Barnabas spoke up bravely on behalf of Paul but it wasn’t enough. Some of the disciples in Jerusalem were dubious about Paul. Was he really a disciple? Thanks to Barnabas, Paul wa able to enter into conversations with followers of the new faith. But the Greek-speaking Jews were plotting to murder him. Paul’s friends took him to Caesarea and found a ship on which he could set off for Tarsus.
This incident makes it clear that Paul was always in danger. It also makes it clear that the believers in Jerusalem were better placed in Paul’s absence than when he was present with them. Some might have said he was a Jonah in their midst. Whatever the circumstances, we are told that the believers were left in peace to build up their strength and – this is notable – live in fear of the Lord.. It was a time when the Church, encouraged by the Holy Spirit, grew in numbers in north and south – in London and Lancashire, as we might say today.
That little phrase ‘in fear of the Lord’ is eye-catching. The followers of Jesus were doubtless at home with each other. Nicknames would have been common (Mark was stumpy fingers) Rufus may well have been known as Ginger. Workers like Tryphena and Tryphosa (twins, perhaps?) might even have been known as Trojans. A team-spirit must have emerged during those days of growth, in Jerusalem or Rome. We don’t know the half of it.
But offsetting the familiarity, the joshing that must have lubricated the activities of this unpredictable but good-natured group of people, there was an underlying sense of purpose and a serious awareness of being involved in something they didn’t themselves quite understand and was at cross-purposes with the official line on religion. This ensured a background of uncertainty and a tautening of strings on all sides. They were not playing a game. They were risking their lives. They knew that. So did their enemies – and the enemies had wealth, experience and capable leadership to call on.
The new believers had the fear of the Lord. It was not just a walk in the sun for the first generation of believers. It will be a sad day when we lose that fear of the Lord.
TWO FOR CAMBERLEY
St Paul’s church, Camberley, Surrey has two Sunday morning services, one traditional, the other informal. Three hundred and fifty worshippers take advantage of the arrangement. The church building is modern (1907 Scandinavian), has had extension and refurbishing and a church cntre alongside and the Vicar is Tom Darwent, leading a strong ministry team.
If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.