The Testimony in Greece (1): Disagreement Doubles Mission: Both United We Stand AND Divide & Conquer (Acts 15:36-16:10, 18:1-28)

Introduction: Solo Man or Team Player

You work hard to be a solo man. You’ve got to take the lead and let the other’s follow. The Solo Man. The one who goes out by himself on great adventures. And then lets lemon soft drink pour down his great Merv Hughes handlebar moustache, because it’s light on the fizz, so you can slam it down fast.

Or remember the phrase, 'Who was that masked man? Hi-ho silver, away’ and a cloud of dust, as he goes off to bring another wrongdoer to the law. The Lone Ranger.

Or Superman. Undies on the outside, getting changed in phone boxes or broom cupboards. You can see that with habits like that, he had to work alone.

In the words of Mr Incredible, to his wife ‘Elasti-Girl’, ‘I work alone’.

Is the Apostle Paul the traditional super hero? The Solo Man. The Lone Ranger. The Superman. Does he like to work alone?

Or is he more like a modern superhero. Like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The X-Men. The Fantastic Four. Justice League, the dream team of all the superheroes together. Recent movies see the advent of teams of superheroes.

Enid Blighton’s kid’s adventure books have teams of characters as well – the Adventurous Four, the Famous Five, the Secret Seven, Is this more like Paul? In a team?

Yes, it is. Paul and his co-workers

Superficially, it seems Paul is the Solo Man. After all, we often talk about the 13 letters he wrote. But it would be mistaken to think of Paul as the Lone Ranger, working alone.

Paul got by with a little help from his friends. Paul’s mission, from the human point of view, as a complex team effort.

Paul was chosen by God and saw Jesus, yes. But this didn’t stop him from having to relate to flesh and blood humans. In fact, that was his job. And God surrounded Paul with real people, brothers and sisters in the Christ, to work with. And these relationships had all the problems and difficulties of being part of any human organization between the fall and heaven.

We sometimes think, if we only had Jesus, Peter, Paul? Then we wouldn’t have these problems and disagreements. Then we’d have a peaceful church, without tensions, fights and upsets.

How wrong this thinking is.

Paul and his friends shared shared the usual relationships of co-workers. The joy, the comeradery, the collegiate atmosphere that we know working together brings any human organization. For this is fellowship.

Broughton Knox, once principal of Moore College, defined fellowship as ‘friends engaged in a common activity.’ Friends doing things together. And he described this as the happiest human experience. Christian fellowship is sharing in God the Holy Spirit, and in the ministry of God. At the centre of fellowship is unselfishness. It involves losing yourself in the common cause.

Broughton himself spoke of the exhilaration of being part of the D-Day landing off Normandy Beach. For 3 months, everyone on the ship on which he was chaplain focused on the cause: Getting the hundreds of thousands of allied troops safely landed. Each of them was focused and immersed in that one activity. The war effort depended on it’s success. Everyone joined together. And he remembers that life on the ship was never happier. Losing yourself in the great cause at hand[1].

Acts does paint Paul as a hero. He is the leader of the churches Gentile Mission. He is the first to engage in battle. But he is not alone. Far from it. And just as the SAS require all the logistical and infrastructural support to be effective, so the Apostle Paul as the point man at the very front line required the air cover, the artillery support, the engineering corps, the cooks, the hospital units – all the different units of the Lord’s Army – to fight this battle. Just from Acts and Paul’s letters, someone has counted up 95 co-workers[2].

And they’re just the one’s mentioned or alluded to. There are rich webs of relationships that undergird much of Paul’s ministry endeavours.

We don’t have time to see how Paul’s relatives and extended family assisted the mission. His sister’s family in Jerusalem, and his nephew (Acts 23:16). His relatives that he greets at the end of Romans (Romans 16:7,11,21): Andronicus and Junia, Jason of Thesalonica, Sosipater of Berea. Even Luke the author of Acts may well have been Paul’s relative Lucius[3]. They all assisted Paul.

Nor do we have time to follow up the many women mentioned: Phoebie (Romans 16:1); Lydia (Acts 16:14ff); Euodia, Syntyche (Philippians 4:2); And a host of others. Their work in assisting Paul and the missioners is invaluable. They are involved in all manner of ministry. Firstly, teaching the gospel, usually to other women, and, in at least one circumstance, an inadequately catechized man (cf Acts 18:26; cf Titus 2). Hospitality, generosity, opening their homes to missionaries and churches, financial generosity, travelling with and for the missionaries and apostles (Phoebie: Acts 16:1ff). 1 Timothy 2 has a place in the churches. But so too does a broad recognition of the invaluable ministry of women in the early days of the Gentile mission. And so it is also now.

This morning, all I can do is say a few about some of the more prominent fellow-workers. We will look at some of their strengths. We will glimpse some of their weaknesses. And we will see how they too, fought on the same side as Paul, and as us.

But what we will notice is this. Whether it was through their strengths, Or even through their limitations, God used them to send the gospel out. When they united, it was for the good of the gospel. When they divided, the gospel kept going and spreading and advancing. United they stood. But divided they conquered.

So this morning we will look at how God used Barnabas and John Mark, Silas and Timothy, Priscilla and Aquilla, and finally Apollos.

Barnabas and John Mark

Paul’s first co-worker is Barnabas. Barnabas is his nick-name. He was a great encourager[4].

Barnabas was a faithful companion of Paul, a preacher, a teacher, and a prophet. He was a courageous self-starter who had risked his life in mission (Acts 15:25).

But Paul and Barnabas also had a nasty falling out. The argument over John Mark split the partnership up for good. It wasn’t the first argument they had, but it seems it was their last[5].

John Mark was Barnabas’ cousin. And while Mark joined them on their first Mission, he didn’t do that well. He deserted Barnabas and Paul. We don’t know the exact reasons why Mark left. It seems it got too hot for the young man. So he gave up the work and he fled back home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).

So Barnabas and Paul had a fight. Barnabas wanted to take his young cousin on their follow up mission. Paul thought it was unwise. He had deserted once – let’s not test him again. Acts 15:39 to 41:

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (NIV)

It’s my way or the highway! You go to your hometown, I’ll go to mine. So the partnership was dissolved.

This is one reason we can trust the bible. Because it is so warts and all. It doesn’t cover over the Apostle’s failings.

What should we say about this? That it is unfortunate? Yes. Psalm 133:1 says, 'How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!' (NIV)

Conversely, how painful and unpleasant it is when brothers can’t get on. May you feel that at times in your family. You have Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, always fighting. It’s never pleasant. Even when it is between two well-meaning, godly men. The disagreement couldn’t be smoothed over or fixed. The partnership needed to be dissolved.

But was it a disaster? No. Was it the worst thing that can happen in church? No. Did it shame the gospel? I don’t think so. I’m not even sure this disagreement was sinful. Perhaps they had regrets later about their harsh words. But really this was a disagreement about what was wise.

Did it hinder the work of the gospel? No. It actually propelled the mission to the next stage. Just as Stephen’s martyrdom pushed the gospel out, so Paul’s unfortunate disagreement with Barnabas pushed the gospel further afield.

The mission was doubled. There were now two mission teams instead of one. Simultaneously, Paul and Barnabas were sharing the gospel.

And it wasn’t the end of the world. While Paul and Barnabas couldn’t work together, Paul still approves of Barnabas itinerant ministry (1 Corinthians 9:6). We now work separately, but we still work for the same boss.

Disagreements in our churches aren’t the end of the world. They might shame the gospel. They might not. It depends really on what they are about, and how we conduct them.

Actually, good things might come through us not being able to agree. It’s a reminder that the Kingdom of God is bigger than just ‘me and my church’. The Mission is more important than whether you like me or agree with me, or I like you or agree with you. Because it is not about me or you. It is about Jesus. It is Jesus’ mission.

It’s good and important to work together. We should work hard at keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. But if we can’t work together in mission, let’s work separately in mission, proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord to a dying world, until we get to heaven, and then Christ Jesus will sort out all these little disagreements for us. Friends, that’s why we have denominations.

Moreover, Mark would show his true worth to Paul later on. Later, when Paul is imprisoned, who is there with him but John Mark? (Colossians 4:10). In fact, Paul needs the useful Mark at the very end of his life (2 Tim 4:11). Paul thought the young Mark was a liability. And how many of us were liabilities in our youth? How many of us need to grow up before we could do what we’re doing now. Some of us are late bloomers. This was John Mark Mark won back Paul’s trust. Perhaps Barnabas’ 1 to 1 ministry on Cyprus was a big factor. So that, in the end, Paul later saw Mark’s usefulness which Barnabas apprehended long before.

Silas and Timothy

Barnabas’ departure left a job vacancy. And Paul sees Silas, also known as Silvanus, as a suitable mission partner. Silas delivered the letter outlining the Jerusalem decree. It seems Silas was good at writing Greek, because he also co-authored the two Thessalonian letters and also Peter’s first letter (1 Peter 5:12)[6].

Silas preached and got bashed up, just like Paul. Silas was Paul’s faithful coworker, whether near or far. Sometimes Paul sent Silas away. Sometimes Paul kept him close. But sometimes the church in a place needed Silas more. So Paul did without, so others could have him (e.g. Berea, Acts 17:14; Acts 18:5, 18).

Separations between Christians are always sad, because of Christian love. But sometimes Paul said goodbye for a time, for the good of others. This church has said goodbye to beloved Christian brothers and sisters, for the good of others. You said goodbye to the Goodes. You said goodbye to Mark and Robyn. It’s always sad. But Christian farewells are never forever. Because we’ve got heaven, the ultimate opportunity to catch up with Christian friends.

Next mentioned is Timothy (e.g. Acts 19:22; 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Thessalonians 3:2). Of all Paul’s beloved co-workers, Timothy had a special place in Paul’s heart. Timothy was his adopted Son learning the family business. Paul calls Timothy, my son whom I love, faithful in the Lord (1 Corinthians 4:17-18; cf 1 Corinthians 16:10; 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:2). Again, he says of Timothy:

For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. (Philippians 2:21-22 NIV)[7].

At the very end of their partnership, in 2 Timothy, we see Timothy rushing off to Paul in Rome. Paul begs that Timothy come to him now, ASAP, before winter. Because Paul is about to lose his head for Christ. And he wants to see Timothy his dear Son before he is killed.

Paul saw the need of training up the next generation. The baton has to be passed to others.

Who will take on the job after you go? Every minister of the gospel has a use by date. So to whom are are you going to pass the message on? The message is more important than you. Who are you going to make sure knows the message and will have the resources to keep the message going out?

And along the way, in this great endeavour, you pick up real lasting friendships. You didn’t go in it for the friendships, but you come out of it with friendships.

Priscilla and Aquilla

Our second reading in Acts introducted us to the husband and wife team of Priscilla and Aquilla. Paul meets them in Corinth (Acts 16:1). Aquilla and Priscilla were forcibly expelled from Rome by the emperor Claudius. They were Jews – at least, Aquilla was. They were probably Dinks: Double Income No Kids. We don’t know they had no children, but it is a possible explanation for their high mobility. They pop up everywhere. We see them moving from Rome in Italy to Corinth in Greece. Later they would move to Ephesus, and then back to Rome. They must have been wealthy. They shared the same trade as Paul – tentmaking.

Wherever Priscilla and Aquilla went, their home was open as the meeting places for the church.

Perhaps you have a sadness, like that which I suggest Priscilla and Aquilla had. Maybe they were unable to have kids. We don’t know. Maybe you have privileges and benefits, like Priscilla and Aquilla. They were wealthy, could get around, had houses in different parts of the Roman Empire. Priscilla and Aquilla used their situation in life for the glory of Christ. Whether through a sad thing or a blessing, they gave it all to Jesus and sought to serve him and others. Do you use your sad things and blessings to serve Jesus and others? Do so, and you will be like Priscilla and Aquilla.

It is interesting that Priscilla is sometimes named first. This was probably because she was a prominent wealthy patroness – in a similar way that we would mention Queen Elizabeth before Prince Philip. Paul left Priscilla and Aquilla in Ephesus, and that is where they meet our final character, Apollos.

Apollos

Apollos is your Geoffrey Robertson’s hypothetical meets Winston Churchill meets Martin Luther King. He is a trained speaker. Eloquent. Learned. Powerful in public debate. These are his natural gifts. Apollos is the politician who ties the television interviewer in knots. This is different from Paul. Paul is not a trained speaker. Paul is a very unimpressive public speaker, by comparison.

Added to this is Apollos’ boldness. He’s not afraid to speak in the Synagogue. And Acts chapter 18 verse 28 describes him as vigorously debating the Jews publicly.

Then there’s his bible knowledge. Verse 24. He is powerful in the Scriptures. But even that is not his chief weapon. The big weapon is verse 25.

Verse 25, Apollos is literally, ‘boiling in Spirit.’ The NIV translates verse 25 as ‘he spoke with great fervor’. But you could understand ‘boiling in Spirit’ as heated and bubbling up with the Holy Spirit. That is how several commentators take it[8]. And I think that is a better way to understand it.

Apollos didn’t know everything. But he spoke what he did know, for the good of others.

How about you? I’m sure you, like me, don’t know everything about Jesus. But you and I can speak what we know to be true. Begin where you are, speak what you know to be true, and the Risen Jesus will use it.

How could Apollos speak so powerfully, even though he didn’t know everything? He had the Holy Spirit. He knew the Scriptures. He knew accurately about Jesus. In other words, Apollos was a Christian with the Spirit.

Yet, there was still something missing in his presentation. Apollos needed someone to tell him what he didn’t know[9].

Apollos was a Christian. But he was not a completely taught Christian. It is possible to be a true Christian, but not know true Christian things.

So Priscilla leads the way. She and Aquilla invite Apollos home, because their home is the church. They fill in the gaps. And the Holy Spirit living in Apollos responds to the new information. ‘Of course, that makes sense, yes, thank you.’

Priscilla and Aquilla cared. There were things Apollos needed to know that would make him a better Christian. They took the pains and trouble to teach him. And Apollos was humble enough to listen.

What about you? Are you courageous enough to tell another Christian what they need to know, like Priscilla and Aquilla? Are you humble enough to listen to other Christians when they try and give you the information you don’t have, like Apollos?

If you say yes to both questions, look what can be the result. Acts 18 verses 27 and 28:

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. (NIV)

Help the one who needs help, and the help is multiplied. Because the one who needs help goes off and helps others.

A Christian friend of mine said that he discovered he couldn’t read at the age of 25. He was making so many spelling mistakes on his architectural drawings that others realized he had a problem. Anyway, he found a Professor at Macquarie Uni who understood his problem and taught him how to read. And do you know what part of his extraordinary Christian ministry is? Besides writing bible courses in many different languages, and having an international teaching ministry, he teaches ESL. He teaches people to read.

Give the gift that keeps on giving. Explain the gospel more adequately to those who need it.

With that little bit of extra information, Apollos completely confounded the Jews in public debate. They were left ga ga, speechless, defeated and destroyed, not knowing what to say.

When someone has speaking gifts like Apollos, we might be tempted to think that their message is better than others. This was the Corinthian’s problem. From 1 Corinthians 1-4, it seems pretty clear that the Corinthians are busy comparing Paul with Apollos. And they want Apollos to come back. ‘Apollos is such a good preacher. Don’t tell me we have to listen to Paul. He doesn’t have any good illustrations or turns of phrase.’

This was the immaturity of the Corinthians. And Paul reminds them that it’s not the style but the message. It is the message of the cross that saves, not a powerful speaker.

But at the end of First Corinthians, we see the maturity of the two Christian missionaries, Paul and Apollos. It seems that the Corinthians asked Paul to send Apollos back to them. Reading between the lines, it’s a pointed request. ‘Paul, we want Apollos ‘(‘cos his a good preacher), and that implication is, ‘We don’t want you!’

What’s Paul’s response? 1 Corinthians 16:12-13:

Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. (NIV)

‘They want Apollos not me. That shows their immaturity. But I’m big enough for that. Apollos and I have the same message. And if they’ll listen to you, Apollos, you go. Preach the gospel to them. Help them grow to maturity.’

But then there’s the bigness of Apollos.

‘No. I won’t go because of this situation. My going will just pander to their entertainment mentality. They need to fix up their attitude. Only then will I go. ‘

Again, two Christian missionaries disagreed. Again, there is wisdom on both sides. Paul says, ‘Go Apollos, they will listen to you!’ Apollos says, ‘No Paul, they need to accept you!’

Conclusion

The song says, ‘I get by with a little help from my friends.’ Here are just some of Paul’s friends, a few of Paul’s co-workers. They are the one’s who make Paul look good to us.

Being in a team is good, and important. It is generally the way that God works in our world. Using us in relationship with each other to bring the message of Christ to our dying world.

And it is important for us likewise to develop strong teams, strong relationships with each other, to do the most important work in the world: make Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, known. May we develop and maintain a strong gospel preaching team in this Parish.

But in the end, Christianity is not about Paul, or Apollos, or Barnabas, or you or me. It’s about Jesus Christ. It’s about honouring Jesus as the King of the Universe. And the way we honour these co-workers is by giving Jesus the honour he deserves.

Let’s pray.

[1] D B Knox, ‘The Biblical Concept of Fellowship’ in Selected Works II:58.

[2] E E Ellis, ‘Coworkers, Paul and His’, in DPL 183.

[3] Ibid, 186

[4] Barnabas’ real name is Joseph, a Levite and a Jew from Cyprus. Like Paul, he could speak Greek. But he got the nick-name because he’s a great encourager. He is practically generous. So he sells his block of land to give to the poor (Acts 4:36-37). We see him feeding starving Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30). He’s a man of courage. The church and even the apostles at first are scared of Paul. But not Barnabas. In Jerusalem, Barnabas takes Paul and introduces him to Peter and James. He is a go between for Paul and the Apostles. Just like later in Antioch. Barnabas sees he needs Paul for the Ministry in Antioch. So he goes off to Paul’s hometown and brings him back. Barnabas cares about the teaching of the church (Acts 11:22ff). He’s a good nominator, he gets the right man for Antioch (Acts 11:25). He like Paul appointed elders in the churches they planted (Acts 14:23). And while Paul was the main speaker of the two (Acts 14:12), Barnabas was himself a prophet and a teacher (Acts 13:1) Indeed, he is an evangelist and a missionary in his own right (Acts 13:2). If Paul preached and did miracles, so did Barnabas (Acts 14:3). For it is God’s mission, and so the mission will succeed. And because Jesus chose Barnabas, the gospel will go out, and bear fruit. As Luke says of Barnabas’ ministry at Antioch: Acts 11:24-25 ²⁴ He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Paul at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:12).

[5] First there was that time in Antioch, when even Barnabas was influenced by the Judaizers. These Judaizers were demanding that the Gentiles observe Jewish customs. Paul would have none of it. But Peter, and even worse, Barnabas,were influenced by them. They began to draw back from eating with the Gentiles. (Galatians 2:11-14) Paul and Barnabas recovered from that one.

[6] Like Barnabas, Silas was a leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:22). Like Barnabas, he was a prophet (Acts 15:32) Like Paul, Silas was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37-38). Like Paul, he would share the sufferings of Christ. He was bashed up by the mob in Philippi, just like Paul. He was illegally flogged by the magistrates in Philippi, just like Paul. He sat chained in a Philippian jail overflowing with songs of praise, next to Paul. How encouraged must Paul have felt, hearing Silas’ harmonies?

[7] From beginning to end, Timothy was devoted and faithful son. At the very beginning, Timothy submitted to the painful operation of circumcision. Timothy didn’t have to. That’s what Acts 15 and Galatians was about. Paul was at the forefront fighting for that freedom. But for the sake of the Jews in that area, Paul did it. He wanted Timothy to get a hearing from the Jews. So if circumcision is nothing, Timothy can get circumcised. And Timothy used his freedom to serve others. But if circumcision is everything, and necessary to be saved, Timothy must not get circumcised. If you don’t have to, you can. But if you must, you must not. That’s how Paul used his freedom. That’s how Timothy used his.

[8]E.g. Tannehill, Narrative Unity, and those mentioned by Fitzmyer.

[9] Perhaps Apollos himself had responded to the preaching of John the Baptist. And because he was a disciple of John, he knew accurately many things about Jesus. But he hadn’t had full exposure to Jesus’ teaching. We know that at the end of his life John the Baptist didn’t have all the answers. He sent disciples to Jesus saying ‘are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else’. John lived and died before the fulfillment of God’s saving purpose in Christ. And Apollos seems to suffer from something similar. Apollos had John’s Baptism, and the Holy Spirit. So, like the original Apostles, he wasn’t rebaptised. There was no need for another baptism. That was enough.