Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

March 16, 2021

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left . . .

Acts 15:39-40a

Read: Acts 15:36-41       

In today’s passage, Paul is beginning his second missionary journey. Scholars believe this was about 49 AD, nineteen years after Pentecost. It is within this time frame that some of the earliest books of the New Testament were written: James, AD 44-49; Galatians, AD 49-50; Mark, AD 50-60; Matthew, AD 50-60. (Scholars believe Acts was written around 62 AD.)

In a manner similar to how the Jerusalem Council handled a dispute, the difference of opinion between Paul and Barnabas is not glossed over. It was Barnabas who interceded for Paul with the Apostles in Jerusalem when Paul (Saul) first arrived there. (Acts 9) Barnabas had been Paul’s colleague for almost fifteen years. Other than some references to Barnabas in some of Paul’s letters, this disagreement is the last mention of Barnabas. It is difficult for me to grasp how a disagreement over including John Mark in their company parted their service together. Paul, in Galatians 2, hints that his issue with Barnabas may have been much deeper than including John Mark in their journey.

What is important to note is that they did not let their disagreement interfere with their mission. Paul and Silas went one way and Barnabas and John Mark went another way with the common goal of making disciples for Jesus and edifying the new believers.

My Takeaway: I noted on March 8, the story of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium serves as a reminder to guard the priority of my life. Today’s story of the dispute between Paul and Barnabas serves as a reminder to always guard the priority of our church. We are called to make disciples for Jesus and nothing should ever take precedence over this work.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

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