We learn from Colossians 4:10 that Mark and Barnabas are But we are told of the heated argument several years later between Paul and Barnabas precipitated by Marks exit at the port city of Perga, capital of Pamphylia: Some time later (after the Council in Jerusalem in c. 50) Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord (on the 1st Missionary Journey) and see how they are doing. Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. Meet the Apostle John: 'The Disciple Jesus Loved', Meet the Apostle Paul: Christian Missionary Giant, Meet Timothy: Protege of the Apostle Paul, Lydia: Seller of Purple in the Book of Acts, Meet the Apostle James: First to Die for Jesus, Philip the Apostle - Follower of Jesus Christ, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. Peter had come down to Antioch from Jerusalem and was Paul and Barnabas took with them John Mark as a helper. really like reading an artice that will make people think. https://www.learnreligions.com/john-mark-author-of-the-gospel-of-mark-701085 (accessed March 4, 2023). And many years after a young Mark left Paul and Barnabas in Perga, in 68 AD he was dragged to death by horses on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt because of his witness for Christ. faith and endure to the end and be saved. rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was Lord of my life. cousins. problem is that we often differ on how to do this. He rightly understood that walking with the Lord changes people and the more time they have to walk, the more time they have to change. The Apostle Paul used the word, deserted them. And therefore complete agreement in these areas will not Paul's companion on second journey. Barnabas truly was a "man of encouragement." He gave his life to the church and sacrificed much for the faith. John Mark is not afraid, nor is he a mama's boy who misses home so much he has to leave the group. His family was of some importance to the early church in Jerusalem as his home was a center for church gatherings. Barnabas and Paul. "son of encouragement" that Barnabas was. 6, p. 200). Longenecker argues that although Luke does not tell us the nature of the special ministry the two [i.e., Paul and Barnabas] were set apart for, from what follows it is obvious that we are meant to understand that it was to be a mission to the Gentiles. Cf. One provides a word of warning, the other a word of hope. Peter calls him his son in (1 Pet 5:13). The point here is simply this: most of our life and ministry is We can take comfort knowing that even the best of men disagree on occasion. Over time, Paul changed his mind and forgave Mark. problem with him . few pics to drive the message hme a bit, but instead of that, this is 13:1-3). Paul felt that Mark had proven unreliable in the past (cf. What happened there? beginning of Paul's Christian life when no one would take a risk on All the names for our week days come from Roman and Norse/Anglo-Saxon gods. . When they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. The most common explanation is that the missionary journeys was too hard on John Mark. The team sailed some sixty miles southwest to Cyprus and the port of Salamis. John Mark is mentioned in Acts 12:23-13:13, 15:36-39; Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; and 1 Peter 5:13. The letteris highly personal and should be read as such. people are always temporary. Why did John Mark leave Barnabas and Paul in Perga and return to Jerusalem? Barnabases. His aim is that when one Devotional Thoughts in the Gospel of John, Overview of Chapter 20, Devotional Thoughts in the Gospel of John 20:28-31, Devotional Thoughts in the Gospel of John 20:24-27. His body froze like a Greek . 4 -Paul had already asked Silas to join him. John, anglicized from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning gift of God, was called by his Latin name Marcus meaning dedicated to the god Mars. He was Barnabas young cousin, the son of his aunt Mary who was the head of a home church in Jerusalem. Barnabas was determined to take with them John who was called Mark. lifeespecially the holiest of all lives, the life of Jesus. It will be so while we are in Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a ." with the truth of the gospel. with you. He was homesick and wanted to return home. on Question: Why did John Mark leave Paul and Barnabas while in Perga and went back to Jerusalem? healed. In reading the gospels I was drawn to this man who said he 4. The Testimonium Flavianum Question (My Two Cents), The Bible is Accurate Manuscript Evidence, Sayings From the Bible in the 21st Century, Colors & Dyes For Clothing in Ancient Rome, Thanksgiving: First Foods, First Friends1620, Ancient Ossuaries Uncover Biblical Truths. Learn Religions. It doesn't say this about the departure of Paul had the great idea to go back to Asia to see how the believers were doing in their faith. He could have easily played the church politics game and created an even larger issue than it was already. Lord. R. V. G. Tasker (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959), 104; Conzelmann, Acts, 103; Polhill, Acts, 296-97. Any ay keep up wrintng. You appear to know a lot about When did this happen? 14 Now at Iconium a they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. Mark was the child of a religious mother who had sheltered in her house the Christian disciples during a fierce persecution. Initially it was Paul and Barnabas and Silas, but Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark, but Paul said no because John Mark had left them earlier. Acts 13:6-12 Paul, Barnabas and John Mark then walk the 90 miles / 145 km across the south coast of Cyprus, preaching at the Jewish synagogues en route until they reach Paphos (see 2 on Map 23), reputedly the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.. So also Rius-Camps, El Camino de Pablo, 64, who states that La misin, toV e[rgon, siempre determinada tanto en boca del Espritu Santo, al principio, como del redactor, al final, no es otra que la mison entre los paganos.. We can be thankful that the Bible is so this marvelous experience with God, so I am safe and secure from Of course, Mark also ended up authoring the Book of Mark, perhaps the first Gospel written (app. He was an encourager. It may well be that he wasnt ready or didnt count the cost of following Jesus. It is near this port city that Mark would, sadly and abruptly, abandon Paul and his relative Barnabas as they went inland to preach the gospel. God usesthe time Mark has alone with Barnabas tomold him into a champion of the early church and a dear friend of the man who once rejected him. John Mark - Author of the Gospel of Mark. Catholic Daily Reflections and Homily provide daily inspiration and guidance for faithful Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. I began a careful T/F, 4. And this isnt a change that would have come lightly. The previous reconstruction fits the context of an increasingly Gentile mission and sheds light on the particular reason Paul was unwilling to take him on the second missionary journey (15:36-41). carried away by their insincerity. faith.". ou have touched sme good thing here. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Barnabas and Paul separate over the role Mark should play when they decided to return to the places where they had preached the gospel (Acts 15:36). On some kind of spiritual test I took a few years ago, I was labeled as a defender. In short, I feel a strong calling to help, defend, and teach the weak, especially in spiritual matters. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Legend says Barnabas who came from Cyprus was burned to death in the hippodrome on that island. I try to give a fair and balance answer to the questions that I write on. I suspect it was because Paul John Mark is the cousin of Barnabas, a missionary in the early church, and he may have been present at Jesus' arrest. In Acts 11:24 we saw that Barnabas was a good man and full of Unfortunately, in 15:38 where the term occurs a third time, Paul says that John Mark abandoned (i.e., deserted) him and Barnabas in the work (e[rgon). The commendation was not for Barnabas and John Mark. They arrived in the city of Perga, where John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem (which, interestingly, was in the opposite direction from where they just came). Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? 14 But they, having gone through[ c] from Perga, arrived at Pisidian Antioch. namely, the apostle Paul. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. over the biography of every man except Jesus): Men, why are you doing this? (It is interesting to note that after Marks return to Jerusalem, but before Pauls second missionary trip, the Jerusalem Council convened to determine if Gentiles had to become Jews to be saved, and if they had to obey Mosaic law.). Third, by most accounts, Paul was at this time pretty much considered to be Barnabas superior, so Barnabas should have submitted to his authority. The man he wanted to leave behind years before had become highly valuable to him. . The other principle He to be a patsy. (Acts 12:12) We are not told directly, but it can be inferred that Mary had suggested Mark accompany his older cousin Barnabas and Paul on the missionary journey. accursed . During those early days after Paul's conversion, a man named Barnabas trusted Paul and helped convince suspicious church leaders of his authenticity. "There's even better news," Barnabas said. We don't know why Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas at Perga. this state of darkness and imperfection; we shall never be all of a envy one another but rather give thanks for God's wisdom. The first is a reaffirmation of our Sunday evening lesson from Perhaps he was homesick or found the rigorous ministry too taxing. The cause of God will triumph through bitterness or resentment. And Barnabas, with all his warmth and patience with people, was over, and after the Jerusalem council has settled the issue of ), In (Col 4:10) (written about 60-62 A.D., app. seemed to focus on the need and potential of Mark. But John, having departed[ b] from them, returned to Jerusalem. Paul took Silas and went in another direction to Syria and Cilicia. The King James Bible calls him Marcus. Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. He does not I think John Mark left was because Paul was bodily ill which it says in Galatians 4:13 so i think Paul was afraid of catching this disease. Out of the failures of his people. "Sons of encouragement" are vulnerable to minimizing the This refusal to allow John Mark to travel with them caused some hard feelings between Paul and Barnabas. Bible. Acts 15:37-40Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. Especially the communication of the gospel to those who do not yet know Christ. There will be times in our lives when we must cut ties with someone or something. The three Christian men are a triad of redemption, forgiveness and encouragement. Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of future the emotions and opinions of other people did not have the same As such, of course, commentators try to make their own decisions. Could Ancient Sparta Defeat Ancient Rome? Its part of life. missionary has forsaken the work on his first journey, you shall Now, it didn't last long because they were not really true apostles. The cause of God will triumph through all the weaknesses and But here is Mark, at the end of Paul's life, fully reconciled to and fully trusted by Paul and very useful in the gospel ministry. His aim is not But instead Mark ends up becoming so much more than a failure. 3 -Paul was leaving immediately, and Barnabas was not ready. saints go astray, whether Barnabas, or Paul. 1 -Barnabas wanted to take John Mark again, but Paul refused. In (1 Cor 9:6), written around 55 57 A.D. (app. Was it Paul's tough rebuke or Barnabas' tender this, like you wrote the book in it or somthing. There is no passage in Scripture that says, "When a young It seems that Barnabas faith in Mark was well-placed. It is believed the gospel of Mark was heavily influenced by his friendship with Peter. his behalf, Barnabas came forward and saved him for the cause of As a result, such a sharp contention arose between them that they parted (split) from one another (Acts 15:37 - 39, HBFV). It is, therefore, rather sad to note that they eventually had a "falling out" of sorts. . Others say he might have been ill from malaria or some other disease. Towards the end of the book Paul gives a list of personal instructionsmainly comprised of several people to greet and one person in particular to dodge. constant prayer. Here the bubble of idealism . Peter was evangelizing the city just a few years before Paul was put to death in Rome. It is recorded by Paul He could not resolve to continue persevering in, "journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers . Christian Soldiers in the Ancient Roman Army, Destruction of Jerusalem, c. 586 BCEyewitness Account, Assassination of Julius CaesarAncient Accounts, Claudia ActeNeros Mistress, Secret Christian, Emperor Tiberius & The Resurrection Of Jesus, Plinys Letter To Trajan About Christians, Ancient TechnologyThe Antikythera Mechanism, The Lycurgus CupNanotechnology in Ancient Rome, Monte TestaccioAncient Romes Garbage Dump, Metal Detector FindRoman Coins & Lost Emperor of Britain, Stirring of Water in the Pool of Bethesda. Perhaps one little clue shows a fight to be fought and won, and a faith to be kept to the end. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Acts, by John MacArthur. When we make a mistake in life, with God's help we can recover and go on to achieve great things. No explanation is given for his departure, and Bible scholars have been speculating ever since. "Commended" in Acts 15:40 is in the singular, referring to Paul in particular (but obviously having Silas in view). Yet God clearly brings good out of their decision to form separate missionary teams. Who was right? is weak, the other be strong; when the strength of one makes him Mark, many years after his abandonment of Paul, was also found in the company of Peter when the apostle sent his greeting from Babylon (1Peter 5:13). Paul did the right thing. In many cases, a man like this may have tucked his tail between his legs and never been seen again. give him a second chance after 18 months of penitent and faithful 1. James Limburg, A. Thomas Kraabel, and Donald H. Juel, ed. But what about his relationship with Paul? God knew what he was doing when he sent Mark with Barnabas instead of Paul. In Acts 14:15 they King James Bible And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with Forgiveness is possible. Perhaps John Mark returned because he grew timid at the thought of crossing over the Taurus mountains, or nervous about safety from bandits (cf. It is my sincere prayer that Pauls words be true of all of us who minister for the Lord as those sent out by his Spirit under his command. It was probably due to his prejudice against the Gentiles that he left. Though we dont know the specifics, I believe Paul grew up some through the process as well. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him and Copts believe Mark was tied to a horse and dragged to his death by a mob of pagans on Easter, 68 A.D., in Alexandria. The controversyover John Mark was no simple disagreement. The chief associations of Perga are with the Greek rather than the Roman period, and its existing remains are described as being purely Greek, there being no trace of any later inhabitants. He, along with Paul and other Christian leaders of his time, was instrumental in . Let me read you some excerpts from his story. man named John Mark back to Antioch with them from Jerusalem. 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 13:3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off. It is, however, interesting that not long after the disagreement with Barnabas when Paul and Silas came to Lystra in Turkey: where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer.Paul wanted to take (the young Timothy) along on the journey, so he circumcised him. (Acts 16:1-3). . He may have felt unqualified to answer the questions that the Gentiles were asking him. And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return, In any case, the Lord brought victory out of contention, and Mark Zavada, Jack. But then some of the more strict party in the Jerusalem W. Ward Gasque (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1990), 230, who says, This was for the most part a low, marshy, fever-ridden region, though at some points the Taurus Mountains, which made travel to the north so difficult, reach to the sea; E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, ed. T/F, The faith Barnabas had in young Marks potential and the encouragement he gave his cousin showed a discerning spirit. Wiki User. truly alive . In Turkey, Paul and Barnabas made their way to Antioch (the one in Turkey rather than the Antioch in Syria from whence they had come) where they taught in the synagogue and many believed. Its tough to grasp the idea that two of the most influential men in the establishment of the church could have such a heated (remember,violent outburst) disagreement, but at the same time we have the benefit of seeing the big picture. So goes the myriad of suggestions, but as ingenious as these suggestions may be, they are not at all in keeping with the context and the thrust of this section of Acts (i.e., Acts 13:1-14:28). Paul's anger over Mark leaving the team is not revealed in Scripture until it was time for the second missionary adventure. The disagreement is so deep that it cannot be attractive power of Jesus. Paul forgave Mark and gave him a chance to prove his worth. Check out what Paul later has to say about Mark. He never forgot that Now there is one other time when the patience of Barnabas moved great men and women have great power to inspire us and shape us. Then after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.". Verse 37 says, Barnabaswanted to take with them John called Mark. Luke chooses the imperfect tense in the Greek for the verbwe translate aswanted, indicating Barnabas was persistent and determined in his request. Christian convert. We realize that any reconstruction is tenuous at best, but this fits well with the literary development of the book of Acts and the beginning of the mission to the Gentiles. ), In (2 Tim 4:11) (written about 67 A.D., app. "Very little is written about John Mark," Jos's mother had began, "but what we do know, relates to us a very interesting story." In Acts Chapter 15, verses 35-39, Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, and Barnabas had just finished up preaching in the city of Antioch where they had led many to the Lord. (2021, December 6). I believe he had Paul and Barnabas do so by infiltration from within. Were on a mission to change that. 14:27 When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the GentilesNET Bible. Therefore, the lesson to be learned is that none of us should How Did Jesus Spend the Last Week of His Life? John Mark went with them as their assistant. After sailing from Cyprus to the Turkish coast, Paul and Barnabas visit the city of Perga before traveling to Pisidian Antioch and other cities on . Mark learned valuable lessons and apparently lived the latter part of his life in a manner worthy of forgiveness and redemption. During the first mission journey, Mark was a helper of Barnabas and Paul, when the mission was in the territory of Cyprus, but when the mission was extended to Pamphylia and Pisidia, he had removed himself from serving Paul and Barnabas and he left for Jerusalem.3 This became a reason for the conflict between Paul and Barnabas, cane fields and cry aloud to the unknown God, hoping that the truth You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. serving me." It was in this setting, as they prepared to leave, that they discovered a difference of opinion. He also helped Paul, Barnabas, and Peter in building and strengthening the early Christian church. (No, Im not saying Paul was not an apostleplease dont misquote me. All the names for our week days come from Roman and Norse/Anglo-Saxon gods. Paul writes, Luke alone is with me. (This would give it apostolic credibility since Mark was likely not an apostle.) He learned how to show grace and forgiveness. importance to him that they did for Barnabas. The Gospel of Mark (6:3) and the Gospel of Matthew (13:55-56) mention James, Joseph/Joses, Judas/Jude and Simon as brothers of Jesus, the son of Mary. He has a passion to teach and disciple others, and holds a Th.M. Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. He then joined himself to Barnabas and Paul when they traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch on their return from a mission of charity. sanctified by one and the same Spirit, have different He cites Xenophon Eph 2.2.1-2. Zavada, Jack. There are actions that so contradict the truth of the Later legend suggests that in the early 9th century, John Marks remains were moved from Alexandria to Venice and buried under the church of St. Mark. Paul made his first missionary journey to Cyprus, accompanied by Barnabas and John Mark. We must remember that some in Antioch had already committed themselves to a ministry to the Greek speaking Gentiles living there (Acts 11:20). Listen to his wise and a season, to walk in the way of faith. Peter and Barnabas were wrong. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. If we didnt see problems erupt from time to time among great, but imperfect men, it is then we should be concerned about the authenticity of what we read. They boldly preached the Good News of Jesus Christ and many believed and were saved. Despite everything that happened atPamphylia (Acts 13.13) and the emotionally violent disagreement over Mark in Acts 15.36-41, Paul, at the end of his life, found Mark to be very useful for ministry. Conzelmann, Acts, 103, states that the phrase oiJ periV can be used if there be only one companion present, or if there be no companion present. Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. Paul was determined not to bring him, due to his forsaking them previously. There is It says, literally, "But Modern Persecution of Christians in China, Patriarch Jacobs Well & St. Philoumenous, Slaughter of the Theban Legion C. 286 AD, LapsiChristians Who Lapse/Abandon Their Faith, Evodias Named Followers of Christ Christians. . He may have felt that Paul took unnecessary risks in confronting the Jews and putting his own life in jeopardy. In Galatians 2.11-14 Paul writes, 11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. What do you think is required to I have in mind Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/john-mark-author-of-the-gospel-of-mark-701085. Copyright JesusAlive.cc All rights reserved. obedience. NET Bible. Barnabas He parted ways with Paul, because he apparently took issue with what occurred at New Paphos. telling me that he could actually come to me, lift the fear of