Acts 12 25

Acts 12:25 kjv

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Acts 12:25 nkjv

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.

Acts 12:25 niv

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Acts 12:25 esv

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

Acts 12:25 nlt

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them.

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 25 Meaning

This verse marks the conclusion of Barnabas and Saul's (later Paul) first missionary journey, highlighting their successful return to Antioch. It signifies the fulfillment of their divine commission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and their reporting back to the church body, demonstrating accountability and shared ministry. Their return signifies the validation of their work and the growth of the early church.

Acts 12 25 Context

This verse concludes Acts chapter 12, which has seen dramatic events, including Peter's miraculous release from prison and the subsequent death of Herod Agrippa I. Chapter 13 then shifts focus to the mission of Saul (now also called Paul) and Barnabas. After being set apart by the Holy Spirit and the church in Antioch (Acts 13:2-3), they embarked on a significant missionary journey throughout Cyprus and Asia Minor. This journey involved preaching in synagogues, facing opposition, experiencing conversions (including that of Sergius Paulus in Acts 13:6-12), and encountering divine intervention.

Their ministry to the Gentiles, in accordance with the Great Commission, was central to their mission. Upon returning to Antioch, the center of Gentile Christianity, they were tasked with reporting their findings and activities. This verse summarizes the successful conclusion of that journey, emphasizing their reporting back to the church from which they were sent. This establishes a pattern of accountability and communal recognition within the early church.

Acts 12 25 Word Analysis

• Ὡς (hōs): This Greek adverb means "as," "when," or "while." Here, it introduces the concluding action of their journey.
• δὲ (de): A postpositive conjunction meaning "but" or "and." It connects this verse to the preceding events, indicating a progression or consequence.
• ἀπαγγεῖλαντες (apanggeilantes): This is the aorist active participle of the verb ἀπαγγέλλω (apangellō), meaning "to report," "to announce," or "to tell." It signifies the completed action of their reporting. The aorist tense emphasizes the fact of the reporting rather than its duration or ongoing nature.
• τὴν (tēn): The feminine accusative singular definite article, "the."
• ἀγγελίαν (aggelian): The accusative singular noun from ἀγγελία (aggelia), meaning "message," "news," or "announcement." It refers to the report they delivered.
• ἀνέθεσαν (anethesan): This is the aorist active indicative of the verb ἀνατίθημι (anatithēmi), meaning "to set up," "to dedicate," "to submit," or "to report." In this context, it conveys the sense of presenting their mission report to the church, laying it before them for their consideration and affirmation. It carries a sense of presenting something for acceptance or confirmation. This verb implies not just informing but submitting the results for the community's review. It can also mean "to contribute" or "to present."
• τῇ (tē): The dative feminine singular definite article, "to the."
• ἐκκλησίᾳ (ekklēsia): The dative singular noun meaning "church," referring to the assembled community of believers in Antioch.
• τῶν (tōn): The genitive plural masculine/neuter definite article, "of the."
• ἁγίων (hagiōn): The genitive plural adjective meaning "holy ones," referring to believers, consecrated by God.
• εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion): The accusative singular neuter noun meaning "good news" or "gospel." This specifies the nature of their report – the progress and outcome of spreading the gospel.

Word Group Analysis:

• "ἀπαγγεῖλαντες τὴν ἀγγελίαν" (apanggeilantes tēn aggelian): "having reported the message" or "having announced the news." This phrase clearly articulates the act of conveying the outcome of their mission.
• "ἀνέθεσαν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ" (anethesan tē ekklēsia): "they submitted/presented to the church." This highlights the communal aspect of their work and their accountability to the body of believers. The act of "setting before" or "presenting" implies laying the facts and findings for the church's recognition and affirmation.
• "τῶν ἁγίων εὐαγγέλιον" (tōn hagiōn euangelion): "the gospel of the holy ones" or "the gospel concerning the holy ones." More contextually, it refers to the gospel's message and its work among the "holy ones," meaning the believers. It also underscores that their report was about the progress of the gospel they were entrusted to share. The mission was to advance the gospel for the community of faith.

Acts 12 25 Bonus Section

The successful journey and reporting back of Barnabas and Saul validated their Gentile mission and leadership, setting a precedent for future missionary activities. This passage subtly reinforces the Pauline understanding of ministry not as a solitary pursuit, but as a task undertaken in dependence on and for the benefit of the wider body of Christ. The emphasis on reporting their good news (euangelion) highlights that the gospel is a message to be shared and its progress to be affirmed by the community of faith. Their work in opening the door for Gentiles was met with gladness by the Jerusalem church later (Acts 15:12), showing that the foundation of their ministry was recognized and accepted. The word "anethesan" carries a weight of formal presentation and submission, reflecting the order and community structure that characterized the nascent church.

Acts 12 25 Commentary

This verse beautifully encapsulates the completion of a vital phase in the early church's expansion. Barnabas and Saul, after a strenuous journey filled with both miracles and persecutions, returned not as independent actors but as missionaries accountable to the community that commissioned them. Their reporting back signifies that missionary endeavor was not an isolated event but a corporate endeavor. They presented the fruit of their labor to the "church," the assembly of believers, confirming that God had indeed opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. This act of reporting demonstrated obedience to divine leading, reliance on the community's prayers and support, and a shared ownership of the mission. It served to encourage the believers in Antioch by showing tangible evidence of God's grace working powerfully through their chosen emissaries.