Acts 15:36-39

Acts 15:36-39

[36] And  some  days  after  Paul  said  unto  Barnabas,  Let us go again  and visit  brethren  in  every  city  where  we have preached  the word  of the Lord,  and see how  they do.  [37] And  Barnabas  to take with them  John,  whose surname was  Mark.  [38] But  Paul  not  good  with them,  who  departed  from  them  from  Pamphylia,  and  went  not  with them  to  the work.  [39] was  so sharp  between them,  that  they departed asunder  one from the other:  and so  Barnabas  took  Mark,  and sailed  unto  Cyprus; 

What does Acts 15:36-39 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some commentators have overestimated the "sharp disagreement" between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark , in my opinion. [1] The text says they disagreed vigorously over this issue, but there is no statement or implication that they ended up disliking each other, as some of the commentators have inferred. It seems that they were both led by the Holy Spirit to arrive at their respective conclusions regarding the wisdom of taking John Mark with them. Their separation, I infer, was friendly. Paul later wrote with respectful admiration of Barnabas ( 1 Corinthians 9:6) and John Mark ( Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11). Their decision to go separate ways certainly resulted in greater gospel extension since more people became involved as fellow missionaries, and they covered more area in less time. Some Christians erroneously feel that any disagreement between believers is sinful, but there is no indication in the text that this difference of opinion was sinful.
Barnabas" desire to offer John Mark another opportunity was certainly commendable and godly even though Paul viewed it as unwise. Many of God"s servants would have dropped out of ministry had it not been for a gracious Barnabas who was willing to give us another chance after we failed.