NOTES for Act 15:35-41
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35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. |
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. |
37 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. |
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; |
40 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. |
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In its own way, it is very comforting that the apostles, as it turns out, were living human beings too. Despite the fact that the Lord made them His great servants, they, it appears, also knew how to make mistakes, quarrel, and sometimes fail to get along with one another.
Paul and Barnabas, two men led by the Spirit, still cannot come to an agreement about whether to give a young disciple, who once failed to meet their hopes, a second chance. Their opinions differ so much that they part in different directions, and Paul chooses another helper for himself. It is even a little sad to realize that with them too everything sometimes happened "in a human way"...
But still, later everything will return to where it should be. Evidence that Paul and Mark will eventually be reconciled is at least the fact that they will even be imprisoned together (see Col 4:10).
For us, this story is extremely instructive. On the one hand, it helps us understand that things are not as bad with us as they might be: the saints also sinned. On the other hand, it reminds us that we still have room to grow, because these imperfect people nevertheless became saints.
Readings for16 May 2026
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