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November 21st
The bible reading today is in Acts 13 and 14.
Paul and Barnabas were on their first missionary journey...having been sent out by the elders of the church at Antioch Syria.
Some notable things happened in the beginning of that missionary journey. One had to do with an opportunity to preach the gospel to the governor of the island and to a demon-possessed magician who was opposing Paul’s preaching. I'm sure that was scary, especially to young John Mark who was accompanying Paul and his uncle Barnabas. The Spirit used Paul to strike the demonic magician blind. And the Governor was smitten and began to believe the gospel of Jesus from then on.
One curious thing happened. When the three missionaries sailed from Cyprus to Perga of Pamphilia, John Mark decided to go back home to his family in Jerusalem.
There is nothing in the record that gives us any clue as to the reason for John Mark’s leaving the team at that time. Remember, John Mark would be apart of several missionary journeys in the future...at least one with his uncle Barnabas and another with Peter to Rome. And remember...at the end of Paul’s life while in Roman imprisonment he asked Timothy to visit him and to bring John Mark with him...Paul said of John Mark...”He is profitable to me.”
Well, today’s reading is Paul and Barnabas in Antioch Pisidia...and Paul has been given permission to preach in the synagogue there.
“So Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.”
