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Paul & Barnabas

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mharrell08:
Interesting read from the book of Acts and wanted to know you all's thoughts:

Acts 11:25-30  Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

As we read from the passage above, Saul [Paul], Barnabas, and the disciples of Antioch send relief to the brethren in Judea.

Acts 12:25  Barnabas and Saul, returned unto Jerusalem, fulfilling the ministering, taking with them John who was surnamed Mark.

This is the next record in Acts of Barnabas and Saul. Some translations have 'return TO Jerusalem' while others have 'return FROM/OUT OF Jerusalem'. But that is irrelevant to this subject...the point I am highlighting is the fact that John (surnamed 'Mark') is joining their ministry.

Later on we read the following:

Acts 13:13  Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

For starters, this clears up the translation issue from Acts 12:25 (they came 'from/out of' Jerusalem...that is how John/Mark 'returned'). But the main issue is that John/Mark leaves the ministry to go back home (Acts 12:12 confirms this is his 'hometown' at the very least).

We are not told why John/Mark went home but we do see the effects of his dissension in Paul & Barnabas' relationship.

Acts 15:36-39  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.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another...


On one hand I could see Paul's point, as when continuing to read in Acts 13, it seemed as the going got tough, John/Mark got going.

But on the other hand, I could guess that Barnabas was attempting to give John/Mark another chance, maybe? We are not told a clear-cut reason, in this book of Acts, why Barnabas insisted on John/Mark re-joining the ministry, though we have one from Paul.

As I said earlier, I found this interesting. What do you all think?


Marques

myms:
Following on from John's thoughts: Its interesting that Act 4:36 says 'It was at this time that Barnabas, the name, meaning son of comfort.........'. Its possible that Paul had the apostolic heart (authority springs to mind) whilst Barnabus had the pastoral heart (shepherd springs to mind). Just my thoughts! They should have made the perfect team - except when they disagreed LOL!

Beloved:
It also may be something else Paul and Barnabus came to Jerusalem with money and because of the question regarding gentiles and the law.

Act 15:22  Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, having chosen men from them, to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas (the one being called Barsabbas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

(Act 15:24)  "Since we heard that some having gone out from us disturbed you* with words, unsettling your* souls, saying [for you*] to continue being circumcised and to be keeping the Law, to whom we did not give [such] orders,

(Act 15:25)  it seemed good to us, having come to be of one mind, to send to you* having been chosen men, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

(Act 15:26)  men having given up their souls [or, lives] for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Act 15:27) "Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, and they are telling [you*] the same [things] by [the spoken] word.[/u]

(Act 15:28)  "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no more burden on you*, except [for] these necessary things:

(Act 15:29)  to be abstaining from [meat] sacrificed to idols and from blood and from [anything] strangled and from sexual sin. From which keeping yourselves, you* will do well. Farewell!"

(Act 15:30)  So indeed, having been sent off, they went to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

(Act 15:32)  Both Judas and Silas, they also being prophets, by many a word entreat and establish the brethren."

(Act 15:33)  Now, after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to those who commission them."

(Act 15:34)  -  This is very interesting a missing verse ?????

(Act 15:35)  Yet Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and bringing the evangel of the word of the Lord, with many others also."

Please note that John Mark's name was not amoung those snt by Jerusalem...Perhaps Paul wanted to follow what had been set up by Jerusalem.

Barnabus was a Levite from Cyprus and may have been more willing to take the struggling mark John under his wing than Paul was.

Perhaps Paul also sensed the need that things were going to get more confronational and John was not ready yet, perhaps he was being protective in another way.

..the end result of disagreement however was division of Paul and Barnabus...

No need to wonder on our part because All things happen becase the Father directs our ways.

Strange about there being a  missing verse...in 15:34  Perhaps that is there so all can speculate...oh that was the reason this happened rather than take sides

Beloved

daywalker:

--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on June 03, 2010, 05:43:33 PM ---Hi Marques,

Yes, I remember reading that section of Acts many years ago.  I also assumed that the John Mark spoken of is the Mark that wrote the Gospel named after him.  I also read somewhere that some bible scholars believe that this same John Mark became a close associate of the Apostle Peter later on.

I have a couple of takes on this matter.  First, diversity is O.K. with God's followers in many things.  We must have unity with God the Father and Jesus through the Spirit on the major truths of God.  Those nonnegotiable matters of the Truth where the Father sets the rules and no deviations are allowed.

On the other hand, we can still be one in the faith, but have differences of opinions in a wide variety of things.  Some like the color red, others like the color blue.  You say tomato and I say tomatoe.  Both Paul and Barnabas were followers of Jesus, but they obviously had different opinions on how certain things should be done.  I'm sure they patched things up and had a beer together later on.  Diversity in life is good.  It holds down on the boredom.

My second observation or opinion is, I bet Paul was a real hard guy to work for.  A hard charger.  A classic "Type A" personality.  Someone who would crash through a brick wall to get a job done.  In other words, a real pain in the rear end to work for.  In reading about his life, I can understand why God selected him for the job he was given, when you read what he went through for the work God wanted him to do.  I know everything is from God, but God formed a tough little tool for the work that He wanted Paul to perform.

John

--- End quote ---


Just to add a little to the highlighted section in John's post, I found this passage informative...


Act 12:1  About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
Act 12:2  He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
Act 12:3  and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
Act 12:4  And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
Act 12:5  So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Act 12:6  Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

[Peter's Escapes via Angel]

Act 12:7  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.
Act 12:8  And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."
Act 12:9  And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Act 12:10  When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

[Peter goes to John Mark's house to hide from Herod]

Act 12:11  When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
Act 12:12  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
Act 12:13  And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
Act 12:14  Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.
Act 12:15  They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!"
Act 12:16  But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Act 12:17  But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.
Act 12:18  Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
Act 12:19  And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.


So, after Peter's escape from being prisoner to King Herod, he hid at John Mark's house. Don't know that that necessarily 'confirms' that he later became an 'official' associate of Peter, but it does show that must've had a close relationship--seeing that Peter trusted him and his family for protection.


Food for thought.

Daywalker  8)

Deborah-Leigh:
Hi Marques

These are some of my thoughts.

I see the Scriptures regarding both Paul and Barnabas as an admonition to us for our edification, encouragement and insight. We know that God is Sovereign and worked out the circumstances between Barnabas and Paul, just as He does now with our intimate and personal associations, fellowships, attachments and circumstances.

The Scripture you present Marques is : But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another... Acts 15:36-39

God had a great Purpose in separating Paul and Barnabas.
 
God’s Plan was to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles through rejection by the Jews. This is expounded by Paul to the Romans in Chapter 11.  God shutting up all in unbelief… Rom 11:32  For God has shut up all in unbelief, so that He might show mercy to all.

What are the qualifications to be saved?  You have to be lost.  We’re all lost.  It’s apollumi - destroyed, perished, lost, you see.  If you fit that category, and we all do, guess what?  Christ came to save you!  L Ray Smith. Ref Does All mean All / Biblestudy Sept_ 2007

 …Paul and Barnabas preached THE Gospel. Not some other Gospel but the one and only Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Gal 2:19  for I through law, did die, (Rom 7:6  and now we have ceased from the law, that being dead in which we were held, so that we may serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter) that to God I may live;( Rom 8:2  for the law of the Spirit of the life in Christ Jesus did set me free from the law of the sin and of the death;)

It is the work of God who is supplying His Spirit, and leading and working mighty acts of works Of Faith.

God  divided Paul and Barnabas.

God  Planned, and God  caused their separation  and sent the cause to establish their separation to the Purpose of His Plan for His Work. The Work of God is always perfect.

 Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called THEM. ( God called THEM, BOTH Saul AND Barnabas. Why? For THE WORK….Who’s Work? GODS WORK!)

The Work God does is deep.

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
Rom 11:35  Or who first gave to Him, and it will be repaid to him?
Rom 11:36  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to Him be glory forever! Amen.

God caused a serious disagreement between Paul and Barnabas.

Act 15:39  So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus. - 1912 Weymouth New Testament.

This disagreement that resulted in the parting of the ways between Barnabas and Saul, was the express declared Will of God as FORETOLD

 Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called THEM.
"………….. ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11). 8)

Rom 8:28  And we know that GOD works all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I think what myms observes that Barnabas, the name meaning son of comfort and what John ( of Kentucky  :D) observes of Paul, makes sense.  :)

Paul being  "type A personality",as said in Isaiah, comparing spiritual with spiritual.

Isa 49:2  And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
Isa 49:3  And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I WILL BE GLORIFIED.

Some Brothers bring comfort. Others bring Fire! :) Brimstone and fire...Barnabas and Paul....all in a Pond of the LOF :)


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