Acts 12:25
in Acts 12When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.
KJV
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
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This verse in Acts 12
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Returned from Jerusalem - They had gone to Jerusalem to carry alms, and they now returned to Antioch, Act 11:30. When they had fulfilled their ministry - When they had accomplished the purpose for which they had been sent there; that is, to deposit the alms of the church at Antioch in the hands of the eiders of the churches, Act 11:30. John, whose surname was Mark - See the notes on Act 12:12. From this period the sacred historian records chiefly the labors of Paul.
This site's exposition
fulfilled their ministry
Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem, having fulfilled their ministry of famine relief begun at 11:29-30, and take with them John, whose surname was Mark, the young man from the very house where the church had prayed for Peter's release. Mark's presence here quietly sets up the sharp disagreement of 15:37-39, when Paul refuses to take him again after he departed from them at Pamphylia. Luke gives no verdict on either man in that later dispute, only naming both Paul's judgment and Barnabas's, so the reader meets the argument as Luke presents it rather than as settled in one man's favor.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And the word of God," it says, "grew," i.e. in consequence of this, "and multiplied." Do you mark God's providential management? "But Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark."
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Saul returned - To Antioch; taking John, surnamed Mark - The son of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met, to pray for Peter,) who was sister to Barnabas.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Mark--(See on Ac 12:12), not to be confounded with the second Evangelist, as is often done. As his uncle was Barnabas, so his spiritual father was Peter (1Pe 5:13).
Returned from Jerusalem - That is, to Antioch, after the death of Herod. When they had fulfilled their ministry - When they had carried the alms of the Christians at Antioch to the poor saints at Jerusalem, according to what is mentioned, Act 11:29, Act 11:30, to support them in the time of the coming famine. And took with them John, whose surname was Mark - This was the son of Mary, mentioned Act 12:12. He accompanied the apostles to Cyprus, and afterwards in several of their voyages, till they came to Perga in Pamphylia. Finding them about to take a more extensive voyage, he departed from them. See the case, Act 13:13; Act 15:37-40. 1. When the nature, spirit, and tendency of Christianity are considered, we may well be astonished that it should ever find a persecutor among the souls it was designed to instruct and save! Devils can have no part in it, and therefore we may naturally expect them, through envy and malice, to oppose it; but that men, for whose use and salvation the wisdom and mercy of God made it, should reject its offers of mercy, and persecute to death those who proclaimed it, is the most unaccountable thing that can be conceived. What a proof is this of mere maliciousness, where the persecutor not only serves no self-interest by it, but destroys, as far as he can, all that could promote his own present and eternal happiness! This argues such blindness of understanding, hardness of heart, and derangement of mind, as can be accounted for only on the supposition of a nature totally fallen from God, righteousness, and truth. The Jews crucify Christ, and martyr Stephen; and Herod murders James; and both join together to persecute the followers of Christ and destroy his cause. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Βαρναβᾶς | barnabas | Barnabas | G921 → | 28 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Σαῦλος | saulos | Saul | G4569 → | 15 times |
| ὑπέστρεψαν | hupestrepsan | returned | G5290 → | 35 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ἰερουσαλὴμ | ierousalem | Jerusalem | G2419 → | 76 times |
| πληρώσαντες | plerosantes | having fulfilled | G4137 → | 86 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονίαν, | diakonian | mission, | G1248 → | 34 times |
| συμπαραλαβόντες | sumparalabontes | having taken with [them] | G4838 → | 4 times |
| Ἰωάννην | ioannen | John | G2491 → | 134 times |
| τὸν | ton | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπικληθέντα | epiklethenta | having been called | G1941 → | 30 times |
| Μᾶρκον.¶ | markon | Mark. | G3138 → | 8 times |
ΒαρναβᾶςBarnabas
barnabasG921 →28 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ΣαῦλοςSaul
saulosG4569 →15 times
ὑπέστρεψανreturned
hupestrepsanG5290 →35 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ἸερουσαλὴμJerusalem
ierousalemG2419 →76 times
πληρώσαντεςhaving fulfilled
plerosantesG4137 →86 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
διακονίαν,mission,
diakonianG1248 →34 times
συμπαραλαβόντεςhaving taken with [them]
sumparalabontesG4838 →4 times
ἸωάννηνJohn
ioannenG2491 →134 times
τὸνthe [one]
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐπικληθένταhaving been called
epiklethentaG1941 →30 times
Μᾶρκον.¶Mark.
markonG3138 →8 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 15:37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
it leads to
- Acts 12:12
And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 12:12
Through
Acts 12:12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
it leads to
- Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- Matthew 18:19–20
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
- Isaiah 65:24
Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
- Acts 13:5
Through
Acts 4:36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
it leads to
- Galatians 2:13
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
- Galatians 2:1
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
- Galatians 2:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Acts

Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonNew TestamentBarnabasThe Levite from Cyprus whom the apostles nicknamed son of encouragement; he vouched for Saul when nobody in Jerusalem would go nea…
- PersonUnited monarchySaulIsrael's first king, head and shoulders above the people; began in humility, ended in rejection — sparing what God devoted, consul…
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 27; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament.
