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Acts 15

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

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.

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

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

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;

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

What does Acts 15:39 mean?

Explanation

Acts 15:39 describes a sharp disagreement between two leading figures in the early Christian church, Paul and Barnabas.

Their dispute was over whether to take John Mark with them on their missionary journeys.

John Mark had previously departed from them during an earlier mission and his departure, for reasons not expounded in Scripture, had disappointed Paul.

Because of this, Paul did not want to take John Mark along on another mission trip.

Barnabas, on the other hand, wanted to give John Mark another chance.

The phrase "contention was so sharp between them" indicates that the disagreement was intense and not easily resolvable, leading to a separation between Paul and Barnabas.

It's notable that this separation was personal in nature and not theological; both men continued to serve in spreading the Christian message, but they pursued this goal separately.

Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus, which was Barnabas's home region (Acts 4:36). Paul chose Silas as his new companion and set out on what is often referred to as his second missionary journey.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 15:39 occurs immediately after the Jerusalem Council, which took place around AD 49-50.

This Council was a pivotal moment in the early church, addressing the question of whether Gentile Christians needed to follow Jewish laws and customs.

The decision made by the apostles and elders was that Gentiles were not bound by most of the Law of Moses, which was essential to the spread of Christianity beyond Jewish communities.

Paul and Barnabas had previously worked together effectively, particularly in the evangelism of Cyprus and Asia Minor, but the incident with John Mark (Acts 13:13) created a rift between them.

Cyprus was not a new territory for Barnabas; he was originally from Cyprus which made it a natural choice for him to return and continue spreading the gospel there.

Theological Insights

There are several theological insights that can be derived from this verse. Firstly, it shows that even devout followers of Christ can have serious disagreements, indicating that interpersonal conflicts are an expected part of Christian life.

Secondly, this separation resulted in the gospel being spread over a wider area, suggesting that God can use even our disagreements for His purposes.

Some theologians may view this as an example of divine providence at work.

Moreover, the verse exemplifies the idea of restoration within the church. Although Paul did not want to continue working with Mark, Barnabas was willing to invest in him, demonstrating the process of discipleship and forgiveness.

Practical Applications

Practical applications of this verse emphasize conflict resolution and the power of second chances. Even when Christians disagree, the mission to share the gospel should remain the central focus. Believers are encouraged to resolve conflicts in a manner that does not hinder their witness to others.

This verse also encourages believers to offer grace and forgiveness to those who may have disappointed them.

It is a reminder that personal growth and the potential for an individual should not be limited by their past failures.

Cross-References

Acts 13:13 - Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.
2 Timothy 4:11 - Only Luke is with me.

Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Galatians 2:13 - And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Colossians 4:10 - Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Language Study

The phrase "contention was so sharp between them" in the original Greek text is "παροξυσμὸς γὰρ ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς," with "παροξυσμὸς" (paroxysmos) signifying a sharp disagreement or a provocation. This term indicates that their disagreement was intense and strenuous, rather than a mild disagreement.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

While this verse does not directly correlate with any particular ancient myths, it can be compared with other religious traditions that emphasise the importance of reconciliation and the resolution of disputes.

Many religious teachings include narratives that encourage believers to work out their differences and to continue their spiritual missions or duties despite conflicts within the community.

Scientific Perspectives

The specific details of this verse do not lend themselves to direct scientific analysis or commentary.

However, the study of psychology can provide insight into conflict resolution, group dynamics, and interpersonal relationships, which are indirectly relevant to understanding the nature of the dispute between Paul and Barnabas.

commentaries

Various Bible commentators highlight different aspects of this verse.

Many recognize this event as unfortunate yet acknowledge that God used it to further His purposes through the separate missions of Paul and Barnabas.

Matthew Henry's commentary reflects on this split as part of God's plan to spread the gospel more widely.

John Calvin comments on the human nature of such disagreements, even among saints, and how the determination of both parties to continue their work is commendable.

Contemporary scholars might also discuss the character of Barnabas in his role as an encourager and someone willing to give second chances, which aligns with his earlier depiction in Acts.

They might explore how this separation exemplifies the dynamic and sometimes challenging nature of early church leadership and Christian mission work.

Acts 15

Acts 15

What does Acts 15:39 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 15:39 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?