Selling a field

After Acts 4:36-37

He heard the report

of the apostles, a release

miraculous from prison,

and he lifted his voice

with the others to sing

the psalm of praise.

He prayed with the others

and sang, his heart

overflowing with a grace

previously unexperienced.

He heard the teachings;

he saw the need. He sold

the field he owned and

laid the money at their feet,

his gift to the fellowship

and his gift to God.

A Cypriot by birth, his name

was Joseph. The apostles saw

him as a son of encouragement

and called him by another name:

Barnabas.

Photograph by Tobias Stonjeck via Unsplash. Used with permission.

The names blur

From Acts 13-14

The names of the cities

blur in succession,

in the pattern of the work:

Antioch Seleucia Salamis

Paphos Perga Antioch

Iconium Lystra Derbe

Iconium Antioch Perga

Seleucia Antioch

The names of the cities

we touched the cities

who touched us watching

miracles unfold

the sick healed

the lame made whole

the souls saved

and strengthened

the gospel spread

Illustration: Map of the first missionary journey by Paul and Barnabas, adapted by Mark Meynell from the ESV Study Bible.

We are not gods

After Acts 14:8-20

A simple thing, really

a man crippled

lame from birth

listening with faith

faith sufficient to be

healed, not the words

“stand up and walk”

but the faith, sufficient

They would make us gods

they would sacrifice bulls

with wreaths they would

sacrifice to us

a blasphemy

our shouting them down

barely preventing sacrifices

I am not Zeus

I am not Hermes

the crowd angry

they want their gods

to touch their gods

to be given their sign

instead of sacrificed bulls

they give us stones

proving we are not gods

Painting: Paul worshipped at Lystra by Raphael.

From Antioch to Antioch

After Acts 13

We were in worship, fasting,

together as the followers

of the Wayin Antioch, when

it was said by the Spirit

            Separate the two,

            Barnabas and Saul,

            I have work for them,

            set aside for them

            the work to which

            I have called them

After the words, we continued

to worship, fast, pray.

We placed our hands

upon them, my hand felt

Barnabas sure, my hand felt

Saul, trembling, we placed

our hands upon them, sending

them off to Cyprus, where Saul

was also called Paul, to Antioch

in Pisidia, Antioch to Antioch

and so it begins,

Antioch to Antioch

The lightning of the hands

the power flowing from the hands

the hands a conduit for the source

of a power sufficient

sufficient to change the world

Photograph: Painting of Barnabas and Saul, Stavrovuoni Monastery, Cyprus.

Peter and Barnabas

Even the lions faltered

even the lions failed

even the lions had

   their moments

   best forgotten

   especially by

   themselves

when the sun darkened

when the voices rose

when the desire

for  acceptance

chained and bound

the lions

I find this encouraging,

oddly.

Photograph by Lydia Woomer via Public Domain Pictures. Used with permission.