paul emphasizes the biblical definition of a minister in Ephesians 3:7, 8: “I became a minister… who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I may preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” A minister must be a humble servant, who serves, by preaching to the Gentiles, riches that cannot be counted or valued by any human measurement. By the Spirit of the Lord, he is involved in reflecting the glory of God in the unveiled face of Jesus Christ. Only God can make a human sufficient for such a task.

Over the Corinthian Canal. Finished in 1893.

 Ministers of the New Covenant

1.    Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 

    2. You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 

      3. clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. 

4.     And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 

5.     Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 

6.     who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 

7.     But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 

8.     how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 

9.     For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 

10.  For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 

11.  For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 

12.  Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 

13.  unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 

14.  But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 

15.  But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 

16.  Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 

17.  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

18.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

 Because the gospel is something that is lived from the inside out, external measures are eliminated. Letters of commendation are not necessary among real Christians and those who demand such measures are not real Christians. Under Paul´s apostleship, so that someone could be recognized as a true Christian, or a leader should be recognized as a true leader, writing letters commending them was not needed. Christianity is heart religion and does not rely on external, carnal practices (v. 1).

 Therefore in verse 2, the commendation is from the heart and Christians know one another to be legitimate believers, because of the testimony that comes from their hearts. The testimony of their veracity is seen by their lives and not by outward indications or visible signs. We learn that under the new covenant, this is the principle that is operating among the Corinthians and should operate among all true Christians. 

  

Modern visitors to Corinth

1.     But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 

       2.     For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?  

       3.     And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 

       4.     For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I  have so abundantly for you. 

 Paul continues his defense for not coming to them on an earlier trip. Although the things of God are very sure, yes and amen, his heart, in tune with the Holy Spirit, decides it was not the best time to visit them. Because of the Corinthians´ spiritual condition at the time, it would be severe and sorrowful (v. 1).

 It is all related to the matter that Paul dealt with in 1 Corinthian 5, concerning the man who adulterated with his father´s wife, his step-mother. The tolerant attitude of the general church in Corinth was wrong, in relation to the sin. Paul´s instruction to them caused sadness, but a change had taken place; there had been repentance on the part of the offender. He who had caused Paul so much pain in his sin, has now given him reason for joy (v. 2).

 This entire situation gives us a lesson in the importance of true Christian fellowship in the joy of the Holy Spirit. Because of its importance, a trip and the principal of the Lord´s sure guidance is cancelled, because of the overriding importance of fellowship. Christian fellowship should be a reason for joy and because the Corinthian church had corrected their attitude, joy had been the result, both in them and in Paul, because God had done a work and the sinner had repented (v. 3).  

 It was not easy for Paul to write to correct the grievous sin that had occurred in Corinth. See the depth of pain, in which he had written: “Much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears.” He writes that phrase, not to grieve them, but to show the love, which he has for them. These four verses are a mighty lesson in the love that existed in the early church (v. 4) 

 

Medieval wall of Thessalonica to Aegean Sea

 

1.     Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 

2.     Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 

3.     explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." 

4.     And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. 

5.     But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 

6.     But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 

7.     Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus." 

8.     And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 

9.     So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 

 The last time that Luke mentions his part in this story, is in Philippi in Hechos 16:10-17. Apparently, he remained in that city, because he does not say that he was with them, when they departed. From Philippi, they went through two cities of Macedonia, Amphipolis and Apollonia. Amphipolis is 33 miles southwest of Philippi, on the northern coast of the Aegean Sea. Apollonia is another 30 miles southwest of Amphipolis, but the exact site is unknown. Thessalonica is 37 miles due west of Apollonia (v. 1).

 We come to understand, in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, the general reception of the word there. “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance… And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Th. 1: 6-7). I will only add a small phrase from verse 9: “… you turned to God from idols…” In Acts, we get more details.

 Although Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, it is always his custom to preach to the Jews first. This is done according to divine principle, because of God’s election of the Jews since the very beginning. Let us take verse 2 and Paul’s custom as an opportunity to go into the principle in more depth, because some Christians ignore it. God called Abram out of the world, precisely out of Ur of the Chaldeans to make a nation from his offspring. Isaac followed and then Jacob. We have the history of their nation and prophets throughout the Old Testament. We have their literature from Job to Ecclesiastes and the promises given to them specifically.

 

Ruins of ancient Corinth (my personal photos)

Greeting and Introduction

       1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the                                        church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: 

2.     Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 A. R. Faucett of Jamieson, Faucett, Brown comments: “The Time of Writing was after Pentecost, a.d. 57, when Paul left Ephesus for Troas. Having stayed in the latter place for some time preaching the Gospel with effect (2 Co_2:12), he went on to Macedonia, He wrote this Second Epistle, and then went on to Greece, where he abode for three months. Macedonia was the place from which it was written (2 Co_9:2) where the present tense, “I boast,” or “am boasting,” implies his presence then in Macedonia. Philippi, as being the chief town of the province, was probably the place to which all the collections of the churches were sent. Ancient tradition, too (as appears from the subscription to this epistle), favors the view that Philippi was the place from which this Epistle was sent by the hands of Titus who received, besides, a charge to prosecute at Corinth the collection which he had begun at his first visit (2Co_8:6). Paul sent Titus back forthwith with this Second Epistle, which is addressed, not to Corinth only (1Co_1:2), but to all the churches also in Achaia (2Co_1:1).

 Paul knows a divine calling, according to the will of God, to be an apostle of Jeus Christ. What is happening in his life has been born in eternity above any importance that men could be planning in any high government congress, to take place on this earth. This calling is according to the purpose of God to touch the heart of men with the power that there is in the message of the gospel, which transforms lives and prepares them for eternity.  This is with which God was concerned and with which He continues to be concerned in this century. For this reason, He sends missionaries out, as he sent Paul.

 Timothy is with Paul, since Paul desired him to leave his own city and dedicate his life to the gospel. He has joined the great family of God and is a brother of all who will read Paul’s letter. In a special and personal way, he is Paul’s spiritual son, because the seed of the gospel was sown by the apostle in him. John Wesley wrote: “Timotheus our brother - St. Paul writing to Timotheus styled him his son; writing OF HIM, his brother.” It was a mighty work, even more real than the physical seed, which brings babies into the world. It is forming the spiritual family of God and an eternal brotherhood.

 Paul addresses the church in Corinth, which is the entity that is near to the heart of God and with which He is creating a bride for His Son. From this one principal church, many others have formed all over the territory of ancient Acaia.

 

How can I be saved?

 

Timothy of Derbe

1.     Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 

2.     He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 

3.     Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 

4.     And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 

5.     So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. 

 We learned of Derbe and Lystra in chapter 14, where Paul and Barnabas traveled on their first missionary trip. Now Paul, on his second journey, is with Silas, as they revisit the believers, won on the former visit throughout the region. In these cities, they hear of a young man named Timothy of Derbe (some think he was from Lystra). His grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, believed before him, but, even before their conversion to Christianity, it would seem, as Jews they taught Timothy the Scriptures.  See what Paul writes him in 2 Timothy 3:15: “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The Old Testament was instrumental in giving Timothy wisdom to find faith in Christ. The probability of his conversion was when Paul came to Derbe and there was a better response to the gospel than in the other cities in the region. Timothy’s father was Greek (v. 1).

 Apparently, he had become an outstanding disciple, and was recognized by the local believers beyond Derbe, in the neighboring cities of Lystra and Iconium (v. 2). Paul was always careful to remove unnecessary offences to Jew and Gentile and, because his father was Greek, Timothy had not been circumcised. Paul saw the potential in this young man and wanted him to join their team, but he first circumcised him. This was to avoid causing trouble in the Jewish community, where they knew his father was Greek. Otherwise in evangelization, which Paul instructed this disciple to observe (2 T. 4:5), Timothy would never be able to converse with a Jew, if they knew he was not circumcised (v. 3).

 It is obvious from Paul’s writings, that this was not a necessary Christian requirement, in fact, he told the Galatians, “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation (Gal. 6:15). He called the Jews “false brethren”, who taught that a Gentile believer should be circumcised (Gal. 2:4).

 

The Jerusalem Council

1.     And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 

2.     Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. 

3.     So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 

4.     And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 

5.     But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." 

6.     Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 

7.     And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 

8.     So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 

9.     and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

10.  Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

11.  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." 

12.  Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 

 In chapter 11, Peter was challenged by a Jewish party in the Jerusalem church, because he entered a Gentile house and ate with Gentile people, something prohibited by Jewish law. Peter explained the total account, concerning a vision of a sheet let down from heaven, containing all kinds of reptiles, birds and animals, unclean according to the law. A voice instructed him to kill and eat, but Peter refused to do so, after which he was commanded not to call anything, which God had cleansed, unclean. There were two elements in this vision, which indicated that it was from God. First, it came down from heaven and then returned three times, demonstrating the heavenly source of the vision. Then, there was a three-fold confirmation of the vision, showing a divine principle… God always confirms His word.

 At the end of the vision, Gentile men, sent from the Roman centurion, Cornelius in Caesarea, buhi arrived at the door of the house in Joppa, where Peter was lodging. Peter immediately concluded that God was sending him to a Gentile house to preach the gospel. It was in obedience to the Lord’s commandment, “What God has cleansed you must not call common,” that he went with confidence, Jews from Joppa accompanying him. Then he told of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, in the same fashion, as he came upon the Jews on the day of Pentecost.  After this, the church of Jerusalem glorified God, seeing that He was granting repentance and eternal life to the Gentiles.

 

 Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

     1.      Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 

           2.  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 

3.     Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

4.     But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 

5.     And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 

6.     they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 

7.     And they were preaching the gospel there. 

 Already in 13:51, Luke told us that Paul and Barnabas went down to Iconium. They would have travelled along the Roman road, la Via Sebaste. They entered the Jewish synagogue in that city, very likely on a Saturday and, as in Antioch, the Jewish leaders gave them an opportunity to speak.  Apparently, both Paul and Barbabas spoke, and then we should take notice of three words… so spoke that… suggesting that they spoke with divine enabling, which penetrated the hearts of Jews and proselytes. In the book of Acts, the preachers spoke under Holy Spirit-anointing and a great multitude in the synagogue believed (v. 1).

 The Jews divided… some, along with Gentiles, heard with ears of the heart and received faith, while others resisted and remained in unbelief. No one was neutral, nor can anyone be neutral, upon hearing an anointed gospel. The unbelievers mounted opposition against Paul and Barnabas and their response was also powerful. It produced a demonic poison in the minds of the non-Jewish population (v. 2).

 The apostles met the challenge and battled valiantly for a long time, pitting truth against the poisonous lies of the enemy. As in the closing verse of the book of Mark, it was the Lord, Who entered on the side of truth, bringing in supernatural power, working through Paul and Barnabas with signs of heavenly support and awesome miracles (v. 3):  They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen (Mk. 16:20). And Jesus made it known, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword (Mt. 10:34). He said that the result would be; “A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD” (Mt. 10:36, quoting Mic. 7:6). The sharp sword of God will always bring division (v. 4).

 

Press to see with large print

 In the synagogue in Antioch, Pisidia

 27. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 

28. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 

29. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 

30. But God raised Him from the dead. 

31. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 

32. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 

33. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.' 

34. And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.' 

35. Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.' 

36. "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 

37. but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 

38. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 

39. and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

40. Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 

41. 'BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.' " 

 We join Paul again in the synagogue of the Jews in Antioch, Pisidia, where we left off in the last article. He accused the central council of all Jews in Jerusalem that they did not know their God, nor did they understand their prophets. We learned in the last article that the book of Prophets was read every Sabbath, universally, in the synagogues, but Paul knew well from his own experience that they were misinterpreted.

 Their own Scriptures, which they habitually studied, turned against them and they condemned the Messiah, of whom the book foretold (v. 27). Their worship of God corrupted into dead religion and they revolted against the One, Whom they pretended to serve. These deeds have been carried out, not only by the Jews, but by religious hypocrites throughout history. The Jews in Jerusalem went to the despised Roman governor in their supreme hatred of God and looked to pagan Rome to assist them in giving the death sentence, which was required by Roman law. Yet, they had no reasonable or legal accusation to set before Pontius Pilate (v. 28). Jesus confirmed the fulfilling of the Psalmist’s prophecy, “They hated Me without a cause.” (Jn. 15:25 from Ps. 69:4)

  

Chapter 13, part 1

 

Paul's 1st missionary journey

The New Church at Antioch

        1.     Now in the church that was at Antioch there   

         were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas,

         Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,

         Manaen who had been  brought up with Herod

         the tetrarch, and Saul. 

        2.      As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the

         Holy Spirit said, "Now separate  to Me Barnabas

         and Saul for the work to  which I have called them." 

3.      Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 

In chapter 11 of Acts, we began to learn of the new church at Antioch. Luke said that after the martyrdom of Stephen, persecution broke out in Jerusalem and some Christians arrived at Antioch, preaching only to Jews (Ac. 11:19). However, after Peter´s experience in Caesaria with the Roman centurion, Cornelius, a great breakthrough came and evangelists, from the isle of Cyprus and from the African nation of Cyrene, began to preach to Greek-speaking Gentile people (Ac. 11:20). Luke records that a great number of Gentiles turned to the Lord (Ac. 11:21). There began the history of the church in Antioch, after the salvation of Jews and Gentiles.

 We learned that Barnabas was sent to Antioch from Jerusalem (Ac. 11:22). He encouraged the new believers (Ac. 11:23) and, through his anointed evangelism, many more were added to the Antioch church (Ac. 11:24). Soon, Barnabas left for Tarsus, looking for Saul, as Tarsus was Saul’s native city (Ac. 11:25), and Saul joined him in the edification of the Antioch church (Ac. 11:26). In chapter 11, in fact, in the closing verse, we learned that they had returned to Jerusalem from Antioch, bringing with them an offering for the believers there (Ac. 11:30).  Then, they returned to Antioch and took John Mark, who is Barnabas’ nephew, with them. Mary, Mark’s mother, is probably Barnabas’ sister, for had she been his sister-in-law, his father, being Barnabas’ brother, would be mentioned (Ac. 12:25).

 Besides Barnabas and Saul, prophets from Jerusalem began to gather in Antioch (Ac. 11:27). The first verse of this chapter 13, mentions also Simeon Niger, Lucius from Cyrene (possibly, one who evangelized Antioch earlier… 11:20), and Manaen, interestingly a close acquaintance of Herod Antipas, who assassinated John the Baptist and joined with Pilate in Christ’s trial. Manaen is now a Christian and leader in the church at Antioch, along with these four others, who were prophets and teachers. It is another verse that shows that prophecy was a ministry in the New Testament church, composed of Jews and Gentiles (see also Acts 2:17, 18; 1 Co. 14:1; Eph. 4:11, 12).

 

Rhoda ran to tell that Peter was knocking

 

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

1.      Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 

2.      Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 

3.      And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 

4.      So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 

5.      Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 

 There are several kings named Herod in the Gospels and the book of Acts, so let us distinguish this one in Acts 12. This is Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, who met the wise men and killed the babies from two years old and under, in and around Bethlehem. Herod Agrippa was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist. He was brother to Herodias, wife of Antipas and father to Agrippa, to whom Paul, the apostle, made his defense in Caesarea.

 Having identified this king, we can see the cruelty and godlessness that ran in this family. David’s prophecy in Psalms 2, pointed especially to the two men, who participated in the unjust judgment of Christ… Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas, the murderer of John the Baptist. The disciples identified these two, when they prayed, according to the will of God, by the word of God in Acts 4: “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate” (Ac. 4:27), and then, they added, “with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together.”  The common Roman soldiers and the common Jewish people joined with their leaders against the word and will of God.

 However, Herod Agrippa certainly fulfills David’s prophecy in Psalms 2 also and took his stand “against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bands in pieces and cast away Their cords from us’” (Ps. 2:2, 3).  He comes on the scene later, “to harass some from the church,” and to attack the church, is to attack the Lord and His Anointed (v. 1). He killed James the brother of John, the first of the original disciples to magnify in his body the Lord Jesus, by martyrdom (Ph. 1:20). Apparently, he was beheaded with a sword. James, along with John, were two of the first disciples called by Jesus, when they were with their father and his boat, repairing their nets (Mt. 4:21). He was one of three, who was often separated by the Lord, to more closely observe His works. He was so assured of the truth of the gospel that he was willing to lay down his life for it (v. 2).