Acts 15: 36-41

 (Acts 15: 36-41)

『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.  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 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;  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 』

 

Paul and Barnabas did not view Judas and Silas as watchers or rivals. However, Paul and Barnabas split into two teams ahead of their second outreach trip. Barnabas takes Mark, who had left the team, and Paul goes on an outreach with Silas. Barnabas repeatedly insisted on taking Mark, and Paul repeatedly opposed it if it was not correct. After the two quarrels, the name Barnabas disappears from the Bible and only Paul appears. Paul said, "It is not right to take those who have not gone away from them and went to work together."

 In 13:1-2, 『Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 』In the original Greek text at the beginning, it reads, "There is a church in Antioch with prophets and teachers". The prophets and teachers were those who were used for the body of the Lord. They are Barnabas, Simon, and Lucius. Saul participated in this. The first was Barnabas, and the last was Saul. But, "He said, "Set up Barnabas and Saul separately." It does not mean to separate Barnabas from Saul, but to make a distinction toward the Lord. They heard everything the Holy Spirit said.

In 13:3, "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.". It distinguishes the two. So, the two of them went down to Silugia, sent by the Holy Spirit, where they boarded a boat and went to Gubro. However, in 13:5, ``And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 』Here, John is Mark. They took Mark. But Mark went back to Jerusalem. In 13:13, ``when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 』This Mark came from Jerusalem, so he returned to Jerusalem.

In chapter 12, Peter is imprisoned in Jerusalem, where the saints prayed. By the way, that house of prayer was Mark's house. In 12:12, "And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. At this time, the house where Peter was miraculously released and knocked on the door is that house. Mark went from Jerusalem to Antioch with Barnabas and Paul, but somehow he returned to Peter. In 1 and 2 Peter, Peter's co-worker is represented by Mark.

From this time on, Mark was separated from Barnabas and Paul. In Acts 13, Mark came to accompany Barnabas and Paul, but now Paul abandoned Mark. There is a scene where Paul argues with Barnabas, saying, "It is not right to take those who did not go to work with them from Bambilia."

Paul chooses Silas. In Acts 15, Barnabas and Paul went to ask the apostles and elders of Jerusalem church because of the problem of circumcision.In 15:22, ``Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 』. Silas was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch. In verse 27, "We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. After all these things were done in Antioch, in 15:32-33, 『And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 』

However, in verse 34 (none), the commentary says, "Sila decided to stay with them in Antioch." Silas had all the other brothers returned to Jerusalem, and he said he would remain in Antioch. Mark said that Barnabas and Paul brought them from Jerusalem, and they went away, but rather Silas said that he would remain in Antioch. Paul said that he would not call Mark from Jerusalem again, but would take Silas with him. In a way, it seems to be natural. And in 15:35, Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 』

In Chapter 13, the Holy Spirit said, "Set me apart from Paul and Barnabas in Antioch," but from Antioch they were not set up separately. They had to separate them by the Holy Spirit, but they couldn't. They were involved in the ministry of the Antioch Church. So, as Paul and Barnabas quarreled with each other, they fell away from the church in Antioch. Barnabas was the one who brought Paul, who was alone in Tarsus, to Jerusalem and introduced it to another co-worker. Barnabas wanted to raise people. Mark was Barnabas' nephew. Mark's mother, Mary, is Barnabas' sister.

Barnabas wanted to raise people, so he asked to bring Mark. Here, Paul says that it is important to do the work of the Lord, and Barnabas is that it is important to build people. Paul says that there are Silas who have not returned to Jerusalem, but he does not have to bring Mark. Paul chose righteousness, and Barnabas chose love. This is a phenomenon that occurs when you do not follow the directions of the Holy Spirit. By the way, in 15:40, ``And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. Paul asked his brothers if he did well, even though he chose Silas rather than Mark.

Barnabas wanted to raise people, so he chose Mark and went to another place, but he did not ask other brothers. This is the difference between Paul and Barnabas. "And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled" in Acts 14:26. 』Previously, Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch while doing ministry, but Antioch is "the place where God asked for grace". What the two apostles had accomplished was to set them apart for the ministry spoken by the Holy Spirit.

The place where they were asked by God's grace was the place where they were asked by the brothers. This was what happened to Paul. 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. That is why the church fasted and prayed according to the word of the Holy Spirit, and laid hands on them and sent them. This is what the church requested by the grace of the Lord. What we can realize here is the direction of the Holy Spirit and the request of the church.

And how to act in response to the apostles' requests like this. This would be the meaning of the book of Acts. When the Holy Spirit directs and the church fails to obey the words of the Holy Spirit, the church is divided. When we fail to obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit, Paul, who claims righteousness, or Barna or bar, who claims love, we become separated. Barnabas would have worked hard too. However, Barnabas' appearance later disappeared from the Bible. Only Paul, who is asked by the brothers, is seen working in the Bible. The church is the body of the Lord.