Acts 15:30-41 · Read 6 min · think and write 15 min
In the last lesson, Barnabas and Paul went back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22), and afterwards returned to Antioch in Syria.
Some men came down from Judea saying that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved. “Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them” (Acts 15:2), and the church sent them up to Jerusalem. There, “All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them” (Acts 15:12). The apostles and elders wrote a letter, calling them “our beloved Barnabas and Paul” (Acts 15:25), “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26); and they chose Judas and Silas to go back to Antioch with them (Acts 15:22). These events are in Paul, Lesson 4.
This lesson will also meet Mark. His mother’s house was in Jerusalem; when Peter came out of prison, he went there, “to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark” (Acts 12:12). In the last lesson we read that Barnabas and Saul went on, “also taking with them John who was called Mark” (Acts 12:25), and that later, at Perga, “John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13).
The second half of this lesson (vv. 36–41) was also read in Paul, Lesson 4; this time we read it from Barnabas’s side.
30So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
33After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36After 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.”
37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
38But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
The encouragement. “So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter” (v. 30). “When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement” (v. 31).
Strengthened the brothers. “Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them” (v. 32). After some time, “they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles” (v. 33).
Visit our brothers. “But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also” (v. 35). After some days Paul said: “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” (v. 36).
Planned to take. “Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also” (v. 37). “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” (v. 38). The passage gives Paul’s reason for not taking him; why Barnabas wanted to take him, the passage does not say. Why Mark left in the first place, the passage does not say either.
They separated. “Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other” (v. 39). “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus” (v. 39) — Cyprus was where Barnabas came from (Acts 4:36). “Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God” (v. 40), and “He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies” (v. 41). The passage does not say who was right and who was wrong.
The last time. This is the last time Acts mentions Barnabas. After verse 39, Acts follows Paul; what Barnabas and Mark did in Cyprus, the passage does not record.
Mark, later. Paul later mentions Mark in his letters: “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, ‘if he comes to you, receive him’)” (Col 4:10); and he writes to Timothy: “Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Tim 4:11). These are Paul’s own words, from his letters. What happened in between, the passage does not say.
The letter from Jerusalem opens like this: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings” (Acts 15:23); and in it they say: “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you” (Acts 15:28).
Readers can see this: what the Gentile believers in Antioch read that day was a letter written to them. “When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement” (v. 31).
Perhaps you have parted ways with someone you worked alongside — at church, at work, on a team — and it still hurts to think about. Perhaps you yourself are the one who ‘once left’, and people still remember.
This lesson does not say who was right and who was wrong, and it does not say that a second chance always turns out well. What it shows you is this: Barnabas “planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also” (v. 37); and when they parted, “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus” (v. 39). Many years later, Paul wrote that Mark “is useful to me for service” (2 Tim 4:11).
This week: Think of someone who once left, or whom others have thought ‘not a good idea to take along’. This week, pray for them once; and if it is right to, send them a message and ask how they are.
Scripture: World English Bible.