36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul suggested to Barnabas that they return to the churches they had established on their first missionary journey and see how they were doing. Barnabas agreed and wanted to take John Mark, his cousin, with them. But Paul didn’t like the idea of taking along someone who had left them early on in their first trip (Acts 13:13). The two had a sharp disagreement and then conceded to separate. Barnabas took Mark with him and Paul took Silas. Later we see that John Mark did minister with Paul again and even became “very useful” to him (Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24). Luke only records the dispute and doesn’t indicate any sinfulness in their interaction. Paul was pragmatic and didn’t want to take someone who might let them down again. Barnabas, the encourager (Acts 4:36), showed faith in Mark even when others didn’t. By giving Mark the benefit of the doubt, Mark was restored to usefulness in ministry. God used this difference in opinion to form two missionary journeys. Luke focuses on Paul’s journey. He was again sent by the believers in Antioch by the grace of the Lord. He travelled through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches.
When Paul arrived in Derbe and Lystra, he found a believer named Timothy whose mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy had a good testimony with the believers at Lystra and Iconium so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. Paul had Timothy circumcised because of the Jews in the area who all knew his father was a Greek. This seems like a contradictory action considering a large part of his mission was to relay the decision of the Jerusalem council that Gentile believers didn’t need to be circumcised. Because of his mother, Timothy may have been considered a Jew (later Jewish law would declare that a child born of a Jewish mother and Gentile father would be considered Jewish). Because Paul would visit synagogues first in each city he came to, having a member of his team of Jewish lineage but uncircumcised would have caused unnecessary contention. While the Jerusalem council had declared it unnecessary for Gentiles to become Jews in order to be saved, it was also not required that Jews abandon circumcision as their mark of membership in God’s covenant people. It seems that Paul had Timothy circumcised to make it easier to reach both Jew and Gentile (1 Cor 9:19-23). Paul, Silas, and Timothy returned to the churches from his first missionary journey and relayed to them the decision that had been reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. The churches were strengthened in the faith and continued to grow daily.
Some disagreements can be over two right ways to do something. Are you able to disagree with other believers while maintaining the unity of the church, your testimony, and keeping relationships open? Jesus gave up His glory and laid down His life to reconcile us to Him. What are you willing to give up for the sake of His body, the church?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Pressing Towards the Goal: Philippians 3-4