Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 94
82
IMMERSE
•
MESSIAH
12:15–13:5
“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided,
“It must be his angel.”
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the
door and saw him, they were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet
down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James
and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.
At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what
had happened to Peter. Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him.
When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced
them to death.
Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they
sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of
Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, and an appointment with Herod was
granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his
throne, and made a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation,
shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he
accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he
was consumed with worms and died.
Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many
new believers.
When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they
returned, taking John Mark with them.
Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria
were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene),
Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy
Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I
have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their
hands on them and sent them on their way.
So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down
to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. There,
in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached
the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.
