“While they were worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:2)
Consider the context of this passage:
James, one of the apostles, had just been martyred, and Peter had been miraculously freed from prison. The significance of James’ death is often understated—he was the first apostle to die in persecution.
It’s important to understand that in the book of Acts, an apostle and a disciple are not the same. An apostle was someone who had met Jesus face to face, a title reserved for the Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ as well as Paul.
These men had a special leadership role in the early church. A disciple, as referenced in Acts, was simply a follower of Jesus. For example, Stephen, the first martyr, was a disciple, while James was an apostle. James wasn’t just any apostle—he was part of the inner circle of three, along with John and Peter.
So, when Herod killed James with a sword and imprisoned Peter to please the Jews (Acts 12), it sent shockwaves through the church. The church responded by praying earnestly for Peter (Acts 12:5). The Greek word translated as “earnest” or “fervent” in many of our Bibles conveys the same intensity used to describe Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, where He sweat blood.
These corporate prayers were not casual requests but rather desperate pleas for Peter’s safety. God responded, and Peter was miraculously freed. It’s a great story—one I encourage you to read with your family.
Shortly after this, Herod, the great persecutor of that time, met his demise in a dramatic way. This wasn’t the same Herod known for his building projects or the one who ordered the “slaughter of the innocents” in Bethlehem. However, he was the one who presided over Jesus’ trial and sent Him back to Pilate. This Herod persecuted Christians to appease the Jews. He died, as the book of Acts narrates, for failing to give glory to God during a political interaction with the leaders of Tyre and Sidon. Interestingly, the historian Josephus also supports this account.
After James’ death, Peter’s miraculous escape, and Herod’s downfall, the leaders of the Gentile church in Antioch did not rest, celebrate, or become comfortable. Instead, they fasted. Fasting and comfort rarely go together. Typically, fasting occurs in times of tension or when important decisions are being made.
Some people fast regularly to seek Christ and express their dependence on Him. But more often, fasting is a way of earnestly seeking direction from God. That’s what was happening in Antioch—the church leaders were fasting and seeking God’s guidance for what was next. Herod, their greatest opposition, was gone, and they sought God intently about their next steps.
This leads me to ask: What’s next for you?
In America, we tend to be comfortable. We’ve never experienced physical persecution like Christians in places such as Nigeria or Iran, or even to the extent of those in Europe. We’re comfortable, and our children see it.
I believe this comfort is a significant factor in why our children can become lukewarm in their faith. Comfort often breeds lukewarm Christians.
Now, don’t misunderstand—I’m not saying having money or a comfortable home is sinful. Nor am I suggesting you need to sell everything and go into mission work in a remote community. I’m also not implying that those serving in ministry are somehow better Christians.
What I am saying is this: When Herod died, the leaders in Antioch saw an opportunity to advance, not a chance to relax. They didn’t retreat into comfort; they sought God for what was next.
So, what does God want you to do next?
John Paton, a 19th-century missionary to the Pacific, wrote in his autobiography that the greatest influence on his life and ministry was seeing his father praying on his knees. His father’s prayers weren’t those of someone seeking comfort but of someone fervently asking God for direction—for what’s next.
“God bless me so I can bless others. Help me to give to others what You have given me. You’ve blessed me—now what’s next?“
Personally, I am convicted by this. I tend to seek comfort when I should be seeking God’s direction for what’s next!
