Acts 15:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

NIV: Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,

NASB: Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

CSB: Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark.

NLT: Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.

KJV: And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

NKJV: Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

Paul has proposed a second missionary trip with Barnabas to revisit the churches they planted in central modern-day Asia Minor. In that first trip, they started with Barnabas' young cousin, John Mark. Mark, however, left them in Perga, near the beginning of their trip (Acts 13:13). We aren't told why Mark left. He was deeply involved in the church in Jerusalem, as his mother owned the house where some of the leaders met (Acts 12:12); some scholars think she hosted the Last Supper (Mark 14:14–15). Mark also wrote the gospel that bears his name, probably on behalf of Peter.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Barnabas would want to give Mark a second chance. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him the nickname "Barnabas" which means "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). When Paul, the persecutor of the church, returned to Jerusalem after coming to faith in Jesus, the disciples refused to see him. Only Barnabas was willing to risk his life and meet to determine if Paul had really changed (Acts 9:26–27). And when the church in Jerusalem heard that Jewish Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene had shared Jesus' offer of forgiveness to Gentiles in Syrian Antioch, they sent Barnabas to see if their faith was sound. Barnabas found a thriving new church in need of teaching and leadership. He made the bold move of finding Paul in nearby Tarsus and inviting him to help disciple the new believers (Acts 11:19–26).

The disagreement may have involved a measure of hurt feelings. This is unfortunate, but God can redeem any situation. Paul brings Silas, also a Roman citizen, into what will prove to be a difficult trip. And Barnabas provides Mark with a chance for redemption. Later, in his letters, Paul will speak fondly of the young man he once rejected (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11). Many commentors note that both sides of this debate had merit, so the end solution was likely the best possible approach.

Acts 15:36–41 marks a significant shift in Paul's ministry. Ever since Barnabas sought him out to help build the church in Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:19–26), the two have seemed inseparable. They established a church that will influence Christian theology for centuries. Their ministry extends beyond Syria and up into central modern-day Asia Minor. And they protected their church from legalists with harmful expectations of the Gentile Jesus-followers (Acts 15:1–35). Now, they go their separate ways. Paul will take Silas on his next missionary journey while Barnabas will take John Mark. Barnabas is not mentioned again in the book of Acts.

Paul and Barnabas are in Syrian Antioch, home from their first missionary journey. Legalistic Christians from Jerusalem arrive and insist Gentiles must convert to Judaism. When negotiations fail, a delegation travels to Jerusalem to request clarification from Jesus' closest students. The leadership in Jerusalem agree with Paul and Barnabas. They write a letter that Gentiles should only make concessions, mostly dietary, which will ensure unity with the Jews in their congregation. After delivering the letter to Antioch, Paul takes Silas and Barnabas takes John Mark to share the letter to other churches they have planted.

Acts chapter 15 resembles Acts 11:1–18, where Peter testified before the leadership of the church in Jerusalem. His subject was how the Holy Spirit had fallen on uncircumcised and unbaptized Gentiles. Here Paul and Barnabas also testify that Gentiles are coming to faith in Jesus without being circumcised. The issue the leadership must decide is the extent Gentiles must be responsible to follow the Mosaic law. Their decision is that the Law is in no way required to be saved, but Gentiles should graciously make concessions so their Jewish brothers and sisters feel free to live in community. This forms a partial background to the rest of Paul's missionary journeys as explained in Acts.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.