After
some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
Acts 15:36-38
Acts 15 [30.] So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them. After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles. But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 15 [36.] After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
Acts 16 [1.] He came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed; but his father was a Greek. The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him. Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Meaning:
The Jerusalem council had settled the great question of the Gentiles, and Paul and Barnabas had stayed in Antioch “teaching and preaching the word of the Lord” (Acts 15:35). Now Paul wanted to set out again. But a personal disagreement arose between the two men who had worked so closely together. Luke records it honestly; the leaders of the early church were not perfect.
- “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city”
Paul’s first concern was pastoral. He wanted to see how the young churches of Cyprus and Galatia were doing. On the first journey he and Barnabas had already returned through the cities to strengthen the believers and appoint elders (Acts 14:22-23). Planting churches was not enough; they needed to be cared for. Paul later wrote of “that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies” (2 Corinthians 11:28).
- “Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark”
John Mark was the son of Mary, in whose house the church in Jerusalem had prayed for Peter, and he was “the cousin of Barnabas” (Colossians 4:10). Barnabas and Saul had taken him with them from Jerusalem (Acts 12:25). Barnabas had a gift for seeing the best in people. When the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of the newly converted Saul, “Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:27). He was ready to give Mark a second chance too.
- “Someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia”
At Perga in Pamphylia, “John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13). Luke does not say why. Some suggest homesickness, fear of the dangerous road inland, or unease about the outreach to Gentiles; the text gives no reason. Paul saw it as leaving the work. He may have felt, as Jesus said, that “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom” (Luke 9:62). The coming journey would be hard, and Paul wanted companions he could depend on.
- Two good men disagree
Bible readers have often asked who was right. Some side with Paul, who put the mission first; others with Barnabas, who would not give up on a struggling young man. Many conclude that both had a point. Paul saw the needs of the work; Barnabas saw the needs of the person. The disagreement grew so sharp that they parted (Acts 15:39), but God used it to send out two teams instead of one.
- A happy ending
The story of Mark did not end in failure. Years later Paul named him among his fellow workers, and near the end of his life he wrote, “Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Timothy 4:11). Peter called him “Mark, my son” (1 Peter 5:13), and early Christian tradition links him with the Gospel of Mark. Barnabas’s patience bore fruit, and Paul was reconciled to Mark.
The Significance of Acts 15:36-38
- Honest about conflict
Even faithful servants of God can disagree strongly. Scripture does not hide this, which encourages believers to face conflict honestly and to seek reconciliation in time.
- Second chances
Someone who fails once is not finished. With encouragement and time, Mark became useful to Paul and to the whole church.
Cross-References:
Acts 13:13: "John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem." The cause of the disagreement.
Colossians 4:10: "Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”)." Mark welcomed again.
2 Timothy 4:11: "Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service." Paul and Mark reconciled.
Acts 9:27: "But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles." Barnabas, who believed in people.
Conclusion: When Paul proposed revisiting the churches, Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul refused because Mark had left them in Pamphylia. Both men had good reasons, and their disagreement led to two missionary teams. Later Mark proved himself useful, and Paul welcomed him again.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible