Acts 15:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When praise began to be given to Paul and Barnabas for their struggles, Mark was grieved and troubled in soul. He thought, "If I too had been with the apostles, I also would have become a partaker of their glory." Therefore he again wished to accompany them.

Barnabas received him as one who had repented. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them, for the work of the Lord, a man who had not been able to accompany them before.

Thus the disagreement did not have the character of injustice, but of righteousness, and it arose from misunderstanding. Paul demanded righteousness, while Barnabas sought love for mankind.

Though they differed in opinion, they were united in the feeling of piety. They were divided not by faith or conviction, but by a human misunderstanding.

This happened according to God's dispensation. For as soon as they separated, Barnabas took Mark with him and went his own way. Yet Paul's strict exactness also benefited Mark, since by his zeal he sought to wipe away his former fault.

Paul advised the churches not to receive Mark. He did this not to grieve him, but to make him more zealous. When he saw that Mark had shown progress in zeal and had justified himself by his later deeds, he began to approve him and say: "Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, greets you, concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, receive him" (Col 4:10).

We observe the same thing among the prophets. That is, we observe a difference in opinions and characters. Thus Elijah is strict, while Moses is meek.

So it is here as well. Paul appears more insistent than Mark. But look: at the same time he is also condescending. It is said, "he kept saying," that is, he did not grow heated, but firmly insisted that Mark not be taken.

What then? Did Paul and Barnabas part as enemies? May it never be! In Paul's epistles you find that Barnabas later received much praise from Paul.

It even seems to me that they separated by mutual agreement, saying to one another: since you do not want what I want, and the reverse is also true, let us choose different places for preaching so that we do not quarrel.

This is what they did, each fully yielding to the other. This was written for our instruction, to guard us from falling. For as men, we cannot avoid contentions, but in contentions we must make concessions to one another.

For Mark, however, this contention was as useful as possible. Paul's severity corrected him, while Barnabas' condescension encouraged him not to abandon his calling any further.

Thus Paul and Barnabas dispute, but one result comes from the dispute: benefit. Looking at Paul, who had decided to separate from Barnabas, Mark was greatly frightened and blamed himself. Looking at Barnabas, who so defended him, Mark greatly loved him.

The disciple was corrected by the contention of his teachers. So far was this contention from serving as a stumbling block.

Barnabas's condescension toward Mark may have arisen from the special gentleness of his Christian character. Or it may have come from the first stirrings of love for a relative, not yet fully overcome by the power of the Christian spirit.

That such human relations could still exert considerable influence on Barnabas is shown by his conduct in Antioch in the presence of Peter and Paul (Gal 2).

However it may have been, this momentary disagreement became the occasion for a division between two men who until then had acted together in the service of the Lord.

The result of the division between Paul and Barnabas was that a new sphere of activity was added for the sake of the Gospel. From that time, Barnabas formed a defined sphere for himself. He went first with Mark to his homeland, Cyprus, and then probably to other places for preaching.

That Barnabas was not inactive in spreading Christianity can be inferred not only from his former activity. It is also proved by the fact that Paul, long after this event, points to him as a man known for his ceaseless activity in preaching the Gospel (1 Cor 9:6).

Paul's severity toward Mark could also have been useful for Mark himself. It had to bring him to consciousness of his fault, and later he showed himself faithful to his calling.

Finally, this division was only temporary. Later we see Paul, Barnabas, and Mark again closely united among themselves, though from this time Barnabas seems to have had a separate and independent sphere of activity.

In his place, Paul took as his companion Silas, or Silvanus, who had been sent from the Church of Jerusalem to Antioch with the epistle.

"One is needed in relation to people of one disposition, and another in relation to people of another. If they were exchanged, they would become useless. Outwardly, some offense occurred between Paul and Barnabas, but all this happens according to God's providence, so that each of them might take the place fitting for him.

"On the other hand, it is necessary that not all be held in equal honor, but that one should lead and another be subject. This is according to God's providence. Paul expresses displeasure with Mark, but he also gives the reason.

"As a commander would not wish always to have with him a careless armor-bearer, so Paul acts. This instructed others and corrected Mark himself. Paul honored Barnabas for his great humility, because he stayed with him and shared so many labors with him.

"But he did not honor him in such a way as to neglect duty. Did they part as enemies? By no means. For even afterward Paul mentions Barnabas in his epistles with great praise (see 1 Cor 9:6).

"The dispute caused them to separate, and this was good. For what each later undertook separately for good, they would not have done while remaining together. Besides, the Cypriots, to whom Barnabas went, had not shown anything like those in Antioch and others.

"They needed a more tenderhearted disposition, that of Barnabas. Oh, if only we too would separate in such a way, in order to go forth for preaching!"

"But," blessed Theophylact observes, "for Mark this dispute was as useful as possible. Paul's severity corrected him, and Barnabas's condescension encouraged him not to abandon his calling. Mark was greatly afraid and accused himself. Seeing Barnabas, who defended him so strongly, he came to love him deeply."

After preaching in various places, Barnabas returned again to Cyprus, where he was martyred. Mark again joined Peter and, under his guidance, wrote the Gospel.