Acts 15:36-39 – Paul and Barnabas parted ways

Paul was obviously thinking about the people that he and Barnabas were instrumental in bringing to Christ, in their first missionary journey to the southern part of the province of Galatia. So he initiated a move to return to those areas, to see how the brethren there were growing in the Lord. There are those who thought that the church there were facing the crisis reflected in Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Barnabas agreed to go but he wanted to give his cousin, John Mark, a second chance and to take him along with them. This was to be expected of Barnabas who as usual was magnanimous. In Acts 9:26-27, he was the one who vouched for Paul when everyone else was suspicious of him. He was also the one who in Acts 11:22-26 searched out Paul and took him to Antioch, to partner him in the work there.

Barnabas’ suggestion to bring John Mark touched raw nerve. Paul vehemently refused. It appears that John Mark’s desertion recorded in Acts 13:13 was still fresh in his mind. Paul’s insistence that John Mark was not going with them caused a rivalry between him and Barnabas. Luke described it as a sharp disagreement. So they parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark with him and they left for Cyprus. Paul took Silas with him to fulfil what he had proposed to do. With Silas, Paul’s second missionary began.

Luke’s account of the sharp contention between Paul and Barnabas serves to tell us that even godly men do disagree over trivial. What’s sad about the incidence was that their partnership was divinely initiated and consecrated. They had weathered many hard times together, yet over such an insignificant matter they parted way. Satan would often take small matters in church to split up the unity. We need to pray for unity in the leadership.

This split up however, brought Paul to expand the Gospel to other parts of Europe. God brought good out of a disturbing incidence. Praise His name!