Acts 15:36 - Meaning and Application

We have already seen one unhappy dispute among the believers that had a public side, and it came to a good end. Here we meet a private quarrel between two ministers, Paul and Barnabas, and even this ended well in the end, though it was not settled by agreement. Paul had a good plan to suggest to Barnabas.

He wanted them to go back and review their work among the Gentiles, the non-Jewish people, and strengthen it. They had planted churches in several places, and he wanted to visit those churches again and see how the gospel was taking root. Antioch had become a safe and peaceful place for them, with no enemy pressing them and no trouble in sight. But Paul knew they had only stopped there to rest and refit, like a ship in harbor, and now it was time to sail again.

He was ready for another round of work in this holy battle against Satan’s kingdom. He remembered that God had called him to work far away among the Gentiles, so he began planning a second journey to do the same work again, even though it would bring the same hardships. He made this proposal some days later, because his active spirit could not bear to be idle for long. He also had a bold spirit that did not like to stay away from danger for long.

Notice, first, who he asked. He spoke to Barnabas, his old friend and fellow worker, and invited him to join the journey. We need one another and can be useful to one another in many ways. So we should be ready both to ask for help and to give it. Two are better than one. Every soldier needs a comrade.

Notice, second, whom they planned to visit. Paul did not want to start fresh work or break new ground. He wanted to go back over the fields they had already sown and see how they were doing. It was like going early to the vineyards to see whether the vine was flourishing (Song of Songs 7:12). He said, “Let us go back and visit the believers in every city where we preached the word of the Lord.” He calls all Christians brothers, not just ministers, because they all have one Father.

His concern reached every city, even those where the believers were few, poor, persecuted, and looked down on. Wherever they had preached the word of the Lord, they should return and water the seed already planted. Those who preach the gospel should also visit the people they have preached to. Just as we must watch our prayers and wait for God’s answer, so we must also watch our preaching and see what fruit it bears. Faithful ministers cannot help feeling a tender concern for those to whom they have preached, so that their labor will not be wasted (1 Thessalonians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:6).

Notice, third, what they meant to learn on this visit. “Let us see how they do” means, “Let us see how things are with them.” This was not just a polite call, not a simple “How are you?” He wanted to know their true condition, so he could give them whatever spiritual help suited their need. It is like a doctor visiting a patient who is recovering, so he can give the right treatment and keep the person from falling back.

He wanted to see what kind of spirit they had, how they were living, and how they were behaving. They likely heard from them often enough, but he wanted to see them in person. He wanted to know whether they were holding fast what he had preached, and whether they were living by it. If they were wandering, he would try to bring them back. If they were wavering, he would try to strengthen them. If they were steady, he would comfort them.

He also wanted to know their outward condition, whether the churches had peace and freedom or whether they were in trouble and distress. Then he could rejoice with them if they rejoiced, warn them against careless ease, weep with them if they wept, comfort them under the cross, and pray for them with better understanding.

The second matter in this passage is the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas about an assistant. It was sensible to take a younger man with them, one who could serve them, watch their teaching, their way of life, and their patience, and also be trained for future service by helping in the present work. Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, his nephew, along with them (Acts 15:37). He was likely moved by family love, and perhaps Mark had been brought up under him. We should watch ourselves carefully so that we do not favor relatives just because they are relatives.

Paul disagreed (Acts 15:38). He did not think it right to take Mark with them, because Mark had left them at Pamphylia, apparently without permission, and had not gone on with them in the work (Acts 13:13). Paul likely thought Mark had either been lazy and unwilling to take the hard work, or fearful and unwilling to face the danger. He had turned back just as they were about to enter the battle.

He may have promised very well that he would not fail again. But Paul thought it was not right to honor him before he had proved himself again, or to trust him with work until he had shown more steadiness. If someone deceives me once, that is his fault. If he deceives me twice, then it is my fault for trusting him again. Solomon says that confidence in an unfaithful man in trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint, because it is hard to rely on him again (Proverbs 25:19).

The result of this disagreement was that they separated over it. The quarrel, the sharp burst of anger, was so strong that they parted ways. Barnabas insisted that he would not go with Paul unless Mark went with them. Paul insisted just as firmly that he would not go if Mark did go with them. Neither would give way, so the only thing left was for them to separate.

This is humbling, and it gives us reason to grieve, but it also teaches us much. It shows that the best of men are still only men, with the same human passions as the rest of us, just as these two good men had once admitted about themselves (Acts 14:15). Now that was shown to be true. I think there was probably fault on both sides, as often happens in such disputes. Paul may have been too severe with the young man and may not have allowed enough for his weakness. He may not have considered how useful Mark’s mother had been in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12), or made the allowances he could have made for Barnabas’s family feeling.

But Barnabas was also at fault for letting family love weigh too heavily in a matter where the good of Christ’s kingdom was at stake. And both of them were certainly wrong to let the dispute become so hot that it grew sharp, and it is likely they spoke harshly to each other. They were also wrong to stand so firmly on their own view that neither would yield.

It is a pity that they did not refer the matter to a third person, or that some friend did not step in to keep it from becoming a public break. Was there no wise person among them who could help smooth things over and remind them that the Canaanites and Perizzites were still in the land, and that not only Jews and unbelievers, but even false believers among themselves, would be warmed by the fire of this dispute between Paul and Barnabas?

We must admit that this was a weakness in them, and it is recorded for our warning. Still, we must not use it to excuse our own angry outbursts or lessen our sorrow and shame over them. We must not say, “If I lost my temper, did not Paul and Barnabas do the same?” No. Instead, it should make us more careful in judging others and less severe in our criticism. If good men are quickly stirred to anger, we should take the kindest view possible. That was once the weakness of two of the best men who ever lived. Repentance teaches us to be strict with ourselves, while love teaches us to be fair with others. Only Christ’s example is a pattern without fault.

We should also not be surprised if wise and good people differ. We were already told that such offenses would come, and here is one example. Even those joined to the same Jesus and made holy by the same Spirit can still have different understandings, opinions, and judgments about practical matters. That will remain true while we live in this dark and imperfect world. We will not all think alike until we reach heaven, where light and love are complete. Love is the virtue that never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8).

These disagreements often go so far as to cause separation. Paul and Barnabas were not separated by the persecutions of unbelieving Jews or by the demands of believing Jews, yet they were parted by a painful disagreement between themselves. What harm even the small remains of pride and passion do in the world, and in the church. No wonder the results are so serious where those sins rule.

We can also see the good that God brought out of this evil, like food from the eater and sweetness from the strong one. It was surprising that even the sufferings of the apostles could advance the gospel (Philippians 1:12), but it was even more surprising that even the quarrel of the apostles should do so. Yet that is what happened here. God would not allow such things if he did not know how to turn them to his own purposes.

More places were visited because of this. Barnabas went one way, sailing to Cyprus (Acts 15:39), the well-known island where their work had begun before (Acts 13:4), and which was his own homeland (Acts 4:36). Paul went another way, into Cilicia, which was also his own country (Acts 21:39). Each man seems to have been guided by affection for his native land, which is natural, and yet God used it to spread the light of the gospel.

More workers were also employed in gospel ministry among the Gentiles. John Mark, who had once been unfaithful, was not cast off. He was used again, even though Paul did not want him, and he may well have proved very useful and successful. Many think this was not the same Mark who wrote the Gospel, founded the church at Alexandria, and whom Peter calls his son (1 Peter 5:13). Silas, who was a new worker and had not yet been used in that task, and was not even expected to stay in it, was brought in and set to this noble work.

We may also notice that the church at Antioch seems to have supported Paul in what he did. Barnabas sailed with his nephew to Cyprus, and no public notice or farewell blessing was given to him. Those who let private feelings guide their service of the church lose public honor and respect. But when Paul left, the brothers and sisters recommended him to the grace of God. They believed he was right not to use John Mark, and they could not approve Barnabas insisting on it, though Barnabas had earlier done much good for the church (Acts 11:22) before Paul even came among them. So they prayed for Paul and for the success of his work. They encouraged him to keep going, and since they could not help him in practical ways, they committed him to God’s grace, trusting that grace both to work in him and through him. Those are blessed indeed, especially in times of disagreement, who can act in a way that does not lose the prayers and love of godly people.

Yet Paul later seems to have formed a better opinion of John Mark, though not from a sudden change of mind, but after further testing. He tells Timothy, “Take Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). He also writes to the Colossians about Marcus, Barnabas’s sister’s son, telling them to welcome him if he comes to them (Colossians 4:10). This teaches us two things. First, we should be careful not to judge too harshly, because later we may see reason to think better of someone and even use them again or restore friendship. We should manage our anger so that, if that happens, we will not be ashamed later. Second, if someone we once had good reason to condemn later proves faithful, we should gladly receive them, forgive them, forget the past, trust them, and speak well of them when needed.

Paul, though he lacked his old friend and fellow worker in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, went on cheerfully in his work (Acts 15:41). He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, the regions next to Antioch, strengthening the churches. When our coworkers change, our true Master does not change. And ministers should see themselves as well used, and be satisfied, when they are not only bringing unbelievers to faith, but also strengthening those who already believe.