Read Acts 15:36-41
Title in NIV: Division of Paul and Barnabas over John Mark
This starts Paul’s second missionary journey. He tells
Barnabas he wants to “go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where
[they] preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” The leaders
of the church in Antioch
chose Paul and Barnabas to take the gospel westward. They also took John Mark.
(I get confused with all the names so I tried to keep in
mind that it is like saying Weatherford ,
Texas . That is the same as Perga,
Pamphylia. I hope that helps.)
These are the towns and regions they visited on the first
missionary journey: They boarded a ship in Seleucia ,
near Antioch .
They went to Salamis (the largest city) and
Paphos on the island
of Cyprus . Then they
sailed to Perga, Pamphylia. John Mark left them in Perga. Paul and Barnabas
traveled to higher elevation in Pisidia ,
Galatia . When
the Jews rejected the message, Paul preached to the Gentiles and they were
forced to leave that town. They went to Iconium, Lycaonia. They had to flee
from there so they went to Lystra about 25 miles away. Paul was stoned in
Lystra, but they traveled another 50 miles to Derbe. Then they retraced their
steps back to Perga where they had landed. They went to Attalia, the main port
city that sent goods to Syria
and Egypt .
There they found a ship and sailed back to Antioch
in Syria
where they started.
John Mark only made it to about the third leg of their trip.
When it was time to go on their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to
take John Mark with them again, but Paul did not think it was wise since he
deserted them the first time. They had such a sharp disagreement that they
parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark on a missionary journey one way and Paul
took Silas with him. So, Barnabas and Mark took the same route as the first
trip, getting on a ship. Paul and Silas went by land through the regions of Syria and Cilicia .
The positive: There were two teams on missionary journeys spreading the word instead of one.
I can see both sides of their argument. Paul wanted someone
he could trust to ‘have his back’ and not desert him. He could not bring
himself to trust Mark again for a journey so important: sharing the word of
God. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance to prove himself…and Mark was
his cousin (Colossians 4:10). I’m sure Barnabas wanted to have Mark’s back.
They did reconcile! In Colossians 4, Paul writes: You have
received instructions about Mark. If he comes to you, welcome him. In 2 Timothy
4:11, Paul says that Mark is helpful to him in is ministry. In 1 Peter 5, Paul
calls Mark his son. In Galatians 2, Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem together. (However, in Galatians 2:13 it says that Barnabas was led astray because of fear and Barnabas is never mentioned again--except to say Mark is his cousin. Mark, however is mentioned all the way up to 1 Peter and he has a book in the Bible.
Who can you reconcile with today for the glory of God. How
many would see Jesus in you if you took the steps to ‘make it right’ with
someone?
3 comments:
Reconciliation is difficult. I'm a transparent individual and many are not. Sharing thoughts that one takes as character assassination? Misunderstanding may prove to be an impossible mountain to overcome. I've forgiven(sadly, I'm not forgiven)...and put it away...lesson learned. Erin, you have such good thoughts always
Thank You Vasca! And I agree, both parties have to be willing to reconcile. Sadly, lots of times only one is willing. But, I take comfort in knowing that at least I tried. I can't MAKE someone DO anything. And then, I put it away, too. (Sneaky Satan tries to bring it up again and again. I have to be ready for his schemes.) Love ya!
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