Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
Paul... remained unknown to the churches in Judea. He went off for 3 years, then stopped by for 2 weeks and said hello to Peter & James (John seems to have been gone by then) ...
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Correction: John wasn't "gone" by then. Later in the chapter Paul talks about coming back to Jerusalem 14 years later & getting the right hand of fellowship from the reputed pillars of the church in Jerusalem: Peter, and James the brother of the Lord, and John.
Also, it perhaps was not so dire for John in Acts chapter 12, as I earlier intimated. James his brother was indeed killed by the sword, and Herod grabbed Peter shortly thereafter, but Herod himself died soon after that (verse 23), so perhaps the heat on John wasn't as immediate and intense as I made it out to be.
Nonetheless, he was at least for a moment a marked man on Herod's enemies list; and probably remained so on that of "the Jews", and given the deaths of John the Baptist and his brother, and Peter's narrow escape and Stephen being stoned to death, and the ensuing persecution of the faithful ones, John's desire for earthly prominence seems to have been tempered.
And thankfully, John was not martyred, because over time he came to realize that true power is not getting other people to do what you want: it is the ability to follow the One with all power.
The power to resist Satan and obey the Father God is the true power of the redeemed and revived ones; as is the power to forgive those who do you harm, and not wish them harm in return. Likewise is the power to love those who have no inclination to love nor respect you.
"For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever..."