Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Judas and Silas were sent to Antioch as delegates from the Jerusalem Council. They affirmed the decision of the Council both by relating the events and by teaching the Gentile church. They were able to do this because they were prophets and spoke Greek fluently.

2. Having spent significant time there teaching and encouraging the brethren, it was time for them to return to Jerusalem. They were sent away in peace and with favor.

B. Silas Decided to Stay (Ac 15:34)

1. This verse was omitted in the best manuscripts and was probably inserted by a scribe. In one sense, it attempts to fill the gap of how Silas left, but later was selected by Paul on his missionary journey.

2. However, there are a number of scenarios that could explain how Silas was selected, even though he had left. Perhaps he had returned on his own or perhaps Paul sent for him.

C. Paul and Barnabas Continue to Teach (Ac 15:35)

1. Despite the absence of Judas and Silas, Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch teaching and preaching, along with “many” others. A characteristic of Paul was his affectionate desire to disciple individuals and churches (Php 1:3-5, 7-9; 1Co 4:14-15; 1Th 2:11-12; Gal 4:19).

2. The “word of the Lord” frequently meant evangelism (Ac 8:25; 12:24; 13:44, 48, 49; Ac 15:36), but can also apply to the words of Jesus (Ac 11:16), or edification (Ac 15:35).

II. THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS (Ac 15:36-39a)

A. Paul Decided to Visit the Churches (Ac 15:36)

1. Sometime later and characteristically, Paul desired to return to those whom they had evangelized and became part of a church. Evidently, Paul was thinking of the some of the churches in Syria and Cilicia in which he helped establish at some point (cf. Ac 15:41).

2. Paul wanted to make sure the churches were growing and prevent them from falling into the teaching of the Judaizers.

B. Barnabas Wants to Take John Mark(Ac 15:37)

1. Barnabas kept desiring (“wanted” - imperfect of boulomai - wish or desire) to take along John Mark in spite of the fact that John left them in Perga (Ac 13:13) and returned to his home in Jerusalem (Ac 12:12).

2. As an encourager, Barnabas wanted to give John Mark another chance at missionary work. John Mark was also Barnabas’ cousin which may have also had some influence (Col 4:12).

C. Paul Refuses John Mark (Ac 15:38)

1. Paul’s response was unwavering in that he “kept insisting” (imperfect - axioō - evaluation of worth or suitability) not to take John Mark along with them. This does not mean that Paul was unreasonable, but he could not agree with Barnabas’ persistent arguments.

2. One of Barnabas’ arguments was most likely that he was the first to accept Paul when no one trusted him. Paul most likely responded that in spite of his early rejection, he never gave up or deserted.

3. Though there is no abundance of information, it is quite clear that Paul’s insistence not to take John Mark centered on his previous desertion at Pamphylia and unwillingness to engage in their mission work.

4. It was never stated why John Mark deserted. We do not know if his desertion was because of fear of persecution, distaste for evangelism to the Gentiles, immaturity, or some other reason.

5. However, to Paul, it was still desertion (aphistāmi - to stand or move away, leave or fall away). John Mark had deserted from Paul and Barnabas (ap’ autōn - from them) as well as the work (to ergon) of God.

6. Deserters are despised in any army, especially in the Lord’s army. Paul could see no reason for reinstating John Mark, “the one who had deserted.”

D. Paul and Barnabas Separate (Ac 15:39a)

1. All Luke stated was that a major argument led to the separation of Paul and Barnabas as a missionary team. He does not assess who was right and who was wrong.

2. Luke writes that there occurred a “sharp disagreement.” The Greek work is paroxusmos and comes from two Greek words, para that means to come alongside, and oxunō which means to sharpen. Together, when used in a good sense it means to prod, stir, or encourage to action (cf. He 10:24-25). In a bad sense, which is the case in this instance, it means provocation (Ac 17:16; 1Co 13:5) or emotional argument (Ac 15:39). In fact, it can carry the emotion of anger or wrath (Dt 29:28; Je 32:37). We get our English word paroxysm, which Webster defines first as an uncontrollable physical spasm or convulsion. Secondly, it refers to a sudden violent emotion or outburst.

3. Those who tend to be sympathetic encouragers perhaps take Barnabas’ side. Those who tend toward rules and principle perhaps take Paul’s side. What must be remembered is that neither side was willing to compromise their principles.

4. Another consideration is that even though it appeared at one point that Barnabas was the leader (Ac 11:30), the tide turned and Paul began to lead (Ac 13:42ff). For in fact, it was Paul, who decided that the mission team should revisit the churches in every city. In addition, Paul was a bona fide apostle called by Christ Himself (Gal 1:1). Whereas, all we can deduce about Barnabas is that he was an apostle appointed by the other apostles, not by Christ. This would give Paul the apostolic authoritative and rightful leadership of the mission team. That being the case, Barnabas should have submitted to the apostle Paul.

III. THE TWO MISSION TEAMS (Ac 15:39b-41)

A. Barnabas Took John Mark to Cyprus (Ac 15:39b)

1. Barnabas was also a leader and it appeared that he had enough authority to choose to become independent from Paul’s mission team. In fact, that is exactly what happened; “they separated from one another.”

2. In addition, Barnabas took John Mark as a missionary trainee and sailed to the island of Cyprus. Nothing more is written of Barnabas in the book of Acts, but he continued to be a teacher, missionary, and an encourager, strengthening the brethren.

3. God sovereignly worked in and through this disagreement so that there were two mission teams instead of one.

B. Paul Chose Silas for the Second Missionary Journey (Ac 15:40)

1. Paul likewise chose Silas to be his missionary partner. In the sovereignty of God, Silas would have several features that would be an advantage for the second missionary journey. Silas was a prophet able to teach in the churches (Ac 15:32), was a Roman citizen going to Roman cities (cf. Ac 16:37), a Jew who was permitted to attend the synagogues (Ac 17:10), spoke fluent Greek to communicate to Gentiles, and was a witness to confirm Jerusalem Council’s decision to Gentiles (Ac 15:22).

2. There was no animosity or doubt about Paul’s second mission according to the church, for the brethren commended him to the grace of the Lord.

C. They Traveled through Syria and Cilicia (Ac 15:41)

1. Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, the opposite direction of Barnabas, to strengthen the churches.

2. Again, we see the hand of God because at the beginning of Paul’s missionary journey he added a new member to the team by the name of Timothy (Ac 16:1).

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. We must be Christians of principle and discipleship

1. Paul

a) Desertion is a serious matter. When Paul thought of the coming persecution, he thought of John Mark leaving again. We argue the validity of Christianity by those willing to be martyred for it. Paul was not so sure that John Mark would be willing to be martyred.

b) Sometimes a Christian is unqualified for a particular ministry. Even Mission Boards today have qualifications for missionaries.

c) Paul did not say John Mark could never be a missionary, but he would have thought he was not ready at that time to be a part of Paul’s mission team.

d) It would be wrong to conclude that Paul was cold and unconcerned for John Mark. Characteristically Paul was a loving spiritual father all about discipleship. He visited the churches in Galatia at least three times.

e) We must take commitment to Christ very serious, whether our own or others in the church. One reason is that all-out-commitment to Christ is a qualification for ministry. No commitment to Christ is equivalent to spiritual desertion. Don’t be a deserter to any degree or on any level.

2. Barnabas

a) Barnabas saw the potential in John Mark and had the same love for discipleship as Paul did.

b) Barnabas was willing to take John Mark into the less hostile territory of Cypress. Both Barnabas and John Mark had relatives there (Ac 4;36; Col 4:10).

c) John Mark’s resume is a testament to Barnabas’ discipleship efforts.

(1) He became close to the apostle Peter (1Pe 5:13).

(2) Wrote gospel of Mark with Peter.

(3) He even became useful to the apostle Paul (2Ti 4:11).

d) If Christianity sends any message at all to mankind, it is the message of second chances. We must not be so rigid in our principles that we do not give second chances to others.

e) If Christianity sends any message at all to mankind, it is the message of second chances. If we become so rigid in our principles that we do not give second chances to others, then we ourselves have missed the message of Christianity.

B. Disagreements in Ministry

1. Do not be too easily provoked.

a) Love is not provoked (1Co 13:5). Some of us are too easily provoked. Christ, His ministry, and His church are of far more importance than many of our trivial differences, preferences, and petty offenses.

2. There is a right way to disagree and a wrong way.

a) It is to be done with godly decorum and gracious dialogue.

(1) Jam 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

b) In addition, if you’re wrong admit it. If you have offended someone, ask for forgiveness. Some people have a very hard admitting they were wrong or asking for forgiveness. Remember, only God is right all the time and every time. Not us.

3. It shows us that Paul and Barnabas were human.

a) We are not thankful this disagreement happened, but it does encourage us who live in the real world.

b) Take note, Paul never wrote a bad word about Barnabas. It also could be very easy to conceive that sometime down the road, Paul and Barnabas were completely reconciled

C. The Sovereignty of God among Sinful Men

1. God’s will, God’s elect, God’s church will never be thwarted by the sin of men, not even the sin of Christians.

2. Make no mistake; the sin of Christians will have a negative impact. But it will never thwart God’s sovereign plans.

3. Remember, we serve a God who works in spite of our sinfulness and who can make two mission teams out of one.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516