The first encounter between Saul and the elders (Acts 11:28)(Gal 2:6-9) still left open the question of circumcision and Torah observance on the Gentiles in the growing body of believers. Although Saul indicated some pressure by the brethren who “spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage…,” Saul insisted, “we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour,” (Gal 2:4-5). In Jerusalem, the believers apparently agreed to disagree, at least for the moment. After the meeting, “Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission,” (Acts 12:25).
Probably during or shortly after Saul’s visit, James the brother of John was killed. Peter, who had been present during the meeting between Saul and elders at Jerusalem, was subsequently imprisoned by Herod Agrippa (A.D. 44). An angel of the LORD miraculously delivered Peter from prison and he immediately went to the house of Mary where many were gathered praying for him. The Mary in question is the mother of John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10), the associate of Paul. This gathering occured prior to Saul’s first missionary journey (A.D. 45-47) and the unnamed group of believers could have easily included Barnabas and Saul.
After describing how the Lord led him out of the prison, Peter said, “‘Report these things to James and the brethren,’ then he left and went to another place,” (Acts 12:17). The implication is that Peter went to an “undisclosed location,” a place out of the sight and out of the reach of Herod Agrippa. Peter needed to leave Jerusalem because Herod Agrippa would certainly search for Peter. The next day Agrippa did search for Peter and when he failed to find him, he ordered the guards to be executed.
Although Peter had been miraculously saved by an angel of the LORD, he remained in danger as long as he stayed in Jerusalem and Judea. Just like the parents of Jesus who fled from the presence of Herod the Great, Peter had to flee from Herod Agrippa. The logical place for Peter to travel was north through the believers who he had earlier discipled in Samaria and Galilee. In northern Galilee, Peter was just a short distance to Antioch in Syria beyond the jurisdiction of Herod Agrippa. In Antioch, Peter would find support among believers including Barnabas and Saul, who he had just seen in Jerusalem and may have even recommended this strategy to Peter.
Peter may have arrived in Antioch before or concurrent with the return of Barnabas and Saul. It was shortly after their return to Antioch from Jerusalem that the Holy Spirit set Barnabas and Saul apart for taking the gospel to the Gentiles. From Antioch, Barnabas and Saul, along with John Mark, begin the first of Paul’s three missionary journeys in scripture (A.D. 45-47). If Peter was in Antioch at the time of Saul’s departure, Saul probably felt good leaving the church in the hands of such a capable apostle as Peter. (I have to place Saul away from Antioch at some point during Peter’s visit because it is difficult for me to understand how the problem among believers at Antioch would have begun in Saul’s presence.)
I suspect Peter found Antioch to be an inviting place to live. Although he was away from the brethren in Judea, Peter found Jewish believers in Antioch who felt blessed to have the fellowship of one who walked with the Master. In this way, Peter was still fulfilling his ministry to the circumcised. Peter may have even found the time and opportunity to visit other believers in Galatia. Over time, Peter assimilated into the Hellenistic culture of Antioch. Did Peter abandon the kosher commandments or the laws of cleanliness, unlikely, but eating with Gentile believers was not a common practice among Jews with a Pharisaic background.
(to be continued - Scott)
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