Acts 15:36-40

THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

Acts 15:36, Acts 18:22

52-54 A.D.

1.

IN ANTIOCH. Acts 15:36-40.

Acts 15:36

And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.

Acts 15:37

And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

Acts 15:38

But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

Acts 15:39

And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;

Acts 15:40

but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 15:36 When Jesus spoke to the prostrate Pharisee as he lay in the dust of the Damascus road he commissioned him to carry the glad tidings far off among the Gentiles. To the heavenly vision the apostle was never disobedient. And so it came to pass after a few weeks spent in the town of Antioch, that, although his labors were fruitful, and the work pressed on in a happy harmonious fashion, he once again heard the call of the man from across the sea. The faces of those whom he had brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son haunted him and he longed once again to be with them that he might be assured that the tempter had not tempted them and thus he would have labored in vain.

Acts 15:37-40 These thoughts prompted his suggestion to his co-laborer Barnabas: Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they do. This plan, however, of a combined visitation of the churches was marred by an outbreak of human infirmity. The two apostolic friends were separated from each other by a quarrel, which proved that they were indeed, as they had lately told those of Lystra, men of like passions with you. When two individuals agree perfectly and manage in a harmonious fashion between themselves it at the same time becomes difficult to agree over the company of a third person. This was the situation with Paul and Barnabas. Although they could work in perfect accord with each other, each respecting the other's viewpoint, when a third person entered the union, his feelings and opinions had to be considered and in this, the two good friends disagreed violently. Paul felt that John Mark was very definitely unqualified to enter the work that they were contemplating. Indeed, had he not already turned back upon the same route?

As we said in the previous notes it appears that the decision of John Mark to return to Jerusalem had something to do with the work in which the apostles were engaged. Maybe Barnabas knew John Mark a little more intimately than did Paul. At any rate, we know they were related (cf. Colossians 4:10.) John Mark indeed did prove himself to be a profitable servant of Christ Jesus. Paul the apostle acknowledged this (Cf. Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11; Colossians 4:11). The overruling hand of God's providence is seen in all the circumstances, for not only was the original plan of the apostles fulfilled, i.e. of revisiting all the churches established in the first missionary journey; the churches in Asia Minor by Paul, and those on the isle of Cyprus by Barnabas, but along with it much more was done.

It appears that Barnabas and Mark left first and then Paul and Silas went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

534.

What purpose prompted the second missionary journey?

535.

Why did Paul and Barnabas agree for so long and now suddenly disagree?

536.

What objection did Paul have to John Mark?

537.

Why was Barnabas attracted to Mark?

538.

Did Mark ever redeem himself in the eyes of Paul? (reference).

539.

Show the over-ruling hand of God in the whole matter.