The Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early church, by Luke the physician - Acts 15:22-41 comments: Contention between Paul and Barnabas because of John Mark

 

Acts 15:22 ¶  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33  And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

 

The elders and the church are pleased and send letters by Paul, Barnabas, and Silas and Judas Barsabas to the churches in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. The burden is simple, to avoid the pollution that comes from worshipping the pagan gods of Greece, Rome, and the rest of the ancient world. Abstaining from food offered to idols, from blood, things strangled, and from the ritual fornication commonplace as explained previously. These tokens of worship in the Graeco-Roman world were to be avoided and, as I said, Paul will go in to much detail about why they should not do these things in the letters to the Corinthians.

 

Acts 15:36 ¶  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

 

With these clarified directives from the apostles and elders at Jerusalem Paul wants Barnabas to go with him to revisit the churches they had established in every city to see the state of their affairs. One thing that struck me here is that we should not leave our children in the street. Christianity is not a hit-and-run effort. When you witness to someone and they have trusted in Christ you should have their name and a way to communicate with them. Discipling them is your responsibility or should be a consideration. Others might do the work as God often uses multiple people to work on one person’s salvation and sanctification you have not “done your job” by praying a prayer with someone and then leaving them to Satan’s devices. It is a good lesson for us.

 

Barnabas wanted to take John Mark but Paul would not have that due to John Mark leaving their journeys back in 13:13. This point of contention between the two pioneers of the gospel was very sharp as it says, so they split up. Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark. Paul the authoritarian and Barnabas, the son of consolation, reveal their character in this incident.