Paul and Barnabas Separate to Go on Missionary Journeys

“And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.’  Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.  But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.  And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.  Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”-Acts 15:36-41(ESV).

Paul begins his second missionary journey with Silas as his assistant.  The disagreement between him and Barnabas over taking John Mark resulted in two mission teams going out.  John Mark and Barnabas went to Cyprus, Barnabas’ native land.  When John Mark returned to Jerusalem from their first missionary journey when they were in Perga of Pamphylia, his desertion (for reasons not given) must have made Paul suspicious that the young John Mark might get “cold feet” again.  But Barnabas, the one who counseled Paul after his conversion, took John Mark.  Luke does not record what occurred on the mission journey of Barnabas and John Mark.  But in Corinthians 9:6 Paul commends Barnabas for supporting himself (as did Paul) and not depending on the churches for financial help.  Legend has many stories about Barnabas and his work as a prophet, teacher and missionary, but these have not been authenticated by scripture. An epistle bearing  Barnabas’ name circulated and was even considered for canonization into the Bible, but was not accepted.  But as to John Mark, the association with the older Barnabas on this missionary journey must have had a good influence on him.  He wrote the gospel of Mark, the first of the four gospels to be penned.  It is believed he  associated with Peter in order to know the events of Christ’s life, for John Mark was not in the inner circle with Jesus.  In Colossians 4:10, Paul states that John Mark is a cousin of Barnabas, and he asks the churches at Colosse to welcome him when he comes.

Paul begins his second missionary journey.  His traveling companion is Silas.  As you recall, Silas was one chosen by the Jerusalem Church to take the letter of instruction to the Antioch Church in Syria.  Following the two-year missionary trip to Asia Minor and Macedonia with Paul, Silas joined Peter and they went on mission trips to Pontus and Cappadocia.  He served as the scribe for Peter to write the epistle of Peter.  Dependable and devout, Silas was a level-headed and capable assistant to Paul and later Peter.  Since Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus, Paul and Silas set their sights for Syria, Cilicia and Galatia.  The disagreement and split worked to produce two teams instead of one, and no doubt enabled more time spent to help the churches they had founded on their first missionary journey.  Paul and Silas would also go into Greece to establish churches there.  The pattern of encouraging believers and making new converts became the modus operandi for the mission teams in Acts.  This is the same pattern used today.  Summer is a usual time for many dedicated youth groups and their leaders to go to areas of need to witness and minister.  Likewise, many adults take vacation time from jobs to join and work on a mission team.  Remember to pray earnestly for those who go.  Seek God’s blessings for their safety, work and results.    

An Important Church Council in Jerusalem and a Letter to Gentile Believers

“But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved.’  And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question…’Therefore my (James’s) judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues’.” –Acts 15: 1-2, 19-21 (ESV.  Read Acts 15: 1-35).

Acts 15:1-35 gives a record of what has been termed the “Great Jerusalem Council” to determine whether acceptance of Gentile converts into the church fellowship also required that they be circumcised, as was every good Jew.  The time of this Council was in 48 or 49 AD when the Way (church) movement was 15 or 16 years old.  Some wise and able leaders helped to handle the controversy.  The issue of “to circumcise or not” was raised by the Pharisaic element that was still strong, especially in the Jerusalem church.  Those who helped to examine the issue and look at it from a biblical standpoint were Paul and Barnabas (and others not named who went to represent the Antioch Church and the other Gentile believers); Peter, who stood and preached in the assembly of the church at Jerusalem; and James, (the brother of Jesus who is believed to be the major leader of the Jerusalem church) who quoted scriptures from Amos, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Daniel (see summary in Acts 15:16-17) and offered a key to the resolution of the controversy.   A circular letter was then proposed to Gentile believers not only in Antioch but in other regions where churches had been established.  The advice was practical—what every good Christian should be doing in living a life separated from the world:  (1) abstain from things polluted by idols; (2) abstain from sexual immorality; (3)  abstain from things strangled and from blood.  Read the letter itself as recorded in Acts 15:23-29.  It first is an apology for those who went without being sent from the Jerusalem Church and ‘unsettled your minds’ (v. 27). Next came commendation of Paul and Barnabas who had worked so hard among the Gentile believers.  Then an introduction of  Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas who were sent by the Jerusalem Church as ambassadors of good will to bear the letter.  The letter also made clear that the action of the Jerusalem Council was Holy Spirit led (see v. 28).  They did not want to lay a great burden upon Gentile believers to go through the Jewish rite of circumcision to be accepted into the fellowship of believers. 

Oftentimes, churches have disagreements that must come before the church conference.  The one faced by the early churches was serious, indeed.  The agitation was by a group of strongly pro-law proponents (called the Pharisaic sect), who, although now Christian, still held on to the old ways.  Often in modern day church conferences we hear: “We’ve never done it this way before!”  This stance, when unresolved peacefully, has led to church splits, hurt feelings, some dropping out and refusing to participate any more in the work and ministry of the church, and, at a place in rather close proximity to the “mother” church, another church organized, sometimes a “monument to a quarrel.”  But God works to rectify the stubborn stances of His people and both new and old congregations grow. We have come to define these situations as a way to “divide and grow.”  The peaceful settlement of this issue in the first great Jerusalem Church Council did not guarantee that there would be no future challenges.  But at this point in time, the issues were settled and the Antioch Church and others received the ruling and “rejoiced because of its encouragement” (v. 31).  Thanks be to God!