How does Acts 12:25 demonstrate obedience in completing God's work? Setting the Scene in Acts 12:25 “Barnabas and Saul, having completed their mission, returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, also called Mark.” Background: What Mission? • Acts 11:27-30 records a prophecy of famine. The church at Antioch gathered a relief offering. • They “sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:30) • Acts 12:25 now closes the loop: the relief was delivered, the assignment fulfilled. The Key Phrase: “Having Completed Their Mission” • Scripture affirms they did not merely attempt the task—they finished it. • The Spirit highlights completion as evidence of obedience. Obedience That Finishes What It Starts • Faithful in little, faithful in much (Luke 16:10). • Obedience includes the final step, not just the first (James 1:22). • Completion proves stewardship (1 Corinthians 4:2). • They return ready for the next call (Acts 13:2), showing that finished work positions us for future service. Fruit That Flows from Completed Obedience • Physical relief reached needy believers, displaying Christ’s love (Galatians 6:10). • Unity strengthened between Gentile Antioch and Jewish Jerusalem (Ephesians 2:14-16). • John Mark is drawn into ministry, setting the stage for greater kingdom impact (2 Timothy 4:11). Personal Takeaways • Start-to-finish obedience honors God and blesses others. • Small assignments prepare us for larger ones—Barnabas and Saul move from famine relief to global mission. • Finishing well mirrors Christ, who declared, “I have finished the work You gave Me to do.” (John 17:4) • Like Paul near life’s end—“I have finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7)—believers today are called to complete every task God entrusts, however ordinary it may seem. |
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