The Way
The Day He Parted from Barnabas
One road, two paths
Story
After they came back from Jerusalem and spent some time in Antioch, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every city where we preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them.
Paul did not agree. Mark had left them at Perga in Pamphylia the last time and had not stayed with them in the work to the end. The two disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.
Paul chose Silas, who had brought the letter from Jerusalem. The brothers in Antioch entrusted the two of them to the grace of the Lord and sent them off, and Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Many years later, Paul, now in prison, wrote to Timothy, the disciple he loved like a son: “Bring Mark with you. He is a help to me in my work.”
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Let us go back and visit the brothers in every city where we preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.
Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and the brothers entrusted the two to the grace of the Lord and sent them off.
Bring Mark with you. He is a help to me in my work.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 15:36–41
Background
Mark was Barnabas's cousin. Later Paul asked the church in Colossae to welcome Mark if he came to them, and in Philemon he called him his fellow worker.
Pause and Reflect
In a relationship where feelings have been hurt, is there something I should be the first to make right?