Acts 15:36-41
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul and Barnabas had just came out of the meeting with the Council at Jerusalem...Paul and Barnabas had traveled a lot together and would start many churches in their travels...
John Mark, earlier, had left Paul and Barnabas in Perga in Pamphylia and went home to Jerusalem, while they traveled on...We are led to believe that John Mark left abruptly...Paul and Barnabas two wise men and preachers of the gospel, and two important early church leaders were in a disagreement over John Mark's leaving...Barnabas wanted to take John Mark and Paul did not...The disagreement was sharp...It was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas parted company...Barnabas would take John Mark and sailed for Cyprus...Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the LORD...They sailed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches...
Paul did not think John Mark should travel with he and Barnabas, because John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia...John Mark was the nephew of Barnabas...Paul and Barnabas quarreled...Paul thought nothing should get in the way of the mission of the gospel...He thought John Mark might be a hindrance as they traveled, because he left abruptly on one of their earlier journeys...Barnabas thought John Mark was ready for travel and, in fact, took him to Cyprus with him...People get angry and disagree...Ministers get angry and disagree...Although these were two great Christians, they disagreed and let their anger influence their decision...Barnabas wanted Mark to go and Paul didn't, it was a simple, yet sharp disagreement...This happens...We have tempers, some more than others, and decisions sometimes get made in the heat of anger...
Barnabas was nicknamed Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36)...Barnabas is the one who took Paul to the apostles after his conversion on the road to Damascus...Barnabas defended Paul and told the apostles how Paul had seen the LORD, and the LORD had spoken to him...Barnabas also told the apostles how Paul had preached the good news fearlessly in Damascus in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:27)...The two were friends...The two would forgive each other...That is what Jesus taught and that is what Paul and Barnabas did later...
Paul would travel again with both Barnabas and Mark...Paul speaks of Barnabas and Mark in Colossians 4:10...Paul mentions Mark again in the closing of Philemon 1:24...The three men were friends...They know what it is to forgive...They know Jesus taught us to love one another...Jesus also taught us much about forgiveness, and those who forgive little, love little, but those that forgive much, can love much (Luke 7:47)...Paul, a great minister went in one direction, and Barnabas, another great preacher, went in another direction...God can use our faults and failings for the good...He uses them here to spread the good word as the two traveled on, to help build the early church...