The Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 65 A Dispute Results In Two Teams Preaching the Gospel

We studied how the early church handled a difficult problem of believing Jews from Jerusalem, who traveled to Antioch. They wrongly insisted that Gentile converts to Christ must be circumcised and obey the law. 

This false teaching created instant division and shook the faith of new Gentile believers. The church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to bring this issue before the apostles, elders and the church at Jerusalem.

The council reached a decision regarding the Gentiles and put it in writing. They sent Judas and Silas with Paul and Barnabas to share their decision with the believers at Antioch. 

The whole process respected the disputing parties and honored God in reaching a Spirit guided decree.

The news was well received at Antioch and Gentile believers were filled with joy and reassurance.

Antioch nurtured by apostolic preaching.

Acts 15:34-35  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35)  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 

After the men from Jerusalem were sent back to their church, Silas decided to stay on at Antioch for a period of time. Paul and Barnabas continued to teach and preach the Word of God at Antioch. 

Remember that they did not have the New Testament scriptures. They did have the Old Testament scriptures. Paul effectively used them to prove their literal fulfillment in the words, works and person of Jesus Christ. 

Thus, the polarizing dispute was resolved, Christ was exalted, the gospel peaching continued to go on and sound doctrine was taught to the believers. 

Later, as the New Testament began to be written, the church at Antioch became known as a doctrinally strong church, and they had a reputation for making accurate copies of scripture to be used in the church and in homes. 

The blessing of having Paul, Barnabas and Silas along with many others cannot be overestimated. This church was the pillar and ground of truth for many centuries. 

Making sure new churches were on the right track. 

Acts 15:36  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 

Luke did not specify how much time elapsed as these men taught and confirmed the saints at Antioch. 

The Holy Spirit led Paul to propose retracing their steps and visiting the churches established on their first missionary journey. 

Paul was a heavenly man proposing a journey to Cyprus, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Antioch in Pisidia, and elsewhere. 

He wanted to visit all the places where he had preached and founded Churches in the preceding year. 

The Spirit of God laid a burden upon Paul of revisiting those churches in order to water the gospel seed he had planted. Those churches had young Christian converts, in areas infested with pagan perversion and mean spirited Judaizers.

The apostle wanted to make sure that those churches still held on to the apostolic doctrine and that the believers were rooted and built up in their faith. 

The word "visit" means to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes with respect to those new churches. 

The idea is the same as visiting widows and the sick or shut in, to make sure that their needs are provided for. It is providing the care of God for those churches. 

Notice the term of endearment used by Paul when speaking of those saints. He called them "brethren" which refers to believers united together in Christ, suffering afflictions together as well as enjoying blessings together. 

Paul and Barnabas disagree over taking Mark. 

Acts 15:37-38  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38)  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 

A problem between Paul and Barnabas arose. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on this trip. Paul resisted taking Mark because he had deserted them on the previous missionary trip to the same places. 

Mark abruptly left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. The word "departed" is a very strong word, indicating that Mark stood apart from them, not wanting to participate in gospel ministry. 

It means Mark stood apart and aloof from Paul and Barnabas, meaning he had mentally disassociated himself from this work. This word also means to "fall away" so Mark's behavior was unacceptable. 

We do not know why Mark felt this way. Some think that the persecutions and stoning of Paul was too much for Mark to handle. Others think he had prejudice against Gentiles receiving the gospel, as many other Jews did. Whatever the reason, Mark did not show himself faithful when he was needed. 

It is good that at some point, Paul and Mark were reconciled (See 2 Timothy 4:11). 

Agreeing to disagree by sending two teams. 

Acts 15:39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 

Here, these two apostles differed and strongly disagreed with each other, individually in support of the part he had adopted. 

Paul was influenced only with the love of righteousness. 

Barnabas was motivated by love for a relative because John Mark was his cousin (Colossians 4:10).  

John Mark had been tested in challenging circumstances, and he failed. Paul, therefore, would not trust him again. 

Love of his family led Barnabas to hope for the best, and he wanted to give Mark another chance. 

The word translated "contention" is found in the word "paroxysm" which is an outburst of uncontrolled emotion in response to a given situation. 

Barnabas would not give up on Mark and Paul would not agree to take him again. Therefore, they agreed to separate from each other, and take different locations to visit the churches. 

The reality is that two teams went out on missionary journeys, opening the door for a wider spread of the gospel. Barnabas and Mark set sail for Cyprus. 

It is good to note that Luke recorded the facts of the dispute. He did not take sides in this issue. 

Silas providentially stayed on at Antioch

Acts 15:40-41  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.  41)  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

We see the hand of the Spirit of God in how this dispute was handled. He moved Silas to stay in Antioch for a longer period of time. Thus, he was prepared for gospel ministry and ready to accompany Paul. 

The church then prayed and fasted and sought God's will, as they did for the first missionary journey. Then the brethren recommended Paul and Silas to the grace of God, committing them to His providential care. 

Therefore, they prayed publicly for Paul, and for the success of his ministry, and they encouraged him to go on in his work. The believers at Antioch transferred the whole matter to the grace of God, leaving it to that grace both to work upon him and to work through him.  

As Barnabas and Mark sailed for Cyprus, Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches. This was the primary object of his journey. 

Many believers were young converts, needing to be rooted and built up in their faith. In addition, Paul and Barnabas would by share with them the decision made at the late council of Jerusalem. 

This too, would strengthen their faith as their hope was confirmed, and their love for God and man increased.

No doubt Paul began his second missionary journey with heartache and high hopes. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Proverbs 17:14  The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 

This is the idea that a small hole in a dam will allow water to rush through and enlarge the hole, to the point of failure. At the point a dam fails, all the water rushes forward in a mad torrent, destroying everything in its path. 

As soon as the smallest breach is made in a dike or dam, water begins to press against the weak spot at  the breach, The structure of the breach becomes weakened and unable to restrain the water, so that dikes are speedily swept away. Such is the beginning of contentions, quarrels, lawsuits, between believers.

King Solomon's counsel is to leave off contention by nipping it in the bud.  As soon as you see where an altercation may lead, do not begin it. 

Otherwise, the contending parties will come into conflict  and begin to hurl insults and assassinate each other's character. When we perceive that a dispute may to take this ugly turn, we must stop and walk away.

This seems to be a good lesson for us to learn. Paul and Barnabas were both apostles, both strong in the faith and both unwilling to back down from their positions. 

Thus, the pressure caused a temporary breach in their fellowship in the gospel as their emotions burst forth into full blown contention. 

Yet, do not lose sight that God was able to send out two missionary teams to revisit the churches. Thus, God overruled the rift between Paul and Barnabas by blessing both teams as they went out confirming the churches. 

Acts14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

We tend to put the apostles up on a pedestal and we should not do this. They were men like us, although full of the Spirit of God in ways that we are not. 

They would be the first to tell us that they struggled with the same passions we do, and that they needed to mortify the flesh like we do.  

Paul and Barnabas' words to the citizens of Paphos proved to be true, in the matter of taking Mark with them. 

Proverbs 19:11  The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 

We need to seek help from the Spirit of God, to curb our tempers, and to help us refrain from becoming embroiled in a contention. His presence and power can help us defer anger so that we can think about the situation, and perhaps gain some perspective for a solution. 

May we truly seek the glory of God in all things, even when we become entangled in a dispute. May we resolve it in a way that brings Him honor.

Bob