MPV Commentary

Dissension between Paul and Barnabas—They Part Company to Pursue Separate Missionary Tours.

36. Some days after, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached and see how they are doing." This was a pattern for churches and successful missionaries in every age. Paul felt that he wasn't called to spend a peaceful life at Antioch but rather to be among the Gentiles.

37. Barnabas decided to take John Mark, his nephew (Col 4:10), with them on this journey. However, Paul thought it unwise to take him along since he had previously deserted them in Pamphylia and refused to continue with their work (Ac 13:13).

38. The disagreement between them became so sharp that they decided to go their separate ways. It's worth noting that John Mark's decision to leave the team may have been due to his fear of the dangers and hardships ahead, but Paul couldn't be sure.

39. The contention between them was intense, with each side having valid reasons for their position. Barnabas argued that one failure didn't define a person's character, especially when it came to a young Christian like John Mark. He also pointed out that his relationship with John Mark gave him unique insight into the young man's abilities and potential.

40. Paul, on the other hand, was concerned about the impact of John Mark's departure on their work and the potential for future problems. He wasn't judging John Mark's character but rather making a practical decision to protect their team from further difficulties.

41. In the end, they decided to go their separate ways, with Barnabas taking John Mark to Cyprus and Paul choosing Silas (Ac 15:34) to accompany him on his journey. They traveled in pairs, just like the Twelve and the Seventy (Mr 6:7; Lu 10:1).

42. Before they departed, they were commended to the grace of God (Ac 13:3), as was customary for missionaries embarking on a new journey.

43. Paul's travels took him through Syria and Cilicia, where he confirmed the churches and strengthened their faith. It's likely that Paul and Barnabas had made an amicable arrangement to divide the region between them, with Paul taking the continental part of the proposed visitation and Barnabas visiting the island regions.

44. This second missionary tour began as a desire to revisit the churches they had previously planted but eventually took on a wider scope, bringing the apostle to Europe (Ac 16:9).