was smiling and clapping his compatriots on the back while helping them into their cloaks. A wiry little nondescript man. What kind of a monster was he?
Peter assigned devout men to carry Stephen to his burial, where he was both eulogized and bitterly mourned. Mark wished he had gotten to know Stephen better. It was obvious he had endeared himself to the disciples, and had been a fearless warrior for the faith. His stoning ignited great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. Many of the new believers escaped throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, but the apostles remained.
Though Saul had merely looked on as Stephen was stoned to death, he now seemed suddenly emboldened and began to wreak havoc. He led bands of marauders from door to door throughout Jerusalem, demanding to know whether Christ followers were within. All over the city he gained a name for himself among the rulers for hauling off men and women to prison.
The disciples and Barnabas and Mark received word from many who had been scattered that they had gone everywhere preaching the word. Philip had departed to the city of Samaria and preached Christ. Apparently multitudes agreed with everything he said when they witnessed the miracles he performed. He cast unclean spirits out of many, and others who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. Peter said he had been told of great joy in that city.
But Philip also reported to the apostles that a certain man named Simon, who had previously practiced sorcery and astonished the people of Samaria, had gained a following who claimed, “This man has the great power of God.” But when Philip preached concerning the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized, and this Simon also believed and was baptized. He began to follow Philip and was amazed at the miracles and signs.
The apostles at Jerusalem urged Peter and John to go to Samaria to pray for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit. When they returned, Peter gave an account to Mark and Barnabas that they had laid hands on the people and that the people had received the Holy Spirit.
“But this Simon,” Peter said, “the former sorcerer, offered us money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’
“I told him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! Your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God that the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.’
“And Simon said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.’”
O VER THE NEXT FOUR years such accounts made Mark want to be a true disciple, traveling and spreading the Gospel, but his mother would have none of it. “You are still but twenty years old and have much to learn, and I need you here.”
“But Barnabas wants to do the same. Let me go with him if he is assigned.”
“No! He is older and can choose for himself whether this is the life for him. You have many years ahead of you.”
After this Mark pulled Peter aside and confided in him, “One day I would love to go with you when you are out and about teaching and preaching the things of God.”
“God may just call you to such a ministry,” Peter said. “When you are older, of course.”
“You sound like my mother.”
Peter smiled and put a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “A wise woman.”
“What I really long to hear, Peter, are your memories of Jesus. I met him only months before He died, but you knew Him three years. What was it like, being with Him from when first He began performing great signs and wonders?”
Peter’s eyes seemed far away. “The miracles were one thing,” he said. “But the teaching…Our times together, just listening to Him tell us of God and of Heaven, of the
Peter assigned devout men to carry Stephen to his burial, where he was both eulogized and bitterly mourned. Mark wished he had gotten to know Stephen better. It was obvious he had endeared himself to the disciples, and had been a fearless warrior for the faith. His stoning ignited great persecution against the church at Jerusalem. Many of the new believers escaped throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, but the apostles remained.
Though Saul had merely looked on as Stephen was stoned to death, he now seemed suddenly emboldened and began to wreak havoc. He led bands of marauders from door to door throughout Jerusalem, demanding to know whether Christ followers were within. All over the city he gained a name for himself among the rulers for hauling off men and women to prison.
The disciples and Barnabas and Mark received word from many who had been scattered that they had gone everywhere preaching the word. Philip had departed to the city of Samaria and preached Christ. Apparently multitudes agreed with everything he said when they witnessed the miracles he performed. He cast unclean spirits out of many, and others who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. Peter said he had been told of great joy in that city.
But Philip also reported to the apostles that a certain man named Simon, who had previously practiced sorcery and astonished the people of Samaria, had gained a following who claimed, “This man has the great power of God.” But when Philip preached concerning the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized, and this Simon also believed and was baptized. He began to follow Philip and was amazed at the miracles and signs.
The apostles at Jerusalem urged Peter and John to go to Samaria to pray for the new believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit. When they returned, Peter gave an account to Mark and Barnabas that they had laid hands on the people and that the people had received the Holy Spirit.
“But this Simon,” Peter said, “the former sorcerer, offered us money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’
“I told him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! Your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God that the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.’
“And Simon said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.’”
O VER THE NEXT FOUR years such accounts made Mark want to be a true disciple, traveling and spreading the Gospel, but his mother would have none of it. “You are still but twenty years old and have much to learn, and I need you here.”
“But Barnabas wants to do the same. Let me go with him if he is assigned.”
“No! He is older and can choose for himself whether this is the life for him. You have many years ahead of you.”
After this Mark pulled Peter aside and confided in him, “One day I would love to go with you when you are out and about teaching and preaching the things of God.”
“God may just call you to such a ministry,” Peter said. “When you are older, of course.”
“You sound like my mother.”
Peter smiled and put a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “A wise woman.”
“What I really long to hear, Peter, are your memories of Jesus. I met him only months before He died, but you knew Him three years. What was it like, being with Him from when first He began performing great signs and wonders?”
Peter’s eyes seemed far away. “The miracles were one thing,” he said. “But the teaching…Our times together, just listening to Him tell us of God and of Heaven, of the
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