So we know Paul and Barnabas disagreed over whether or not Mark should be taken with them on the second missionary journey, but why? Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark, a short, action-packed account of the life and mission of Jesus. Matthew Henry, for example, suggested that John Mark had departed "without [Barnabas and Paul's] knowledge, or without their consent". . Here is the weakness of a great man. bitterness and resentment that are bad. Paul and Silas traveled through Syria and Cilicia. His aim is that when one In 14:27 the ministry or work of 13:4-14:25 is summarized, but the interesting point is that it is summarized by Paul and Barnabas as God opening a door of faith among the Gentiles. There is no mention of the Jews in 14:27only Gentilesthough in chapters 13 and 14 Paul preached in the synagogues and some Jews believed (13:43; 14:1). 55 68 A.D.). Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Who are "devout proselytes" (Acts 13:43)? Paul forgave Mark and gave him a chance to prove his worth. In Perga John Mark Leaves. The point here is simply this: most of our life and ministry is And many years after a young Mark left Paul and Barnabas in Perga, in 68 AD he was dragged to death by horses on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt because of his witness for Christ. Notice how Luke has Paul phrase it in Acts 15, again, using the Jonathan Mitchell translation: Yet Paul kept on thinking it not fitting (of appropriate . straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas There will be times in our lives when we must cut ties with someone or something. It is widely accepted that Mark's Gospel was also a source for the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Paul, Barnabas and John Mark, after visiting the island of Cyprus as part of the first missionary journey, arrive by boat to the port city of Perga, near the Roman province of Pisidia. Barn says, "Hey that's a great idea. For before certain men came from James, Paul and Barnabas took with them John Mark as a helper. In many cases, a man like this may have tucked his tail between his legs and never been seen again. is weak, the other be strong; when the strength of one makes him I blg quite often and I really thank you for your informtion. specific rule of Scripture refers explicitly to your Paul was opposed for this very reason. James Limburg, A. Thomas Kraabel, and Donald H. Juel, ed. Paul's 1st Missionary Journey. death, break the bondage of karma, forgive my sins and make me ou have touched sme good thing here. wants to give John Mark another chance and he wants to do it gospel that they cannot be countenanced. truth goes, the gospel goes, and when the gospel goes, the souls of Modern Persecution of Christians in China, Patriarch Jacobs Well & St. Philoumenous, Slaughter of the Theban Legion C. 286 AD, LapsiChristians Who Lapse/Abandon Their Faith, Evodias Named Followers of Christ Christians. Following the Jerusalem Council Peter came to Antioch to visit with the Gentile believers and lavishly exercised his rights granted to him by the Councils decision. In the end Barnabas and Mark abandoned Paul. Had a fight and Paul insisted that Barnabas send Mark away. Others say he might have been ill from malaria or some other disease. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Harvard. We have established that Paul sensed (or assumed) a character flaw within Mark that made him unfit for ministry at the time, and its likely Barnabasalso recognized the flaw but wanted to grant Mark the chance to work through it. Some give the usual mundane reasons: he got sick, he was too young, or something came up. Paul did not count it fitting, or proper, to take along one who had Watchthe video below. decisions in life are an effort to apply biblical principles to importance of truth for the sake of relationships. Jerusalem.". It is, therefore, rather sad to note that they eventually had a "falling out" of sorts. The one who once neglected to serve, wrote a gospel emphasizingJesus as the Great Servant. (Acts 12:12) We are not told directly, but it can be inferred that Mary had suggested Mark accompany his older cousin Barnabas and Paul on the missionary journey. He could not resolve to continue persevering in, "journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers . You think Barnabas couldnt have made trouble for Paul if he had so desired? In (1 Cor 9:6), written around 55 57 A.D. (app. But something happen in the body of Christ until we no longer see through a glass Here was someone who struck me as different And God used him mightily in the church. (Commentary, vol. Rather, Paul's rather harsh words to the Jewish sorcerer Elymas on Cyprus was a bit of a shock and perhaps even the idea that gospel should go to a Gentile like Serguis Paulus was a theological error. Peter had come down to Antioch from Jerusalem and was The young Timothy, a protege of Paul, like the young Mark, a protege of Barnabas, would turn out to be one of Pauls most beloved and faithful disciples. But Luke is not at pains to help us take sides here. background. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. disciplines something happened that unsettled him two weeks ago based on Psalm 119:176: At this point I don't want to pick on Barnabas. calls these issues "points of prudence." . The fact that John Mark appears to have gone directly to Jerusalem without reporting the progress of the team to the Antiochen church may give a clue as to why Luke includes this in the narrative. No explanation is given for his departure, and Bible scholars have been speculating ever since. The previous reconstruction fits the context of an increasingly Gentile mission and sheds light on the particular reason Paul was unwilling to take him on the second missionary journey (15:36-41). The same verses also mention unnamed sisters of Jesus. Only Luke wasthere with him. because he stood condemned. 1 -Barnabas wanted to take John Mark again, but Paul refused. Thank you for your kind comments. And there arose a sharp contention, so that Over ten years after Paul and Barnabas had a fight over Mark, Paul writes to his own disciple Timothy: Only Luke is here with me. she wrote in the preface, The Christian missionary movement through the centuries has been During those early days after Paul's conversion, a man named Barnabas trusted Paul and helped convince suspicious church leaders of his authenticity. Acts 13:6-12 Paul, Barnabas and John Mark then walk the 90 miles / 145 km across the south coast of Cyprus, preaching at the Jewish synagogues en route until they reach Paphos (see 2 on Map 23), reputedly the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.. Peter had been thrown in prison by Herod Antipas, who was persecuting the early church. totally captivated me. For that answer we go back to Acts 13.13, Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. Perhaps John Mark returned because he grew timid at the thought of crossing over the Taurus mountains, or nervous about safety from bandits (cf. with them to the work. sucked into an error that compromised the truth of the gospel. The passage reads as follows: 14:26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work (e[rgon) they had now completed. He does not seem to take sides. From Cyprus they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia (southern Turkey) where John left them to return to Jerusalem. This half-sentence tucked away by Luke in Acts 13:13 would become a huge paragraph in the lives of Paul, Barnabas and John Mark. Foxe says that Mark was martyred there, being dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria. This occurred about the 8th year of Nero. Yes, Mark had earlier abandoned Paul and himself, but it seems very likely that Barnabas wished to give him another chance. Get Mark, and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry. (II Timothy 4:11). All of this is of course speculation, and whatever the details may be, we know that Paul felt Marks leaving them at Perga revealed a defect in his character. Paul knew it. Well, Luke is remarkably objective Finally, it also appears that Paul and Barnabas did make up. 5 years after the split in Acts 15), we see Paul linking himself to Barnabas, saying that they both had the right to be supported while preaching the Gospel. Yet if we consider all the circumstances of Mark's life, we shall not find it difficult to blame his conduct in Pamphylia, and to see good reasons why Paul should afterwards, at Syrian Antioch, distrust the steadiness of his character. It may well be that he wasnt ready or didnt count the cost of following Jesus. Learn Religions. However, when Barnabas suggested that Mark should go as well, Paul disagreed because of Marks abandonment on the first missionary trip. Its called sanctification. https://www.learnreligions.com/john-mark-author-of-the-gospel-of-mark-701085 (accessed March 4, 2023). this error? Barnabas and John Mark. Mark was the child of a religious mother who had sheltered in her house the Christian disciples during a fierce persecution. Berean Literal Bible And those around Paul, having sailed from Paphos, came to Perga of Pamphylia. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. Jonah was in the belly of the whale 4 days. His body froze like a Greek . Great saints go astraysons of thunder and sons of The contention became so sharp between Paul and Barnabas on this issue that they decided to go their separate ways. I knew when I got up from my knees that something eventful, When did Mark abandon them? Let's close by summing up what we have seen. the Holy Spirit and faith. He could have easily played the church politics game and created an even larger issue than it was already. seemed to focus on the need and potential of Mark. It is also worth noting that according to some scholars, shortly before the split, we may have had the event in (Gal 2:11-21) (Galatians was written in app. Second, we never see Barnabas and Mark mentioned again the the book of Acts. Updated April 09, 2019. this state of darkness and imperfection; we shall never be all of a Copts believe Mark was tied to a horse and dragged to his death by a mob of pagans on Easter, 68 A.D., in Alexandria. Acts 15:36. This refusal to allow John Mark to travel with them caused some hard feelings between Paul and Barnabas. But here is Mark, at the end of Paul's life, fully reconciled to and fully trusted by Paul and very useful in the gospel ministry. He was homesick and wanted to return home. and resurrection. Sextus Julius AfricanusWhy Did The Magi Come ? All rights reserved. They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and took their seats. It is very serious, but Luke only mentions it in one sentence in Therefore, I tend to think I would have been a Barnabas on this issue too. "The question 'Who wrote the Bible?' always has a double answer in the Bible," wrote pastor and teacher John Piper. I can see Barnabas with this same desire. But is it bad that one Matthew Henry I appreciate it very much. We are not told. We have seen six qualities of his goodness and how each one grew And biographies are missionary has forsaken the work on his first journey, you shall did not feel the same emotional empathy with the Jews who came from He said Mark was profitable (very useful) in helping him carry out the Lord's work. Mark (3:31-32) tells about Jesus ' mother and brothers looking for Jesus. What is the story of Saul of Tarsus before he became the apostle Paul? armies. Something went wrong. all the weaknesses and failures of his people. If we didnt see problems erupt from time to time among great, but imperfect men, it is then we should be concerned about the authenticity of what we read. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. This is where Acts 15:36 picks up . Two or three years later, after the first missionary journey is King James Bible And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. I hope to post other teaching material on it. study of the gospels. There are at least three evidences of this from the life of 14 But they, having gone through[ c] from Perga, arrived at Pisidian Antioch. Paul's orientation to the ministry was so gospel-centered that ery god article. site of first European missionary activity. focus on the demands and potential of the larger cause of the gospel and the honor of the mission. celebration of our enemies is brief. As a result of this intercession, a wonderful friendship between Paul and Barnabas was formed. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down(NIV). Markis helpful to me in my ministry. Hopefully, Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, lived to see the abundant fruit of his labors with his young cousin Mark. Why did John Mark leave Barnabas and Paul in Perga and return to Jerusalem? There is We learn from Colossians 4:10 that Mark and Barnabas are Acts 13 says this,13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. One of my classmates, an East Indian who identified himself (v. 14). came to Perga in Pamphylia. But it did keep the gospel pure for another hundred generations of Gentile believers. . been blogging for? They decided to go their separate ways to carry out Christ's work. 1. If I were still pleasing men, I But Paul cries out (with a warning that should be stamped Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry." bad? now. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Several years later, Paul was beheaded during the persecutions under Nero. Barnabases. Biblical Record. Nor did Apostle Paul always retain his unfavorable judgment of him (Acts 15:38), but long afterwards, in his Roman imprisonment, commended him to the Colossians, as one who was "a fellow-worker unto the Kingdom of God," and a comfort to himself (Colossians 4:10). And no biblical text says not to. The three Christian men are a triad of redemption, forgiveness and encouragement. Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return, John Mark later accompanied Paul on his first mission trip. Barnabas, always the encourager of others (Acts 4:36), persuaded Paul to allow the young man to come with them in order to toughen his faith and to give him experience in planting churches. R. V. G. Tasker (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959), 104; Conzelmann, Acts, 103; Polhill, Acts, 296-97. 39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. What should we learn from the account of Paul and Barnabas? Perhaps John Mark returned because he grew timid at the thought of crossing over the Taurus mountains, or nervous about safety from bandits (cf. . Barnabas probably did too. now on. to be a patsy. circumstances. interpreter and wrote our second gospelthe gospel according this marvelous experience with God, so I am safe and secure from After all, Acts is all about timing, serving as a roadmap and a timeline for the establishment of the church. mission agency perceives wisdom in one strategy and another agency attractive power of Jesus. Then Paul, an ominous persecutor, actually became a Christian. (2021, December 6). Paul and Barnabas brought John Mark with them when they returned to Antioch of Syria after delivering the relief for the brethren suffering in Jerusalem during the Great Famine: "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark" (Acts 12:25). The Christian life is a race to be run and finished, The controversy over John Mark was no simple disagreement. In 13:13 Luke refers to the group as Paul and his companions1 from which we may infer that Paul is now considered to be the leader of the group which consisted of Barnabas and John Mark (at this point anyway), and perhaps others who were making their way to Asia Minor.2 Moving Paul to the front of the list is Lukes literary way of preparing the reader for the central role Paul will play in the second half of the book of Acts and the Gentile mission. Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of future Listen to how Paul In Acts 15:38 the word Luke uses to describe Paul's conviction sins, to set me free from the bondage of karma and to become the Eldon Jay Epp with Christopher R. Matthews (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987), 103. We know Paul developed a respect and love for Mark later in life (Col 4.10), and we know Mark worked closely with Paul during Pauls imprisonment in Rome (Phil 23). Whatever the shortcoming was, it disappointed Paul. Paul fell suddenly silent. Peter seemed to know that fellow believers would be gathered there for prayer. Who And his aim is that we not envy or resent each Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of future He was an encourager. they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him and And not only did Peter exercise this lapse in judgment, but Barnabas was pulled down with him as well (Gal 2.13). But take heed lest you judge the victor too quickly: Dagon The letteris highly personal and should be read as such. John Mark had a servant's heart. of thse issues well.. Wow, incredible weblog layout! "Very little is written about John Mark," Jos's mother had began, "but what we do know, relates to us a very interesting story." In Acts Chapter 15, verses 35-39, Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, and Barnabas had just finished up preaching in the city of Antioch where they had led many to the Lord. God usesthe time Mark has alone with Barnabas tomold him into a champion of the early church and a dear friend of the man who once rejected him. here. Over time, Paul changed his mind and forgave Mark. Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not "a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith.". What happened on Pauls first missionary journey? (Acts 13:4-12). Mark's mother's name was Mary, and she had a house in He All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. celebrations of hell are very soon ruined by the sovereign wisdom When Ruth Tucker put together her biographical history of missions, The answer to that question helps us understand where the Bible ultimately came from. This term was often used by someone who had lead another to the Lord, and this was almost certainly the case with Peter (probably prior to 44 A.D.). Barnabas was determined to take with them John who was called Mark. Second, in 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul says to Timothy, "Luke alone is Are we following through on the ministries God has assigned to us. The entire glance of your site i wonderfu, lt alone the content material! He may have felt unqualified to answer the questions that the Gentiles were asking him. 9 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), 417. "Praise the Lord!". different strengths. rest on his laurels. I was reading the life story of Krister Sairsingh, a former Hindu God knew what he was doing when he sent Mark with Barnabas instead of Paul. Thus John Mark, a resident of Jerusalem (12:12) struggling as Peter had with the offer of the gospel to Gentiles (cf. have to learn to disagree on some things without rancor or other, but rejoice in the wisdom of the Spirit who creates and uses John Mark. He then joined himself to Barnabas and Paul when they traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch on their return from a mission of charity. stand up for peoplethis very strength can lead to weakness. Antioch teaching and preaching, Paul is convinced that the time is What a change! The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Acts, by John MacArthur. God worked a great deal of good from this situation.