1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.(Acts 15)
Thoughts: Paul and Barnabas were the first recorded missionaries, and there is some major disagreement recorded here. First Paul and Barnabas disagreed with those who wanted to circumcize the Gentile converts. They took that case together to the Apostles in Jerusalem and won the case together. Then they went to Antioch- their home church. Barnabas (whose name means "son of encouragement") wanted to take his cousin John Mark. Paul did not want to take John Mark because he had become fearful and deserted them. So Paul and Barnabas split up- Barnabas going to Cyprus and Paul going to Syria. We see early on, disagreements among even strong people of faith.
Some use this story as an example to say the church should divide at times- divide and conquer. I have sometimes heard that it is better to divide so that more people can be reached. Yet this was not a permanent division. John Mark later wrote the Gospel of Mark- which scholars say is the earliest Gospel. Later Paul is said to have asked for John Mark (2 Tim. 4:11) which shows a reconciliation. In other words, this story is not a permanent denominational rift resulting in the Paulites and the Barnabasites. Both served the same Lord in the same larger church, and Paul would ask "Is Christ divided?" He wrote this about those who would follow certain people- Apollos, Peter, etc.
Differences of opinion arise. Paul and Barnabas would have "sharp debate" (15:2). Diversity and different viewpoints is important. But division is not the way to go. The effort of the council in Acts 15 was to stay together and to find a way to work alongside each other.
Some use this story as an example to say the church should divide at times- divide and conquer. I have sometimes heard that it is better to divide so that more people can be reached. Yet this was not a permanent division. John Mark later wrote the Gospel of Mark- which scholars say is the earliest Gospel. Later Paul is said to have asked for John Mark (2 Tim. 4:11) which shows a reconciliation. In other words, this story is not a permanent denominational rift resulting in the Paulites and the Barnabasites. Both served the same Lord in the same larger church, and Paul would ask "Is Christ divided?" He wrote this about those who would follow certain people- Apollos, Peter, etc.
Differences of opinion arise. Paul and Barnabas would have "sharp debate" (15:2). Diversity and different viewpoints is important. But division is not the way to go. The effort of the council in Acts 15 was to stay together and to find a way to work alongside each other.
Prayer: Help me to work with others who think differently from me, Lord.
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