Traveling with Aquilla and Priscilla

    Researching Priscilla and Aquilla has proved a mamoth task for me, however I do feel touched by seeing their lives and having a glimpse into their care and love for the Early Church. I hope this short blog will help you to see something of the charming couple. Most of the story is in the present tense, however I have inserted various passages to keep the story flowing, these are shown by the ---- symbols. So, please read on  and discover something of the world of Paul.....





  AD50- Corinth is shaking. The Jewish community is in meltdown. A new rabbi has appeared on the scene, and he is teaching things that both amaze and alarm them. He preaches a Gospel of Good News, he preaches the Son of God killed and yet still alive.
   This man is Paul, and he is living with Priscilla. She fusses over his meals, makes sure that he is comfortable and worries about him. Aquila, Prisca's husband, enjoys the company of Paul, and loves a good debate. They are all tent makers, and Paul works hard for his board. Aquila and Priscilla originally lived in Rome, the hub of the Roman Empire, however they had been forced out when Emporer Claudius threw out all Jews due to a disruption over the Christian cult! Living in Corinth for two years, they had become close friends with many of the Jews at the Synagogue and  had been gently been telling them of their Lord, Jesus.
    Now, with the arrival of this scrawny but powerful preacher from the backwater province of Judea, and the later arrival of his friends, Silas and Timothy, from Macedonia, the Synagogue is abuzz.
    But Paul's teaching has gone too far, he proclaims this Jesus as the promised Christ, the son of God. The Jews are split asunder, half rejoicing in this Jesus, half furious of this apparent blasphemy. Paul stands before the congregation and shouts "Your blood be on your own heads!I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." With that  cry,  Paul turns his back on the Synagogue and marches out.

 "And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them."

   ----It was during this time in Corinth that Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica, twice. He stayed with Aquila and Priscilla during his stay, and together they worked hard as leatherworkers, and the Church grew, Erastus, the City Treasurer joined the group as well. He later was recorded as being a major city benefactor and as financing the constuction of a city square.
    Nearing the end of Paul's stay in Corinth, a new Governer was appointed over Achaia, Gallio. The Jews decided that this was the prime time to bring Paul before the tribunal. However Gallio refused to try the case, due to its religious nature, this led to a riot, which ended with Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, being beaten badly. Gallio watched.
   Our story continues in AD51, Paul has left his collegues behind in Corinth and has left for Jerusalem, with Aquila and Priscilla, however they  have stopped off at the major city-port of Ephesus on the way.----





     Like Corinth, the Ephesian Synagogue is amazed by the passionate teacher newly arrived. Unfortunately Paul cannot stay, he is eager to return to Antioch, where he wishes to report to the Church there. But, he leaves in his place the hospitable and much loved couple Aquila and Priscilla.
     With Paul gone, Prisca and Aquila quickly settle in. And they aren't there long before a newcomer arrives on the scene. An elequent man, competent and very knowledgable about the Old Testament. He is instantly received by the Synagogue, and he speaks boldly to the Jews about Jesus. Very quickly Aquila and Priscilla realise that, although polished in his speech, and very clever, the man hasn't heard about Jesus' death and ressurection, he only knows about the baptism of repentance, taught by John.  The loving couple that they are, Prisca and Aquila take Apollos under their proverbial wing and teach him about Jesus and His ressurection.
    Now much strengthened in his faith, Apollos wants to head across the Aegean Sea to the City of Corinth, to the Church there of which he has heard much from Prisca, who has many close friends there.

"The brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,  for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus."

   Paul returns. On his arrival, he bumps into some men, disciples of John the Baptist, before long they have trusted in the Lord Jesus as their saviour and have received the Holy Spirit. Paul heads to the Synagogue.

"And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."

   The Church meets in the home of Aquila and Priscilla, Paul teaches every day  in the Hall of Tyrannus, he lectures to the Ephesians during the day. Co-workers including Titus, Timothy and Tychicus are sent out to the surrounding area, and all across Asia. Churches are being established at Collosae, Laodecia and other places. The Gospel flourishes. The Holy Spirit heals many people and there are many new converts.
    Timothy and Erastus, two of Paul's co-workers, are sent toward Macedonia, to strengthen the Churches there, and then onwards to Corinth with a letter from Paul (1 Corinthians). Paul is concerned for the Corinthian Church, some of the members are splitting into factions, some for Paul, some for Apollos, some for Peter and some declare themselves for Christ. This must be seen to.
    However the news from Corinth is very bad, Timothy reports that false teachers have led the Church astray, they no longer see Paul as an apostle, and do not regard his teaching. Priscilla and Aquila spend a lot of time with Timothy hearing news of their old church at Corinth, they are shocked and sadened by the situation*. Paul heads to Corinth, he finds the Church in open rebellion and is forced to return to Ephesus, suffering humiliation rather than retaliate, where he writes a "tearful" letter to the Church- "For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you." Titus, one of Paul's most trusted friends, heads toward Corinth bearing the letter.

  

     ----Its about this time that our story takes a turn. A silversmith in Ephesus, Demetrius, who sold a great many silver shrines to Artemis, finding his trade failing due to the growth of the Christian Church, started a riot amongst the Ephesians. Two of Paul's companions- Gaius and Aristarchus (both of whom you will find in my blogs)- were dragged into the theatre. Paul headed there to help.

"And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice,  “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”"

   However, Ephesus, as a city, received various benefits from Rome, and the local magistrates were scared of losing any status, therefore they rushed into the fray:

"And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said.......
" If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly."

    It was probably around this time that Aquila and Priscilla "risked their necks for my [paul's] life"----




     Shortly after the riot Paul must say goodbye to Prisca and Aquila, he is heading to Macedonia to visit the Churches and, hopefully, hear from Titus in Corinth. However Aquila and Priscilla are returning to Rome, where Jews are no longer banned. The parting is with great sadness, Prisca will no longer have Paul to care after, and Aquila must find someone else to argue with! They part, but in the knowledge that they will meet again in the prescence of their Lord.
    Paul heads on to Macedonia, to his great joy, Titus meets him, he has good news, the Corinthians have repented and returned to the true Gospel:

"But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.....

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you."

    Titus returns to Corinth with a new letter from Paul (2 Corinthians), and then Paul heads there himself. He is reconciled with the Church. He writes to the Roman Church where, along with Aquila and Priscilla who are there, he also knows many of  the believers. He speaks with great care and love  for the couple.
    Along with Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus, Paul heads for Jerusalem;  they take with them the collection for the saints there. Paul is arrested.
 



       ----10 years later, from the confines of a prison cell in Rome, Paul writes to his son in the faith, Timothy. Timothy is pastoring in Ephesus. And, suprise, suprise, who should be there but our good friends, Aquila and Priscilla. They do get around!!

Wherever there is a Church in First Century AD , you will find the charming couple, sharing their home, their friendship, and their love of the Saviour. They risked their lives for Paul, and they cared for him for many years. I think that they are two of the most delightful and kind people you will ever find!-----

2010 Reading Scheme

   "the Ugs: Psalm 27" 2010 Reading Scheme kicks off this friday, which (goes without saying) is the 1st of January in this new bright new decade.
   Its a very ambitious scheme, taking chunks from the Old and New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs every day until, by next December, we hopefully shall have read the entire bible (and Psalms twice). The plan is that those involved (8, i think) will chat about common topics, post thoughts and questions on our interactive "wall" and generally encourage and peer pressurise each other!
   Although slightly scared, I am very excited and look forward to plunging myself into the Word of God, because, lets be honest, we dont spend half enough time studying it. I want to be stunned at the creation, confounded by the wisdom of Solomon, blown away by the beauty of  God's Plan, transformed by the Spirit and humbled by God's grace. I want to trek across Asia with Tychicus, change my view of others with Peter, trust in God with Jacob, sing with Asaph and dance with Miriam! Most of all, I want my Lord to change me and perfect me, through His grace and mercy. It will involve trials, and discomfort, and battle, but my God is able to keep me and guide me....that is why Psalm 27 is our  moto, our battle cry!

"The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
......
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!"

Confusion and Chaos

   I sat down about midday with the aim of studying about Aquilla and Priscilla, longtime companions of Paul, with whom he lived and worked. However I ended up with dates and maps and charts up to my ears. There appears to be a period of about 3 years which my main referance books just ignore, or confuse. Using a combination of sources, along with chiefly the bible, I think I may have traced Paul's basic whereabouts for the period. However, I am certainly no bible scholar! Unfortuantely I dont really want to tread to deeply into Aquilla and Prisca intill I have solved this defecit. Luckily I had the good thinking to order a couple of books a few days ago, hopefully they shall arrive tommorow, and they should shed some sight on the subject.
   I was ever so excited recently to discover a little-know book called "The Pauline Circle", having ordered the one copy I could see (from America) I eagerly await it! The blurb usefully explains that the book tells us all  about Paul's buddies and companions! Just what I wanted!
   So, keep your eyes peeled, and very very soon I may be blogging about the exciting duo. My passion for Paul's friends is not abaiting! I have homemade maps and timelines strewn across my room even now! I just hope that I can put them to good use!

Psalm 107

Lets give thanks to the Lord! Psalm 107:


Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
   whom he has redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
   from the east and from the west,
   from the north and from the south.
 Some wandered in desert wastes,
   finding no way to a city to dwell in;
hungry and thirsty,
   their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
   till they reached a city to dwell in.
  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
   for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
    and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
  Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
   prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
   and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
   they fell down, with none to help.
  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
   and burst their bonds apart.
  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
   for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he shatters the doors of bronze
   and cuts in two the bars of iron.
 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
   and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
  they loathed any kind of food,
   and they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,
   and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
   for his wondrous works to the children of man!
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
   and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
 Some went down to the sea in ships,
   doing business on the great waters;
they saw the deeds of the LORD,
   his wondrous works in the deep.
For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
   which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
   their courage melted away in their evil plight;
they reeled and staggered like drunken men
   and were at their wits’ end.
  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he delivered them from their distress. 
He made the storm be still,
   and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
   and he brought them to their desired haven.
  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
   for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
   and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
 He turns rivers into a desert,
   springs of water into thirsty ground,
  a fruitful land into a salty waste,
   because of the evil of its inhabitants.
He turns a desert into pools of water,
    a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry dwell,
   and they establish a city to live in;
they sow fields and plant vineyards
   and get a fruitful yield.
  By his blessing they multiply greatly,
   and he does not let their livestock diminish.
 When they are diminished and brought low
   through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
  he pours contempt on princes
   and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
but he raises up the needy out of affliction
   and makes their families like flocks.
 The upright see it and are glad,
   and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
   let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Israel

    Jacob is getting old, his sons are starting to act in over-zealous and wicked ways, but he has no power to stop them. An entire city tricked and then massacred by two of his sons, after the prince of said town had defiled his daughter. Surrounded by angry and violent pagans ready to kill Jacob and his family, thus extinguishing God's people on the earth, Jacob makes the right choice. He turns to the God who has sustained him before Laban and Esau, Yahwah, the Lord God of Abraham and Isaac.

Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone."

    Arriving in Bethel, the Lord renews His promise and blessing to Jacob and names Jacob Israel. 

    Recently I read an article that claimed that the bible was full of "paradoxs" (in a good way!). While seeing exactly where the writer was coming from, I disagree. From our limited viewpoint God's purposes and works can seem to conflict with the people and nations he acts towards, however it is, in a manner of speaking, the most perfect and "logical" solution possible.  This is the  situation we see in Israel's life- he acts in devious and deceptive ways, he acts in stupid and lustous ways  around Rachel, and often speaks doubtfully about the future. However he also shows great faith and trust in the Lord, he delivers blessings to many people and his journey is  an example to many. This  seeming "paradox" empitimises the battle occuring in every believer- the old man of sin, vs the new man of grace. The Lord tries Israel and purifies him through adversity. He does the same with Israel's children: foolish, wicked and murderous; proud, boastful and lazy, they are hardly the desired stock with which to begin a great nation! Jacob's favouritism toward Joseph causes bitterness and murderous intent, the family is split in half. But, the Lord uses this for good, he moulds them all and brings them to be the leaders of His nation.
     The last 17 years of Israel's life are spent at Goshen, in Eygpt. The patriach is described as "blessing" the Pharoah- quite a job for the lonely fugitive fleeing from his brother, whom we saw earlier! However, Israel instructs Jospeh, upon his death, to return his body to the land that the Lord has promised his descendants- a testimony to Israel's trust in God's Promise. (This promise of a Land and City to dwell in continues to us today! There is a place of peace and joy, the one that each believer longs for.)
      Before he dies and goes to be with his God, Israel blessed his sons and his grandchildren- interestingly he placed the younger, Ephraim, higher than the elder, Manesseh. In the final blessing Israel gives a beautiful testimony to the God that died for his sins and who led him through all his troubles:

 "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
   the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
  the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
   and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
   and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

Friend or Foe?

     Its early days in the Church. Paul and Barnabas are local leaders of the Antioch believers- now known as "Christians"- and have travelled South to Jerusalem with a collection for the poor there. Herod the King has clamped down on this new cult spreading in his realm- he has killed James, the apostle and has arrested Simon Peter. Gathered in the home of Mary, the mother of a young boy named John Mark, the Jerusalem Church, along with their guests from Antioch*, pray earnestly for their friend Peter. A knocking starts on the door, Rhoda, a young girl, goes to answer. Moments later she runs back to the gathering and joyfully shouts that Peter is here, now! They are disbelieving, but it is really Peter. Later, Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch, taking with them the boy, John Mark.
      The Elders amongst the Antioch Church receive word from the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barnabas must be "set apart" for  a great work. So, taking Mark with them, they sail to Cyprus, and so begins the first of Paul's journeys across Asia, Greece, Macadonia and Italy.



     Mark is perhaps not the person you would expect- as the author of one of the four Gospels, you would expect him to be a great Christian, one full of bravery and charisma. However, although a fair bit of Mark's story is intuition, it would seem that he was hardly the hero we would perceive him to be. For a long period Paul, at least, viewed him as a deserter to the cause. If speculation is correct then Mark's first mention in the Bible is hardly great either:

'And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.'    Ooops.

     Its interesting that some commentators think that, if this was Mark, then he could  have been sleeping in a hut on family  property guarding the fruit!

    ( I had planned to be writing only about Mark, however I have decided to talk also about Barnabas, as he is such a great, heart-warming Christian character! His and Mark's stories seem so intertwined, that it is tough to break them apart!
    Barnabas was part Cyprian, part Jewish and was also cousins with Mark. He came from a Levite, or 'priestly' family. He is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with his selling of a field he owned, and his giving of the money to the Church. After Paul's record of attacking the early believers, manly apostles found it hard to believe in his conversion, it was Barnabas that sailed to his rescue!

^'And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.'

    While Paul spent time in Tarsus, learning more of his saviour and growing in spiritual maturity, Barnabus was helping with the Church:

'So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built  up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multipied.'

    After Stephen was killed in Jerusalem, many believers went away and some of them travelled to Antioch, where they  preached to the Greeks there. Many came to believe in Jesus as  their Messiah, and a  Church began. Barnabas was sent by the apostles there:

'The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.'

     However Barnabas's first act was to fetch back the forgotten Paul from Tarsus, who he thought would be a great help in the mission to the gentiles (good  thinking Barnie!!) and together they ministered the church for a year. It is  here that our story  rejoins, becuase Barnabus, and his "protege" Paul, head to Jerusalem with the collection. As you already know, they return with Mark and head to Asia Minor, and so the story continues. )

(You may wish to look back at the start to remind yourself of the story thus far! Please excuse my slight deviation from the plot!)

    Jumping right back to the first missionary trip of Paul, the three of them pass through Cyprus and then sail onto Asia Minor, arriving at Perga. The group would  then have to travel North across one hundred miles of mountainous terrain to arrive at Pisidian Antioch. This may well have been a dangerous journey, taking brigands and robbers into account. It is here that Mark abandons the trip and returns home. Paul views this as nothing short of desertion and says so later on:

'And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.'

    What happened to Mark between these first and second journeys is not written, however I think it is possible to have an idea. We know that Mark returned to Jerusalem and the Church there, where, it is possible to imagine, he came under the influence of Peter. Peter had also once been full of bravado and been prepared to do anything for his Lord, however when the moment arrived, he had ran and even denied his God three times. Peter knew what it was like to fail and to do so publically as well. It was at this time, under the leadership of Peter, that Mark probably either came to believe for the first time upon the Lord Jesus Christ as his saviour, or to realise that his pride had been blinding his walk with the Lord, and renewed his love and devotion to Jesus in repentance and tears. Either way, it seems probable that it was here that Mark became the man that later would write the Gospel. Peter, himself, mentions Mark in his first letter, and regards him as his son:

'She who is in Babylon, (Rome?) who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.'

    After their missionary journey, they return to Antioch, during their time there, ("And they remained no little time with the disciples") false teachers come from Judea, saying that all believers, wether Jewish or Gentile, must be circumsised. Wanting to clear up this issue, the duo head South and attend the "Jerusalem Council". They return to Antioch with a letter from the Council regarding the whole issue:

"So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.  And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened  the brothers with many words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also."

     Doubtless this was a great time in the Church at Antioch, however it came to an end when Paul and Barnabas disagreed ("a sharp disagreement") over taking Mark on the next missionary journey. They split up:

"Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches."

     Although the close companionship between them had been broken, Paul still viewed Barnabas highly and spoke with apparent warmth about him in his letters. This might be a good place to point out that up until their journey together and even sometimes afterwards (like the Jerusalem Council) Barnabas is listed in the Bible before Paul, suggesting that Barnabas was held as the "senior" of the two, particully as far as the apostles were concerned.
     It is at this point, that Barnabas dissapears from the scene, we can only imagine what works he went on to do. However Mark is seen again, and, suprisingly, he reemerges as a friend and companion of Paul!! Obviously under the guidance of Peter and Barnabas he had become a worthy teacher! The next mention, chronologically, of Mark is during Paul's imprisonment in Rome, in the letters to the Colossions, and Philemon (who lived at Colossae). You may remember  that it was our friend Tychicus who carried those letters!!
      Quite a long time has passed since Mark left Paul on the first missionary journey. Paul is ending his letter, and lists the people with him at the time. These include:

• Aristarchus
• Justus
• Epaphras
• Luke
• Demas
• Mark, the cousin of Barnabas

     Here Paul says an intersting thing concerning Mark- "Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have recieved instructions- if he comes to  you, welcome him)"  Why did Paul have to stress that the Church should welcome Mark? Surely they would have? Well, they wouldnt have welcomed  him if all they knew about him was that he had abandoned Paul and Barnabas and run away. Obviously Paul had told them, in his instructions, how much Mark had changed. In "Philemon", Paul says:

"Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers."

     Obviously Mark is now counted as a "worker" with Paul.
     The last mention of Mark is a very touching one: Paul is in Rome, under arrest for a second time, this time he faces execution. He writes to his spiritual son, Timothy, who is acting as Pastor to the Church in Ephesus:

"Do your best to come to me soon......Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry."

     Obviously Mark has been entrusted with a mission in Asia Minor, around Ephesus; but the main point here is how much Paul seeks to be with him. It is a wonderful demonstration of God's love, grace and transforming power, that he has changed Mark, from a coward, reknown for his ability to run away, to one of the Church's most valuable teachers, travelling around Asia in Paul's name, and also the writer of one of our Gospels!

    This is really all we know about Mark, however by piecing together the various passages on him, we can see how much of a "Trophy" of God's Grace he was! So here are two more of Paul's friends, Barnabas, his mentor  in his early years, and Mark, a failure who was transformed for God's work!





*I cannot know for certain that Paul and Barnabas were present, but it does seem that they were in Jerusalem at the time, and one can safely assume that they would have been present, praying for Peter.

Purification

    Against the backdrop of Laban repeatedly changing his agreement with Jacob- management of his flocks in return for a flock of his own- Jacob is told to leave Laban and return to Canaan, by the Lord.
   Jacob has been shown the folly  of deceitfullness and idolitary, but the Lord still has another lesson for him- that of total trust in Him. In the making of Israel*,  Jacob must come to rely on God entirely and his field trip for this lesson involved both the leaving of Laban and the returning to his murderous brother, Esau.
    When Jacob tells both Rachel and Leah of his plans to leave, both support him fully. In this, we see some of the Lords work in them both. However Rachel decides to steal some of her father's idols, therefore giving him a reason to pursue them all. Why she did this, I dont know. Maybe she truly believed they were 'Gods' or maybe she just wanted some comfort from memories of her past. Whatever the reason, she acted against her husband, and the one true God. Perhaps it was due to these spiritual differences between Leah and Rachel, both in humility and love of God, that meant that the Messiah came  from Leah's line, and not that of Rachel.
    So, with Laban in hot pursuit, they flee South. However the God who had promised never to leave Jacob kept him secure. He visited Laban and warned him not to touch Jacob or Jacob's family.

'"God saw my affliction and the labour of my hands and rebuked  you last night."'

'Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daugheters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned  home.'

    Having trusted in the Lords protection and promises to  overcome Laban, Jacob then approaches a much bigger issue-  that of Esau. Jacob's messengers, sent to promote peace between them, returned and told of a four hundred man army heading right toward them! Jacob, who had obviously grown in spiritual maturity since his days with Esau and his parents, immediately turns to his God and prays a prayer of confession and supplication. We are starting to see a man transformed and shaped by God.

'"O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,' I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'"'

     You know  what.....the Lord answers that prayer most magnificently! But first, we have one of the most amazing and curious stories  in the whole Bible. I dont think I can begin to explain it  or tell it to you, so Im just gunna show you:

     'And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and  with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.'

     I dont doubt for a single moment that this incident happened exactly as the Bible tells  us  it did. But it is also symbolic of Jacob's, and our own, stuggle in prayer, Jacob is commended for "striving". It may appear to us that the Lord is not answering our prayers, but our  God is not constrained by time. For him one day is like a year, and a year is like a day. He is patient and shall answer our prayers, not neccasarily for our sake, but for His own Glory. Jacob is named  'Israel' (meaning, 'He strives with God'). Obviously Jacob is now trusting in His Lord and God and seeking His blessing. The Lord now can answer His prayer about Esau, and He does so with a touch of humour and a dash of Wonder. Jacob is seen approaching with four hundred men:

'But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.'

      What follows is one of those horrible akward moments: Jacob has given Esau gifts, Esau tries to give them back, Jacob tells him to keep them, Esau insists  but Jacob insists more. How amazing that God made what should, by rights, have been a war turn into a gift-giving match!!
      Jacob erects an alter to his God and he names it El-Elohe-Israel (meaning "God-the God of Israel"), this is Jacob's  own God! His God! This is a great testimony to the Lord's help and guidance throughtout his life!
     This is a tale of Jacob's 'purification' and 'sanctification' (long words), gradually Jacob was being made to  be more and more like his saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. It certainly wasnt easy, he experienced marital disharmony, the threat of war and murder, financial misdealings and rebellion amongst his own children, but the Lord  led and moulded him. If we truly wish to be "like Jesus" we must trust God to lead us through these trials and journeys. There is a danger of viewing our "cross" as being simply a spiritual matter, or as being easy. However, like Jacob,  we will experience material problems, lonliness and fear. Lets pray that, like Jacob, we will seek our God's help and support.


     We now reach Jacob's elder days, and there is  still much to be learnt about trusting in the Lord God. What a story this is turning out to be!!

* By 'Israel' I mean both the nation and also Jacob himself- the name 'Israel' eventually  came  to replace 'Jacob'

the deceiver deceived

   The hopeless romantic, head over heels in lurrrveee- perhaps this isnt the picture we have of Jacob at this point in our story. However you would struggle to find someone more love-struck than Jacob was with Rachel.
    The Lord has led Jacob, in flight from his brother, across Canaan and he has arrived at the very pasturing grounds of his distant family. Arriving there he is utterly captivated by Rachel, his cousin, who was "beautiful  in form and appearance." Unfotunately, Jacob appears to place Rachel on a very high pedestal, one bordering on idolitatry. He allows himself to be used by his uncle Laban, who procures seven, and eventually 14, years labour out of him, in return for  Rachel's hand in marraige.
     In the background, throughout the courtship, we see someone else- Rachel's older sister, Leah. Leah, of the "weak eyes" as the bible describes her. Leah suffered many years as her younger sister recieved all the attention and while she was ignored and not even regarded for marraige. Finally she sees a handsome man come from across the land, and wisk Rachel off of her feet! One can feel sympathy for her plight.
     However, Laban's deceitful ways, mixed with Leah's sadness and Jacob's apparent "love blindness" leads to a dreadful situation. Jacob marrys Leah, thinking her to be Rachel, and great unhappiness comes from this. Presumably Leah must have been "in" on the whole shabby deception and Rachel must have been restrained somewhere during the so-called "wedding".
    The first years of the marraige, approximately 7, are full of bitterness and fighting, in such quantities and ways that even today's soap operas might quibble about airing it! The sisters are prepared to bargain over sleeping with Jacob, in return for ancient forms  of "aphrodisac" and think nothing of letting him lie with their maids rather than the other. Even Jacob seems to be perfectly content with  the situation, which allowed him sexual variety whichout any bother. Perhaps  the only thing to be taken from this entire sad tale is the dealings of the Lord towards Leah, who apparently comes to know the God of her grandfather, Abraham, by His special personal name.

"When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."

     Although Leah seems to place any hope of  gaining love from her husband solely  on her children, she eventually comes to be content with what the Lord has granted her.

"And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the Lord" Therefore she called his name Judah*. Then she ceased bearing".

*Judah meaning 'Praise'

     I think that this passage reminds us to watch our 'romantic natures' and to ensure that the partner is not idolized. No relationship will be truly compelete and fruitful unless the Lord  is over all.   One also wonders if Jacob's dealings with Laban in this way were not some form of chastisement for his own deception- but that is pure speculation.
     After this rather sorry account, the story of Jacob take a drastic swing as he leaves Laban's company much wealthier and maturer than when he arrived, and we see how God had been with him and had blessed him, but thats another story.

Tychicus; (n) Tick-i-cus, Friend of Paul

   The first friend of Paul who I want to briefly blog about is Tychicus. A fairly unknown person, however if it wasnt for the great expense and hardship Tychicus (known as Tic-toc to his friends) endured, then we wouldnt have the books of Colossions, Ephesians and Philemon to read.

     Picture the scene, Paul awaiting trial and under house-arrest in Rome, the capital of the world. Hundreds of new Christians across Asia Minor, Greece, Macadonia and Syria. Decievers, false teachers, "wolves" prowling amidst the churches. Persecution rising from the state and populace. The Apostles seperated, most killed for Christs sake. Stories reach Paul's ears of the Church at Collosse being led astray with strict rules on food and drink. He decides to write to the Churches at Ephesus and Collosse. The letters need to travel thousands of miles across the Roman empire, across the Adriatic Sea, over Greece, and to Asia. Who does Paul turn to? You've guessed it, Tychicus.

    Tychicus had shown what a great friend of Paul he was, and how reliable he was in the Lord's service once already. As Paul journeyed across the Eastern Roman Empire, he took a collection for the poor in Jerusalem, not wanting to forget the Church back home. The Churches in Galatia, Corinth and Ephesus gave gladly towards their brothers and sisters in Judea. Luke lists the people involved with carrying the great collection back to Jerusalem:

"Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus."

      Luke also writes about the joy with which the evangelists were greeted when arriving:

"After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God."

      Shortly after this Paul was arrested and put on trial, it was after this time that he was sent to Rome.  Accompanying him on his ship-prison were Luke and Aristarchus*. I also wonder if Tychicus was there with him. But, wether he was or not, he did later rejoin Paul in Rome.
      It is here that we pick up the story, with Paul writing to the Ephesians and Colossians, the task of carrying the letters is entrusted to Tychicus (which is why i think he may have travelled with Paul on the journey, during which he was shipwrecked). However Tychy wasnt alone for the trip, he had with him a man named "Onesimus" (meaning "useful"- good name!):
      Onesimus had once been a slave in Collosse, belonging to a man named Philemon (Fi-Le-Mon). He had stolen from his master and ran away, all the way to Rome, where, presumably, he had thought he could hide. And he was right, he did manage to hide. But in doing so he met the Apostle Paul, who was under house-arrest at the time. Under Paul's teaching, Onesimus came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Onesimus, with Paul's guidance, decided to return to his old master. It turned out that Paul knew Philemon, who was a Christian believer! (Isnt God's divine providence wonderful, sometimes I wonder if our Lord laughs at our amazement at these things!) Paul wrote another letter for Philemon asking him to accept Onesimus back.
     So the two of them, Tychicus and Onesimus set out to take the three letters to their recipients, along with the love and prayers of Paul and the Roman church. They endured the long journey and we have a mention of them in the letters, this is what Paul says in Ephesians: (I love  these little endings to his letters!)

"So that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him for this very purpose, that you may know  how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts."

     So it is, that Tychicus, a man hardly known, carried three letters of our New Testament in his jacket pocket across the Roman Empire, accompanied by the transformed slave, Onesimus. He is also mentioned in places as  a cover minister, helping out Titus in Crete, and Timothy in Ephesis.
    I planned only to write a small amount, but I love these stories, tales of the people who were true friends of Paul and who helped to forge the early church! In these people we can see the Holy Spirit working to continue the Lords Work, and we should pray to be filled with the Spirit and to also make such worthy contributions towards the Church today.



*Aristarchus was another longtime companion of Paul, whom I hope to write a little bit about another time!

Blessings, blessings and more blessings

   So, smashing onwards with Jacob, we reach the infamous "blessing deception". In this short period in his life, only a few days, Jacob receives three great blessings:

     Blessing #1- Isaac blesses Jacob, masquerading as Esau. The deception passes between brother and brother, father and son, and between husband and wife. Esau is "robbed" of his blessing. However there was no magic power in Isaac and words are only words, God had promised Jacob the inheritance and Jacob got the inheritance.
Saying that, God certainly did not condone what Jacob had done and he had to flee his family, and even suffered a similar twist when Leah masqueraded as Rachel on their wedding night.

"May God give you the dew of Heaven, and of the fatness of the earth.
and plenty of grain and wine.
Lets people's serve you, and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mothers sons bow down to you,
and blessed be everyone that blesses you."

      Blessing #2- After all the events become clear Isaac appears to realise that he has been fighting against God's will and he finally passes on the wonderful blessing the Lord had given to Abraham and himself.

"God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!"

      Blessing #3- Jacob leaves home in a frantic rush and arrives at Bethel- it is here that he has the dream of a great ladder between heaven and earth, constantly in use by the Angels. It is during this dream that he receives the greatest blessing he could ever hope or long for.

"I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

     I love the story of Jacob and its here that it all meets up and works together! This is the crux of the matter! The Lord tells Jacob, "in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed." and I think that Jacob himself is blessed through his offspring. Hundreds of years later the Lord Jesus Christ would be born as a man and would die on a cross for the sins of His people, Jacob included.
     Jacob, the deciever, who robbed Esau of his birthright and his blessing; Jacob, the plotter; Jacob..... whom the Bible attributes absaloutley  no blaim to at all.....why?! Because he had none. Jesus took his blame and paid the price, took the punishment. Through Jesus (the very offspring talked of in Jacob's blessing) Jacob was blessed himself! Did Jacob deserve that grace? No! Not at all. But Jacob was loved of God, and the Lord blessed him with forgiveness. That is why I love the story of Jacob so much, he was made a Trophy of God's Grace.

Jacob awoke from his dream and rejoiced:

"Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.... How awesome is this place!"