Mark "departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work." Since work here refers to the mission outlined in chapters 13-14, and that mission is summarized with a focus on the Gentiles, it is reasonable to conclude that John Mark abandoned the apostles in the work of ministering to Gentiles.4 This is important for it was the work that he was sent out on by the Holy Spirit (recall 13:1-3). them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone the principle of gospel liberty? would be revealed to me. "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. It was the truth of the gospel However, halfway through their journey, Mark left them (Acts 13;13). Its prosperity was probably arrested by the building of Attalia (Acts 14:25) after the death of Alexander, in a more favorable situation on the shore of the bay. VesuviusAugust 24, 79 AD. . We know that later in Pauls life he commended the ministry of Barnabas (1 Cor 9.6). has chosen to build a community of diverse people. Paul knew that when the Perhaps it was through Barnabas devotion to Mark that Paul came to realize the importance of fostering young men in the faith and giving them the experience of spreading the Gospel? those things which lie behind and straining forward to what lies 4 -Paul had already asked Silas to join him. him to stand up for a younger leader in the church. It is near this port city that Mark would, sadly and abruptly, abandon Paul and his relative Barnabas as they went inland to preach the gospel. 2 b But the c unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against d the brothers. It may well be that he wasnt ready or didnt count the cost of following Jesus. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin, John Mark, along but he and Paul had what the writer of Acts calls in verse 39 a "sharp disagreement" over this point. Lord of my life. Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Barnabas wanted to take a young man along with them, John Mark. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. 6, p. 200). He could not resolve to continue persevering in, "journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers . God worked a great deal of good from this situation. I enjoy sharing my understanding of the Bible. After John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, they went on to register great successes. Now, it didn't last long because they were not really true apostles. To be fair, we must note that Mark and Barnabas were cousins(Col 4.10), but its doubtful this was the only reason Barnabas wanted Mark to accompany them. ( Acts 15:39-40) Antioch teaching and preaching, Paul is convinced that the time is Our defeats are temporary and the Slaves Were Lifeless Tools in the Ancient World, Meaning of Names, Places & Things in the Bible, Gardens and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, The Roman Phalanx & Hannibals Pincer Movement. Initially it was Paul and Barnabas and Silas, but Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark, but Paul said no because John Mark had left them earlier. Paul refused to take John Mark on his second missionary journey, butBarnabas, who had recommended his young cousin in the first place, still had faith in him. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. of God in our heart that we might not sin against him.". Paul was determined not to bring him, due to his forsaking them previously. Now, however, he forsook them, when they were about to proceed through greater difficulties to more glorious success. See answer (1) Copy. Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of I m going to bookmark your blog and keep checking for new details about once a week. no place for coasting or drifting. Lets take a look. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Copts count him as the first of their chain of 118 patriarchs (popes). When they arrived in Cyprus, the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus became the first recorded high official of the Roman government to become a Christian. What happened on Pauls first missionary journey? the truth, Paul came forward and saved him for the cause? Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. and molds us according to his choosing. If this is the case, then we need to ask ourselves how often we do that. This is where Acts 15:36 picks up . Or am I trying to please men? Barnabases. "a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith.". Sextus Julius AfricanusWhy Did The Magi Come ? More than once Paul confessed that he was a sinner and that he Check out what Paul later has to say about Mark. report this to make Paul out to be an ogre or to make Barnabas out Were on a mission to change that. came to Perga in Pamphylia. I knew when I got up from my knees that something eventful, 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. Who . Well, Luke is remarkably objective 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 The first is a reaffirmation of our Sunday evening lesson from We are not told why Mark made this decision to leave. Three names appear in the New Testament for this early Christian: John Mark, his Jewish and Roman names; Mark; and John. Acts 13 says this,13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. 2 See Hans Conzelmann, Acts of the Apostles, Hermeneia, trans. Longenecker argues that although Luke does not tell us the nature of the special ministry the two [i.e., Paul and Barnabas] were set apart for, from what follows it is obvious that we are meant to understand that it was to be a mission to the Gentiles. Cf. Its called sanctification. one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after Yes, Mark had earlier abandoned Paul and himself, but it seems very likely that Barnabas wished to give him another chance. The Ipuwer PapyrusWere The 10 Biblical Plagues Real? healed. Acts 10:1-11:18), was running from his God-ordained calling (cf. Matthew Henry Acts 13:1-3 describes the event: 13:1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood) and Saul. Once I was stoned. Among the names listed, we find a final reference to Mark by Paul in verse 4.11. God As a result of this intercession, a wonderful friendship between Paul and Barnabas was formed. (And, where would Paul have ended up without the earlier encouragement and support of Barnabas? Paul and Barnabas took with them John Mark as a helper. Instead we have principles that say, "Encourage the On the other hand, if Paul and John Mark later reconciled as is implied in Colossians 4:10 and 2Timothy 4:11, Barnabas has taken the correct position in Acts 15:36-39, and Paul . He ate freely and enjoyed fellowshipwith the Gentile converts. yield. life-changing, had happened. Here, chains shackled him to the grimy wall behind him and if he could see any daylightat all, it was very little. ), In addition, Peter had a VERY strong bond with Mark. Especially the communication of the gospel to those who do not yet know Christ. 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. obedience. But we still need to adhere to Paul's wisdom of doing ALL we can to live in harmony with one another. the triumphs of the enemies of God (2 Samuel 5). (No, Im not saying Paul was not an apostleplease dont misquote me. separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. John Mark is not afraid, nor is he a mama's boy who misses home so much he has to leave the group. bitterness and resentment that are bad. Paul was opposed for this very reason. 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. 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. Its tough to grasp the idea that two of the most influential men in the establishment of the church could have such a heated (remember,violent outburst) disagreement, but at the same time we have the benefit of seeing the big picture. gospel that they cannot be countenanced. Barnabas had encouraged and helped train Mark to be a great man of God. Verse 37 says, "Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark." Luke chooses the imperfect tense in the Greek for the verb we translate as wanted, indicating Barnabas was persistent and determined in his request. I blg quite often and I really thank you for your informtion. It was in this setting, as they prepared to leave, that they discovered a difference of opinion. . Martyrdom of St. MarkFra Angelico, 1433 Another principle stresses the glory of God's calling. also captivate us. Peter was evangelizing the city just a few years before Paul was put to death in Rome. John Mark had a servant's heart. W. Ward Gasque (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1990), 230, who says, This was for the most part a low, marshy, fever-ridden region, though at some points the Taurus Mountains, which made travel to the north so difficult, reach to the sea; E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, ed. faith, not past faith, is the path to glory. Here is the weakness of a great man. 48 or 49 A.D. about 3 years after the end of the 1st trip). Gentile circumcision, and after Paul and Barnabas are back in This refusal to allow John Mark to travel with them caused some hard feelings between Paul and Barnabas. Paul disagrees. Thus John Mark, a resident of Jerusalem (12:12) struggling as Peter had with the offer of the gospel to Gentiles (cf. would come back to it this week and make it the link with today's Notice what was at stake here. John Mark did not depart because he was afraid of the tough travels or potential persecution. Did all of the Jews leave Paul and Barnabas? Acts 13:13) and did not have the same faith in his maturity as did his cousin Barnabas, who was probably more willing to take a chance on a member of the family (cf. One of my classmates, an East Indian who identified himself But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, Peter calls him his son in (1 Pet 5:13). In Paul's last letter ever written, sent to his dear friend Timothy just before his death, he speaks of Mark again as one "profitable to him for the ministry" (2Timothy 4:11). What should we learn from the account of Paul and Barnabas? really like reading an artice that will make people think. I really wanted to know. 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). He does not seem to take sides. Mark likely felt guilty about abandoning the journey to Perga and wanted an opportunity to redeem himself. So we know Paul and Barnabas disagreed over whether or not Mark should be taken with them on the second missionary journey, but why? The point For more information about Barnabas with Saul, see the commentary for Acts 9:26-31; 11:22-30. . with you. utterly unacceptable to Paul. There were only 8 people in Noahs Ark. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. I suspect it was because Paul Attalia has never ceased to be an important town since its foundation by Attalus Philadelphus. The chief associations of Perga are with the Greek rather than the Roman period, and its existing remains are described as being purely Greek, there being no trace of any later inhabitants. 38But 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. One can have a very heated discussion with opposing views and not sin. The third piece of evidence that God triumphs even through the Listen to his wise and honest in its portrayal even of the best saints. were put in the category with the gods (which we might be tempted And not only did Peter exercise this lapse in judgment, but Barnabas was pulled down with him as well (Gal 2.13). And this isnt a change that would have come lightly. Jesus sent out 70 Disciples to preach His Good News. The man he wanted to leave behind years before had become highly valuable to him. 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. Yet God clearly brings good out of their decision to form separate missionary teams. now. Though Paul stubbornly refused to accept John Mark and parted ways with Barnabas, the church nonetheless commended Paul to God's grace for the trip ahead (Acts 15:40). And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return, In (Phile 1:23-24) (written about 60-62 A.D., app. "There's even better news," Barnabas said. Then, in verse 39, there arose asharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. We get our English wordparoxysm from the Greek word used here forsharp disagreement. future obedience. Barnabas wanted to give Mark this chance at redemption. Lord. Rather we should say with Jesus, "Let us watch and pray Paul was adamantly opposed to this proposal, based on Mark's previous desertion at Perga, and on the fact that he had not gone with then to the work. Mark accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their missionary travels. out of his great faith in the promises of God. Let's turn to 1. This was Paul's great strength. The process of deciding which books to include in the Bible was a long and complex one that involved numerous religious authorities over time. from Trinidad who is now the Chaplain to international students at Paul turns to his one time mentor, Barnabas, and suggests that they take another trip together. We saw already (in Acts 9:2630) that Barnabas alone, of all the "I've spoken to John Mark, and he is eager to accompany us again!". in Galatians 2:1114. 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). constant prayer. Related Topics: Missions, Character Study, Greg lives in Calgary Alberta, Canada with his wife and 4 kids. He passes no judgment on John. persecution and give him a new chance to prove himself as a 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. John Mark Leaves Paul and Barnabas When the Holy Spirit appoints Barnabas and Saul to be missionaries from Antioch in Acts 13:2, Barnabas and Saul decide to take John Mark along as an assistant ( Acts 13:5 ). I have in mind SUMMARY: John Mark wasnt prepared for the rigors of being a missionary with the Apostle Paul. He is the son of encouragement (Acts 4:36). Why didnt Paul want Mark to accompany them? I try to give a fair and balance answer to the questions that I write on. 48 or 49 A.D.) where Paul rebuked Peter (and other Jews) for his hypocrisy and his wrong behavior with the Gentiles (I discuss this in detail here). saints. different strengths. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. church came who did not approve of this kind of freedom. We could talk plenty about the context of this passage and the timing. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed . So goes the myriad of suggestions, but as ingenious as these suggestions may be, they are not at all in keeping with the context and the thrust of this section of Acts (i.e., Acts 13:1-14:28). Barnabas truly was a "man of encouragement." He gave his life to the church and sacrificed much for the faith. These men saints go astray, whether Barnabas, or Paul. (2Corinthians 11:26). We must remember that some in Antioch had already committed themselves to a ministry to the Greek speaking Gentiles living there (Acts 11:20). is weak, the other be strong; when the strength of one makes him The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Acts, by John MacArthur. How and why did the Jews oppose "the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 13:45)? Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways because that was the best thing for them to do in their particular situation. He was humble enough to assist Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, not worrying about credit. (Acts 13:4-12). Paul and Barnabas at Iconium. Barnabas or Paul? Barnabas to conform to their expectations rather than stand up for Which one of them was right? We do not know why Mark decided to go home. They went down to require that Gentiles be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved (Acts 15:1, 5).5. Today is Saturday, March 4, 2023. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 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 continued with them in the work. power and love, then it is not surprising that those who have 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. And the of thse issues well.. Wow, incredible weblog layout! According to Coptictradition, John Mark is the founder of the Coptic Church in Egypt. We don't know why John Mark decided to leave, but this would later create a rift between Paul and Barnabas. fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." And we have focus, namely, the weakness of this great man Barnabas. Neither will Harvard. But Paul did not think it good to take him because he had departed from them at Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work. And John left them and returned to In Acts 12:25 we learn that Barnabas and Saul brought a young God knew what he was doing when he sent Mark with Barnabas instead of Paul. 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 (Acts 15.38). At the end of Pauls life, Paul asks for John Mark. It was as if he were On their first missionary journey together, John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10), accompanied them. 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. Their actions were out of step 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. Where is "Antioch in Pisidia" (Acts 13:14)? Also, Barnabas shows us a fantastic character lesson by refusing to use his clout to overrule or cause trouble for Paul. New American Standard Bible Here, we see the church at Antioch preparing to send Paul, along with Barnabas, on the first of his three missionary trips. But Paul cries out (with a warning that should be stamped the more valuable if they show us the weaknesses of our heroes as Though we dont know the specifics, I believe Paul grew up some through the process as well. not agree and a lamentable rupture in their partnership While he and Barnabas put their affairs in order and planned out the relevant details of the trip, a disagreement arose between them regarding whether or not John Mark should accompany them. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Barnabas and John Mark. that we not fall into temptation. And I suggest that we not too quickly assume that our Here the bubble of idealism stimulus to the Perhaps one little clue shows Paul did not count it fitting, or proper, to take along one who had The breach has been Our pathgets a little tricky here because this is all the information we are given, at least directly. studied the marks of a biblical leader-maker. Roman proconsul. John, anglicized from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning gift of God, was called by his Latin name Marcus meaning dedicated to the god Mars. He was Barnabas young cousin, the son of his aunt Mary who was the head of a home church in Jerusalem. Can either of these men boast over the other? 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. 14 But they, having gone through[ c] from Perga, arrived at Pisidian Antioch. Cyprus. And Barnabas determined to take with . 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 13:3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off. right for a return to that first missionary field to strengthen the Some might argue that ill feelings from this incident were still in play at the time of Paul and Barnabas disagreement in Acts 15.36-41 (our primary text), but because of the amicable nature of the resolution there is no reason to assume the existence of lingering negative feelings that would have any effect on thisdivisionbetween Paul and Barnabas. As such, of course, commentators try to make their own decisions. ." failures of his people is that when the contention was not solved, The criteria for inclusion were often based on factors such as the book's authorship, its doctrinal consistency, and its general acceptance among the faithful. Peter hurried to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where she was holding a prayer gathering of many of the church members (Acts 12:12). partners and went on with the ministry of the gospel, and out of . At the time of the argument Paul could never have imagined that the young Mamas boy would not only write one of the four Gospels, but would end up journeying across the Mediterranean and founding the Coptic Church in Egyptthe oldest Christian body of believers in the world. men perish. John Mark is the cousin of Barnabas, a missionary in the early church, and he may have been present at Jesus' arrest. 36And 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. 37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. Yes, this is the same guy who abandoned them early in the first missionary journey, before the going got tough. And God has done this again and again in history. Please check your entries and try again. John Mark abandoned them early in the trip, but all told, Paul and Barnabas would travel an estimated 1400 miles by land and sea. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. In Pauls final hour he requested only five things: for Timothy to come soon (v 9), for him to bring Mark with him (v 11), and to bring his cloak, his books, and the parchments (v 13). The three Christian men are a triad of redemption, forgiveness and encouragement. Three names appear in the New Testament for this early Christian: John Mark, his Jewish and Roman names; Mark; and John. Paul forgave Mark and gave him a chance to prove his worth. Acts 13:5) and their send off on what has been called Paul's first missionary journey in Acts. situations that the Bible does not deal with explicitly. When they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. So are second chances. He deserted them. faith and endure to the end and be saved. For right or wrong, Paul couldnt trust him, and therefore Mark could not have been effective under his leadership. 4. first stop on first missionary journey. They decided to go their separate ways to carry out Christ's work. (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. One principle stresses the glory of failures of his people. Is that all Peter was so taken with Mark he considered him like a son. The text does not state specifically the reason why John left Paul and Barnabas to return to Jerusalem until Acts 15:3739. (Acts 11:24) also adds, he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. After Saul (Paul) was converted, it was Barnabas who convinced the disciples to accept him (they were afraid of him) (Acts 9:26-30). Two or three years later, after the first missionary journey is Acts 13:1-14:28 Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark were sent out from Antioch in Syria. A chance to redeem himself. not only became useful to Paul but also served as Peter's It's the rancor and . 1 The Greek text reads oiJ periV Paulon. But what does wisdom dictate in a choice like this? He cites Xenophon Eph 2.2.1-2. The ark of the covenant may be captured by the Philistine So what happened? happen in the body of Christ until we no longer see through a glass He came with them as far as Perga and then he forsook them. different strategies for Christ are a bad thing. Perhaps he was homesick or found the rigorous ministry too taxing. stand up for peoplethis very strength can lead to weakness. mind till we come to heaven, where light and love are perfect. 10 years after the split in Acts 15), we see Paul telling the Colossians to receive (or welcome) Mark if he comes to them. after all. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. He need mentoring and time to grow in the Lord. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry." Marys Perpetual Virginity & Jesus Brothers, Why Pollen on the Shroud of Turin Proves it is Real, Christian Inscriptions in Roman Catacombs, Eruption Of Mt. So Mark had experience in the Mark must have undergone significant character enhancement since he had last been with Paul, and Paul had grown in his capacity to forgive and recognize the sanctification process in others. The Christian life is a race to be run and finished, ery god article. Barnabas, the "son of encouragement" ( Acts 4:36 ), desired to forgive John Mark's failure and to give him another chance. What happened there? New King James Version Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. Then after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.". As recorded in Acts 13:1-3, Saul and Barnabas were called by their priesthood leaders in Antioch, including the "prophets" mentioned in verse 1, to go on a mission, which would become Saul's first missionary journey. Jonah was in the belly of the whale 4 days. Mark had seen the strength of faith under trial in his mother's home and he had attended his kinsman Barnabas in his labors of zeal and love. None of us should say, Well, I know I once had Some give the usual mundane reasons: he got sick, he was too young, or something came up. Paul and Barnabas then set sail from Paphos to go into modern-day Turkey while John Mark set sail to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). power of my special mantra was not adequate to my present crisis . Paul And Barnabas Go On To Pisidian Antioch 13 And having put-to-sea from Paphos, the ones around[ a] Paul came to Perga of Pamphylia. a season, to walk in the way of faith. And in doing that, God used Barnabas to give the But Luke is not at pains to help us take sides here. Acts 15.36-41 takes place just before Paul leaves on his second missionary journey.