Scripture: 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 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.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 [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Luke chronicles the decision of the Jerusalem Council, with its missive to the Antioch church and its commissioning of fellow leaders Silas and Judas to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. Commending the Four to the Antioch church, the elders assure the church that Judas and Silas will attest to the authority of the letter’s provisions. It closes with a farewell that follows an appeal to church members to adhere to their four points of abstinence and thrive (see Yesterday’s Daily Focus). Luke wraps up this pivotal moment in the life and health of the church by reporting the Four arrived and read the letter to the congregation, who rejoiced over its encouraging words and those spoken by Judas and Silas. After an extended stay, Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem, with the brothers sending them off with a blessing of peace. But Paul and Barnabas continued discipling the congregation through the preaching and teaching of the word of God.
For today’s reading, Luke reveals a conflict that time will aid in resolving. Keen to return to their church plants in Asia Minor, Paul suggests to Barnabas that they embark on a second mission outreach. Barnabas provisionally agrees if his cousin John Mark is permitted to rejoin the team. But Paul sharply refuses, pointing out that John Mark left the cohorts when they arrived in Pamphylia on their first mission. Unable to negotiate a compromise, Barnabas takes his cousin and sails to their home country of Cyprus. Meanwhile, Paul and Silas, commended by the brothers, return to Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches.
Of note: Silas’ Latinized name is Silvanus, as Paul (2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and Peter (1 Peter 5:12) refer to him in their epistles.
Takeaway: In due time, Paul reconciled with Mark as three of his letters verify: Colossians (4:10), Timothy (2 Timothy 4:11), and Philemon (v.24). And he will reunite with Barnabas in Corinth as implied in his first letter to this church (9:6). Meanwhile, God redeems the team’s schism by multiplying the Gentile outreach into two teams who will cover a larger territory. Indeed, Paul, joining forces with Silas (a heavy-hitting prophet and elder of the Jerusalem church fluent in Greek), will comb Asia Minor and Greece, expanding and strengthening the church to lay the foundation for generations to come. And Barnabas and Mark will leave their legacy on their home island-nation of Cyprus.
Our takeaway? Sometimes, when faced with an impasse, the best course of action is to agree to disagree respectfully and pursue our separate callings as the Holy Spirit leads. But parting company should never result in severing our thoughts and prayers. Instead, we must pray for God to help us forgive the offending party and redeem the relational break by leading both ministries to thrive—glorifying God and growing his kingdom. And we would do well to persist in seeking godly insight into how and when to reconcile, whether in person or through correspondence. When we do, we place ourselves in the best posture for reuniting and celebrating what God has done through us—as did Paul, Barnabas, and Mark.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who sought your will to facilitate our reconciliation with you. And we thank you for redeeming those instances in our lives where we experience relational breaks with fellow believers. Still, we are prone to short-circuiting opportunities to reconcile with others due to our pride and pain. So would you please motivate us to cooperate with your Holy Spirit to part on as good of terms as possible and keep praying for your redemption and our reconciliation so that we might multiply the growth of your kingdom and glorify your name?
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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