Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message

 Good morning. They arrived at Antioch and delivered the letter to the congregation. The two that came with them from Jerusalem, Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. That does not mean that they had a lengthy, “thus saith the Lord…” Prophets can also give messages, just like the pastor. That becomes important later in the 14th chapter of first Corinthians. After spending some time there, they went back to Jerusalem. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are. We do not know whether or not that was of the Lord, but it is normally a wise thing to do. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them and had not gone with them to the work. And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another. So who was at fault? Both seemed to have a bit of pig headedness in them. Most likely God used it to achieve what He intended to happen. Sometimes we are not able, or not willing, to hear exactly what God wants us to do. He then uses circumstances, which at the time seem horribly bad, to achieve His purposes. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus (remember that Barnabas was from there). Barnabas is not mentioned again in Acts, so it makes you wonder if Paul and Barnabas ever reconciled. Apparently they did, because Paul mentions both Barnabas and Mark favorably in his letters. Give us Your peace and protection.

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