Acts 12:24—13:5a
Chapter 12
Barnabas and Saul completed their mission and returned to Jerusalem, bringing along John, also called Mark.
Chapter 13
Mission of Paul and Barnabas
There were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, including Barnabas, Symeon, known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.
On one occasion, while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them:
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.”
So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
These then, sent by the Holy Spirit, went down to the port of Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.
Upon their arrival in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogue; John was with them as an assistant.
Commentaries
Death of Herod.
The account describes the chaos caused by the apostle’s release. The tyrant, disappointed in his plan to execute him, kills the guards as punishment. Although it was some time later, the narrator aims to show the dramatic end of Herod Agrippa as a conclusion to Peter’s release. The contrast is intentional: Peter, imprisoned; Herod, worshiped as a god. The angel of the Lord frees one and fatally wounds the other. His end is clearly shown as divine punishment.
Mission of Paul and Barnabas.
We enter the third, final, and most extended phase of the book of Acts. In this part, Christian witness will reach the farthest regions known to the missionaries. The Church of Antioch, led by the five leaders listed by Luke, serves as the starting point. Thus, the group of apostles, leaders of the Jewish-Christian community in Jerusalem, and the seven Hellenists are now joined by another group: the five “prophets and teachers of Antioch.” Luke shows how the Spirit guides the different Churches, raising leaders, organizers, and those responsible for various roles based on needs, with significant participation from everyone in decision-making (which Pope Francis aims to restore through synodality in the Church). The Holy Spirit—and the community—decided to set apart two members, Barnabas and Paul, for the mission of proclaiming God’s Word in synagogues. They also took along a man named John, known as Mark. Their first stop was the island of Cyprus, then they set sail for what is now southern Turkey. Although the mission was primarily aimed at Jews in these areas rather than pagans, it marks the beginning of the journey the Spirit will guide them on.