Barnabas

Barnabas

Q: Why did Paul and Barnabas part ways?

• a. Barnabas wanted to go home and visit family.
• b. Paul thought he’d travel faster alone.
• c. They disagreed over whether or not John Mark should go with them.

Have you ever argued with a close friend and walked away to join another friend? That happens a lot when you’re growing up. It can even happen when you’re an adult. Paul and Barnabas, two strong Christian men, had a disagreement and parted ways.

Paul and Barnabas were chosen as missionaries and sent out on their first journey. Other believers went with them, including John Mark, a relative of Barnabas, who was their assistant. But partway through the journey, he left them and went home. We don’t know if he was tired of the journey or afraid of what they’d encounter. We know only that he left (see Acts 13:13).

Later when Paul suggested revisiting the churches to see how the new believers were doing, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul was against it since John Mark had left them once before. Paul wasn’t ready to give John Mark another chance. Paul and Barnabas disagreed so strongly that they parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark on his journey, and Paul chose Silas for his.

Even though it’s sad that Paul and Barnabas couldn’t work out their differences about John Mark, it did result in two missionary teams going out instead of one.

For You

Barnabas’s original name was Joseph, but he was renamed Barnabas, which means encourager, because he made it a point to encourage others through his words and actions, as he did with John Mark. Are you an encourager? Do you urge others not to give up? Do you speak a kind word when someone is down? Look for ways to encourage others today.

Answer: c

Barnabas . . . wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.   Acts 15:37-39

(The Whole Story: Acts 15:36-41)