Selecting a Protégé

Acts 16:2-3 (NIV) – The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.  Paul wanted to take him along on the journey.

Mentoring makes a difference. I can think of several people at different times of my life who invested in me, took me with them, or, through a single conversation, helped me understand things in a new way. These relationships have formed and shaped who I am and how I do things. We often call this kind of senior-to-junior, relationship-based, experiential training mentoring after Mentor, the older man Odysseus had supervise his son Telemachus while he was away from home fighting and returning from the Trojan War in Homer’s Odyssey.

In its classic form, mentoring takes time and focus. Most educational methods enable one instructor to teach several individuals. Mentoring provides situational and personal interaction that cannot happen in a larger group. As a result, most mentoring is one-on-one at least part of the time. Some mentoring can happen by chance and be of a short duration, but we see the apostle Paul demonstrate the classic pattern of mentoring by taking Timothy with him on his second missionary journey. This mentoring relationship continued until Paul’s death. The last letter we have from him was written to his protégé and contains words of parental intimacy that convey appreciation for the years of ministry together and a desire to be together as Paul’s execution drew near. (“Make every effort to come before winter.” II Timothy 4:21).

Although we can tell Paul mentored several other individuals throughout his ministry at a variety of levels, we see Timothy mentioned more through his letters than any other – thirteen times in his letters to churches. Paul even goes so far as telling the Philippians, “I have no one else like him.” (Philippians 2:20) Although we cannot know what words they shared on the road as they traveled in those early journeys, we do read the words Paul wrote to Timothy in two letters near the end of his life and some words Paul used to commend Timothy to the churches to which he sent him as a messenger and, sometimes, as a bishop. We also have Luke’s account in the Book of Acts, which gives us some insight into Paul’s selection of this closest protégé.

As Acts Chapter 16 begins, Paul sets off without his own mentor, Barnabas, after the split recounted in Acts 15. However, we know that relationship did not stay severed. (See I Corinthians 9:16) The split did motivate Paul to take Silas with him. They returned to check on some of the Lycaonian churches they founded on the first journey. They met Timothy in Lystra. Paul likely met him on the first journey as a boy, but this second journey started this special relationship. Why did Paul pick Timothy?

1)    Paul’s preference – There was something about Timothy that made Paul “want” to take him on the journey. Luke’s wording is specific. Taking Timothy was Paul’s decision and Paul’s desire. Paul had experienced the loneliness and challenges of First Century travel. Having two travel companions would increase safety and ability. Yet, it sounds like Paul also enjoyed being with Timothy. There was an intuitive connection; however, Luke is also clear there was sound reasoning for this decision.

2)    Timothy’s reputation - The Christians in the region – not just his own town of Lystra but also the city of Iconium twenty miles away – had good things to say about him. Even though he was of mixed race, perhaps Paul thought that might be more of a bridge than a barrier as he ministered to both Jews and Greeks. Paul must have taken Timothy’s reputation along with his own observations into account as he made the decision to take him on the journey.

3)    God’s confirmation – In both of his personal letters to Timothy, Paul refers to a special work of the Holy Spirit, likely at the time he left home in Acts 16, that confirmed God’s calling and gifting of Timothy for ministry. “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” (I Timothy 4:16) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (II Timothy 1:6) Paul and the elders of the church at Lystra laid their hands on Timothy to commission him for God’s work and they saw God give him a spiritual gift in that moment he would be able to use for the rest of his life in ministry.

Paul’s significant decision of who to take as a protégé involved three ways we can decide today. Paul’s wanting to take him seems to be intuitive but leaning on his reputation with those who knew best seems intentional and rational. Certainly, God’s confirmation was supernatural (what I call Catching God’s Story in How to Make Big Decisions Wisely). Yet, notice how the supernatural followed the more seemingly natural processes. Ideally, we do get all three in a big decision, and I always seek them, but this pattern of triple confirmation is not always the way God works. Let’s be open to all, though, and seek opportunities to help others fulfill their God-given potential.

When Friends Disagree

Acts 15:39 (NAS) – There arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another.

The first part of Acts 15 tells the story of a great reconciliation that threatened to divide the young Christian church. However, we cannot even finish reading that chapter before we come across the next disagreement, this time between two longtime colleagues and friends who had worked hard together on the same side to resolve the earlier dispute. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their next missionary journey, but Paul did not want to take him because he bailed early on the first trip. If God always revealed his specific will clearly to his faithful followers on every occasion, why did these two – who both took the title of Apostle (see Acts 14:14) – disagree so vehemently? Luke did not tell us which of them heard from God on the issue. Certainly, Paul had grounds to question the wisdom of taking John Mark on the trip again based on Mark’s earlier track record. However, Barnabas was one to invest in those others rejected.

So, who did hear from God? If we had been there at that moment, it sounds like either Paul or Barnabas would have been convinced the other missed God’s will and plan. That split had to hurt. I can imagine Barnabas thinking to himself, “After all I did for you, this is the way you will treat me? At first, I was the only one in Jerusalem willing to give you a chance. I walked all the way from Antioch to Tarsus to give you your start in ministry. I poured out my time and wisdom to help you started the right way. We have walked thousands of miles together, and you don’t trust my wisdom and ability to mentor John Mark, who is older and wiser now, knows what is involved in missionary work, and wants the second chance Jesus has given us? This hurts!”

Meanwhile, Paul might have thought, “I love you, Barnabas, but sometimes you are just too idealistic. So much is at risk when we take the Gospel to a new city. Remember Lystra? We almost died. Mark said some stupid things on that trip. If he says the wrong words, it could undermine the Gospel’s impact in that region. His griping was intolerable. I know you want to help your nephew, but this is not smart. It’s him or me!”

Luke never tells us which person was correct. However, painful it was in that moment, though, we do get to see three good outcomes:

1)    They covered twice as much ground – As two missions teams, they were able to visit two completely different areas. Paul and Silas eventually made it all the way to Europe while Barnabas and Mark worked throughout Cyprus.

2)    Barnabas’ mentoring of Mark made a difference – I would love to know what Barnabas did, but his mentoring of John Mark enabled him to become a faithful leader of the early church. He wrote the Gospel that bears his second name, likely the first Gospel written. Even Paul noted the change and took him on later journeys (Colossians 4:10). At the end of Paul’s life Mark was the one person besides Timothy Paul wanted with him. (II Timothy 4:11)

3)    Paul and Barnabas reconciled – We do not know exactly how or where the reconciliation happened, but Paul’s words about Barnabas in later letters show mutual respect and gratitude. (I Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1, 9, and 13; Colossians 4:10)

I’d love to be able to tell you the right answer to every question will always be obvious to everyone involved, but that is not the case. Yet, the good news is that God can work anyway, sometimes with both sides of a rifted relationship. Just don’t let the bitterness remain. (Ephesians 4:32) Restore the relationship and agree to disagree.

Shouldn’t It Be Like This?

Acts 13:1 - Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

The church at Antioch provides an excellent model of what a church should be and do. That church was the foundation for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the Roman Empire. Its people fasted and prayed. (Acts 13:2) They were led by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:2) They gave generously to others in need. (Acts 11:29) They were committed to reaching others in their community with the Good News of Jesus, even when those others were of a different culture. (Acts 11:20) They were the sending church for all of Paul and Barnabas’s missions efforts. (Acts 13:3, 15:39-40, and 18:23) Everything the Antioch church did remains key to a healthy Gospel-focused church today. It is not surprising so much of the growth of the early church can be traced back to Antioch.

In his classic, deliberate precision, Doctor Luke gives as a brief picture of another unique aspect of the Antiochean Church, and that is its leadership. Five individuals are specifically named as prophets and teachers. We cannot tell for sure if Luke meant that all five people had both roles or if these five were just a few of many prophets and teachers at Antioch, but we can see an important diversity among these leaders.

We know the last person best. He was still called Saul at that point, but his common name switched to Paul later in that chapter. He was raised as Jewish as possible, yet not in Israel but in the city of Tarsus in what is today Turkey, even further from Jerusalem than Antioch. He went on to plant dozens of churches and write nearly half of the books in the New Testament.

We have discussed the first person on the list, Barnabas, in several other PowerWords. He was a Jew of the priestly tribe of Levi but raised on the island of Cyprus. (Acts 4:36) He was in Jerusalem as the fledgling Christian church began. He became one of its first and most generous donors (Acts 4:37) before taking on the mission of investigating the Antioch church as it started (Acts 11:22) then mentoring Paul (Acts 11:25) and later John Mark, author of the Gospel of Mark (Acts 15:37).

We do not read about Simeon called Niger anywhere else in the Bible or in any trustworthy First Century source, but Luke tells us enough about him for us to reasonably guess he was a black African. Niger, in Latin, means black and was used to describe those who were raised in Africa and had the dark skin that term conveyed.

Lucius was also from Africa. Today Cyrene is part of the country of Libya. Some speculate that Lucius may be the author Luke himself, since there is a record of the Luke (Loukas in Greek) being a nickname for some people in the Roman Empire with the given name of Lucius (Loukios in Greek). His name is not Jewish and the order Paul listed him in Colossians 4:11 and 14, as well as his writing style, make it seem he was likely a Gentile.

We know the remaining person on the list, Manaen, was raised with a ruler from the most powerful family in the region. The word often translated “raised with” (suntrophos) literally means “nursed together.” It could be he was a foster son in the Herodian family or a lifelong friend of Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee along with other regions, beheaded John the Baptist, and saw Jesus the day he was crucified. One thing was for sure, Manaen had influential friends, so he was likely influential himself.  

Notice how this impactful church had such a diverse leadership team. God used each of them to help form and shape the church and its mission. Each had a unique place of origin and background. Each contributed from their unique perspective. The church grew and its mission changed the world.

How to Stop a Fight

Acts 15:2 (ESV)  - And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnaba and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 

Have you been in a disagreement lately? Arguments can lead to real pain and anger and sometimes violence. Once deep, loving relationships might be permanently severed. Families, friendships, companies, churches, and even nations are split and may never recover unless those who have been hurt decide to get it worked out.

When we are convinced our position is correct and others disagree with us, it is natural for us to dig in with a firm resolution. We know we are right. Those on the other side are either stupid or they have bad motives and want to hurt us. In either case, the last thing in the world we want to do is to be in the same room with them, let alone talk through the painful issue.

Acts 15 tells about a time the young Christian church faced such a schism but chose to handle it the right way. It is easy for look back nearly 2,000 years and see Paul and Barnabas as the good guys and those who opposed them as the bad guys. Those in the other group were Christians (Acts 15:5), but they believed non-Jewish people had to become Jewish in every respect before they could become Christians. Yet, that group had history on its side. The Hebrew Bible had specific instructions for Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism. Why would those principles not apply in the Christian era, as well? They had good reason to think they were correct. Paul and Barnabas did, too.

This divide almost split the young church, but God had intervened in both a vision and the visible miracle of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to show Peter (respected by both sides of the debate) that Gentiles can come to Jesus without accepting all of the Jewish traditions. (Acts 15:7-11) The miracles and changed lives Paul and Barnabas had seen on their first mission gave even more evidence of this. (Acts 15:12) When both sides chose to sit down at the table together with other wise leaders, they listened to each other’s backstories to fully understand why the other side believed what they did. They then turned to the pages of the Bible to see what God had to say about the question. (Acts 15:16-18) Finally, the senior leader of the group – respected by both sides – spoke up to describe what they had all experienced to tell the new story that has been the church’s story ever since: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us to lay on you no greater burden.” (Acts 15:28) Since that day, we Gentiles who come to Jesus don’t need to first adopt all Jewish tradition. The church was reconciled and strengthened. Those who were almost enemies became friends again. This probably would never have happened had they not gotten together to work it out.

I know it is hard to sit down and work things out with someone who has hurt you or made you angry, but reconciliation is essential if you are going to see the best future possible.

Hand It Over

Acts 13:9 “But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked at him and said…”

This little verse in Acts 13 is loaded with significance for several reasons:

1)     This is the first time we see Paul’s name changed noted. Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, called him Saul in every occasion before this verse and never again calls him Saul after this. The most influential apostle and writer in the New Testament gets a new identity.

2)   Paul became the leader. Barnabas appears to be the team leader in all of their join activities before this. Barnabas took initiative to explain Paul’s conversion to the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:27). Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Paul to bring him to Antioch to help that growing church (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas led the team to Jerusalem with a relief offering (Acts 11:30). The Holy Spirit even called Barnabas’ name first at their commissioning during the Antioch Church’s prayer meeting (Acts 13:2). Yet, leadership swaps here, again by the work of the Holy Spirit, who fills Paul with the word and anointing for the miracle needed at the moment. Luke subtly shows this leadership transition a few verses later with the team now noted as “Paul and his companions” (Acts 13:13). As far as we can tell, Barnabas never voiced objection or resentment. He was happy to see his protégé go to a greater level of influence than he ever would.

3)   One previously filled with the Holy Spirit was filled again for a specific situation. Luke’s wording here expressly refutes a doctrine that would claim a Christian will receive all of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation that person will ever receive. Paul received the Holy Spirit shortly after first meeting Jesus on the Road to Damascus when Ananias laid his hands on him (Acts 9:17). Yet, Luke expressly adds the words “filled with the Spirit” here to indicate a fresh work of the Holy Spirit that enabled Paul to understand what Elymas was up to and how to respond to it. Paul’s bold initiative led to a miracle clearly visible to all.

4)   The region’s most influential leader became a Christian. As proconsul, Sergius Paulus was the highest ranking Roman ruler on the island of Cyprus, the third largest in the Mediterranean Sea. He would have been, by far, the most influential Christian anywhere to that point. Paul’s decisive, Spirit-led action help launch a strong Cyprian church still in existence today and took his own career to a new level that eventually led to Paul’s preeminence in early Christianity.

As a professor at two different universities, I have had the privilege of teaching hundreds of people called into God’s ministry. Many of them have gone on to far greater positions of influence than I will ever know. Can I be like Barnabas and willingly hand over that leadership and recognition? The Kingdom of God is best served when we each fulfill our part in that process and remember we are all working together for Jesus’ glory, not our own.

Together

Acts 13:2 While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

I really like it when God tells me what I am supposed to do. My mission becomes clear and I don’t have to worry about bothering anyone else with my stuff. I can do it on my own independently. The only problem is that God wants us to be interdependent. Acts records many occasions like the beginning of chapter 13 in which God spoke through the church together, not a single individual.

Verse 1 most likely makes note of prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch because the Holy Spirit spoke through one of those prophets in verse 2 to commission Barnabas and Saul (better known as Paul). Paul had received this same mission, in a general sense, directly from Jesus much earlier. (See Paul’s recounting of his calling in Acts 26:15-18.) In one sense, he was fulfilling it in part in his work at Antioch where many, both Jewish and Gentile, people were coming to faith in Jesus (Acts 11:21-26). Yet, it was time to take the mission farther and the Holy Spirit let both Paul and Barnabas know this through other Christians at Antioch when the church was gathered together praying and fasting.

This season of isolation we are experiencing because of the coronavirus pandemic will come to an end. We have been able to continue to worship and hear good preaching remotely, but this is not the full Christian experience. Although it has been right to do this social distancing now, when this time is over, let us not think we don’t need to return to gathering together. We might miss a message God has for us.

When God Shows but Does Not Tell

Acts 11:28-29 One of [the prophets] Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world… And in the proportion that any disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

The Bible is filled with examples of God giving specific commands and instructions to his people. From the first command to humans in first chapter, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it,” (Genesis 1:28, NAS) until the last command, “Let the one who is thirsty come and… take of the free gift of the water of life,” (Revelation 22:17, NIV) God usually tells people what  to do. However, there are many occasions that God gave a prophetic picture of what was going to happen but the Bible seems to indicate the Lord let his people decide what to do about the impending reality. Acts 11:27-30 is one of those occasions.

The prophet Agabus came to the young, growing, mixed-race Antioch Church and “signed through the Spirit” that a famine would hit the entire world. (Worldwide natural disasters are not a new thing in 2020!) This wording makes it clear the Holy Spirit gave Agabus a picture of what was going to happen. Luke’s wording here in Acts does not say that vision came with instructions to the church. Instead, he wrote, ”They determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.” This word (orisan in Greek) means to appoint, to set a boundary, and, ultimately, to determine, implying those doing the determining have the authority and responsibility to decide.

It seems the Antioch Christians heard Agabus’ prophecy, believed it, and started to consider its implications. Although a famine would be hard on everyone, they had just received visitors from Jerusalem who gave them an update on the state of the Christian church there. Although the Jerusalem Church was the oldest church in Christianity (Acts 1:14) and was seen as the central place of Christian authority (Acts 15:2 & 22:17), they had faced persecution for years (Acts 8:1) that probably made it difficult for people economically. Many of those in Antioch had done well financially and chose to draw from their savings help the Jerusalem Christians. They got together and “determined” to send some money and realized they need to make sure the money would get their safely, so they chose Barnabas and Saul (later Paul) to take it on their behalf.

Many of the decisions we face in life have relevant specific biblical instructions. We do not have to wonder if we should tell the truth or pay our tithe. The Bible is clear However, we may occasionally run into a situation like the people of Antioch. We can see what is coming. God may give us a supernatural sign through a prophecy, vision, or dream. There may be clear, yet natural, indications of coming change. It may be up to us to decide what to do about it. If you are uncertain, don’t be afraid to reach out to other mature Christians. Notice the Antioch Christian’s decision was corporate: they determined. It may have been a process to come to the decision, but they decided together.

Sometimes God tells us what to do. Sometimes it is completely up to us. Sometimes he shows us what will happen and lets us decide what to do about it.