Acts 15:36-41 

³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but 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. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Abraham and Lot

After Abraham decided to obey the Lord, his faith in God was tested. There was famine in Canaan and Abraham brought his household to Egypt. They went back to Canaan, eventually, but God allowed him and his nephew Lot went on their separate ways.

In Genesis 13:5-9 it says, ⁵ Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. ⁶ But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. ⁷ And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Why did God allow Abraham and his nephew went onto their separate ways?

God promised Abraham to have sons and descendants only after their separation.

Two chapters after they have separated God spoke to Abraham in Genesis 15:1-3,  ¹ After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” ² But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

The fear of Abraham was that he had no children to inherit his great wealth. He might have planned his nephew Lot as his heir but the Lord has a better plan that was why He allowed Abraham and Lot to go onto their separate ways.

When God does not allow our plans to materialize, He has greater design for us. Barnabas and Paul have fruitful mission partnership but God separate them.

1.  Barnabas and Mark

³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but 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.  ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus…

Perhaps, Barnabas wanted to give John Mark a second chance but Paul did not regard that it was appropriate at that moment. They separated. Barnabas chose to have John Mark; they were cousins.

Their sharp disagreement didn’t necessarily be a personal hate; it was a moment to decide on the direction God was leading both to Barnabas and Paul. Interestingly, some scholars suggest that Barnabas has been compromising with some practices that were not consistent with Paul’s theology.

Hypocrisy

Paul recalled some of those experiences when he wrote in Galatians 2:11ff, ¹¹ When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ¹³ The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

That situation happened before they went to Jerusalem in relation to circumcision. It seems like Barnabas was very soft, or not strict with his personal acquaintance.

Barnabas came from Jerusalem; some of the circumcision group who came from Jerusalem might be his relatives or friends. Barnabas might have been compromising some practices of relatives or friends; his dispute with Paul about John Mark was just an issue to part ways.

The Bible did not mention the name Barnabas and his ministry again except when Paul related him as John Mark’s cousin. Colossians 4:10, ¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.

Eventually, Paul and John Mark became ministry partners later. Before that, Paul took Silas with him when Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus.

2.  Paul and Silas

 ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul might observe closely how Silas encouraged and strengthened the believers. Paul deemed it necessary to encourage and strengthen the churches they planted. Actually, God prompted Paul in that direction for a new endeavour God prepared.

It’s implied but not explicitly written word for word in the Bible that God is a God of second chances just as Barnabas gave John Mark second chance but the journey of Barnabas and John Mark was not included in the Bible right after they separated from Paul; the book of Acts continued on Paul’s travel. Does it mean that John Mark was not called to mission?

Paul might have thought that John Mark was not ready yet for mission when he deserted them in Pamphylia; a missionary is excited in mission, no matter what. The right ministry gives peace and excitement no matter what; no trying hard at all.

Imagine your body if you push hard to use your hands for walking; few individuals use their feet to play piano because they don’t have hands. Similarly, I am not equally gifted in singing but I will sing when no good singer is available.

Persevere

Hebrews 10:36-39, ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” ³⁸ And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” ³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

If by God’s grace, we allow the Holy Spirit to prevail over our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we have joy and peace to persevere in the right ministry. Nobody can stop God if He wants to put you in a ministry appropriate for you and you will not shrink back; you can persevere in the right ministry for you. God will place you in the ministry He has prepared for you at the right time.

Barnabas and Paul’s decision to split were prayed for and commended to the grace of the Lord by the believers in Antioch; God has better plans for them. God’s allows disagreement or split to direct each disciple to the next ministry that the Lord has prepared in the next phase of life.

When the right time comes, we may not like it but God will allow things against our will to bring us to the ministry He deems most appropriate for us.

Staying together in the midst of disagreement by agreeing to disagree is also a significant process of growing spiritually.

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