GOODBYE DOES NOT MEAN FOREVER (ACTS 15:35-40)
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One of the most unedifying church fights made public was the Ethiopian and Egyptian Coptic church in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in nowhere more sacred than Jerusalem, visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year. A long-running dispute over ownership of the site several years ago over the rooftop monastery held up repairs paid by the government.
Disputes are not uncommon, particularly over who has the authority to carry out repairs. The latest row was over the ladder above the church entrance that has been there since 19th Century. Although the Ethiopian monks have lived there for more than 200 years, the Copts were in overall control of the monastery after losing many of their rights within the main church. That's certainly how the Coptic Church interprets the "Status Quo" - the controversial 1852 decree, issued by the then-Ottoman rulers of Jerusalem, to put an end to the arguments among the church's various claimants.
Coptic and Ethiopian monks have come to blows in the past but they are not the only ones who have allowed tensions to boil over. Fights between monks from different sects in the Sepulchre are not uncommon and passions run high, particularly on important holy days. The Israeli government says it will pay for the work to be carried out only if the Copts and Ethiopians can resolve their differences. But after decades of hostility neither side is rushing to compromise.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7676332.stm
“Unholy Row Threatens Holy Sepulchre,” Oct 19, 2008
The church in Antioch is the most quoted model of the early church, but one fine day there was trouble in paradise between two of the closest and brightest leaders there. The church had a rich and long history, as early as Pentecost.
Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch was one of the seven deacons of the early church (Acts 6:5). When persecution arose, Stephen travelled as far as Antioch to preach the word (Acts 11:19), and when a great number of people in Antioch believed and turned unto the Lord, the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:22). Barnabas, in turn, brought Paul to Antioch, where they spent a whole year together and taught much people there, where the disciples were called Christians for the first time (Acts 11:26).
It is impossible to agree on all things between a husband and a wife, a parent and a child, and two best friends, but what happens when two good friends and partners disagree on the job? When is conflict acceptable and when is it not? Why is it better to heal a relationship before it worsens?
Appreciate the Differences
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. 36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 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.
Chelsea Football Club’s former coach Andre Villas-Boas at a young 16 years of age wrote to legendary English national team coach Sir Bobby Robson, discussing which players to start with data for support. The young boy was offered a trainee position with the youth’s coaching staff, later enrolled him to earn his coaching badges at a young 17.
Villas-Boas said, “Bobby gave me the stimulus to start my career. I was planning to go into sports journalism, but when Bobby came to Porto in 1994 he moved into my building and I had the opportunity to confront him about my club, how they were doing and the way the team played. Only an open-minded person like Bobby would accept such arrogance from a young kid. "He liked my passion so helped me to enrol at Lilleshall to take my FA coaching qualifications. I shouldn't really have been there, because I was too young, but Bobby smoothed the way. He also arranged for me to do my Scottish qualifications in Largs and spend some time at Ipswich with George Burley.”
(Philosophy of Sir Bobby Still Moulds Games Greatest Tacticians,” October 8, 2011)
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/philosophy-of-sir-bobby-still-moulds-games-great-tacticians-2367207.html
There are six references to the “Paul and Barnabas” team in the Bible – thrice in chapter 13 (13:43, 46, 50) and three in the climatic chapter 15 (15:2 twice, 22), and verse 22 is the last we hear of the “Paul and Barnabas” dream team. Seven times they are the “Barnabas and Saul/Paul” team (Acts 11:30, 12:25, 13:2, 7, 14:14, 15:12, 25). They were both leaders in their own right despite unsubstantiated suggestions and summations that Paul overtook Barnabas as a leader. No individual or team had more references associated to the phrase “the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:48, 49, 15:35, 36) or “preached the word of the Lord” (v 35) –its only occurrence in the Bible. There was never a duo, team or partnership like Paul and Barnabas, but something went wrong. And what a sudden, sad, swift, strange and severe break up it was.
After a time spent with the church headquarters in Antioch, Paul had an exciting and excellent plan to revisit the believers in every city from their last missionary journey they have preached the word of the Lord, but things went awry, horribly wrong and beyond control. The verb “wanted” (v 37, “wanted to take John”) is softer than its translation in other verses, including consult (Luke 14:31), take counsel (John 11:53), determine (Acts 15:37), mind (Acts 27:39) and purpose (2 Cor 1:17). Barnabas gave time, thought and tact into it. It was deliberate, dutiful and decisive of him, somewhat natural, normal and nurturing to him. After all Barnabas and Mark were cousins (Col 4:10,) and believers often gather at the house of Mark’s mother Mary for prayer (Acts 12:12). The future author of the gospel of Mark was from a devout home, minus a durable heart.
The infinitive “TO take” (sumparalambano) in verses 35 and 36 is crucial, because it is a replica of the infinitive “TO take” (John) from their first journey (Acts 12:25) together. The phrase “TO take” will never appear again in the Bible apart from the journeys and adventures of Paul, Barnabas and Mark (Acts 12:25, 15:35-36). Mark had departed them on their first missionary journey to act as their minister (Acts 12:25, 13:5) but he controversially returned to Jerusalem for an unknown reason (Acts 13:13). He was a blast from the past, a link to the past, an echo of the past, but a thing of the past, a memory of the past and a remnant of the past. The special time, special place and special friendship was burdensome, blemished and buried.
In contrast to Barnabas’ soft approach was Paul’s strong stand. The verb “think wise” (v 38) can also be translated much stricter as think worthy (Luke 7:7), think good (Acts 15:38), desire (Acts 28:22) and count worthy (2 Thess 1:11). Barnabas’ fierce determination was dampened by Paul’s firm characterization. Barnabas’ decision was personal and relational, but Paul’s decision was moral and ethical. On Paul’s part there was no room for lapses, laxities and liabilities.
Allow for Discussion
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone” (Sam Levenson)
The difference of opinion turned into a “sharp disagreement” (v 39, paroxusmos), which in its other occurrence in the Bible is translated as provoke (Heb 10:24). It is derived from the preposition “para,” which means “alongside” and the next part of the word to mean swift, sharp or stir. The English equivalent “paraoxysm” is defined as a sudden violent emotion or action; outburst (Merriam-Webster). Tensions were high, tolerance was low and tempers were frayed.
The verb parted company has the “away” or “out” (apo) preposition to it and it occurs one other time in the Bible: “the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together” (Rev 6:14). The preposition “apo” means out of sight, out of reach and out of touch. The derived verb without the preposition is used for separation of marriage (Matt 19:6), separation from the love of Christ (Rom 8:35), separation of servant and master (Philem 15) and separation from sinners (Heb 7:26), so it was a serious, sharp and stormy issue and matter.
Barnabas was a giver, encourager (Acts 4:36) and mentor, but now the mentor fell out with his mentee and split up over a new mentee. As was his nature, Barnabas was so friendly, forgiving, forbearing and faithful (Acts 4:37). He had discovered, groomed and partnered Paul (Acts 9:27, 11:22) previously, so the teacher, tutor and trainer in him could not bring himself to forsake and forced out Mark when the young man was at a crossroad turning the corner.
Barnabas’ instincts were proven right because Mark came into his own, became a gospel writer and was profitable in ministry (2 Tim 4:11), praised by Paul himself. The split was so abrupt that Barnabas and Mark sailed away seemingly without the blessings of the church, which was strange, sad and shocking because he was the first renowned leader sent by the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:22). Cyprus was a good choice because it was Barnabas’ home! (Acts 4:36) Further Mark began his ministry there (Acts 13:5) and the church had many leaders and believers (Acts 11:19-21). It was a familiar, friendly and fruitful place.
Answer the Disruption
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
One day in the South Pacific, a navy ship Captain saw smoke coming from a hut on an uncharted island. Upon arriving at the shore they were met by a shipwreck survivor. He said, “I'm so glad you're here! I've been alone on this island for more than five years!”
The captain replied, “If you're all alone on the island why do I see THREE huts.”
The survivor said, “Oh. We'll, I live in one, and go to church in another.”
“What about the THIRD hut?” asked the captain.
“That's where I USED to go to church.”
The choice of Silas was inspired in many ways. Silas was chief men among the brethren (Acts 15:22), a prophet and a teacher (Acts 15:32), and a pioneer in Antioch. The course ahead was more daunting and difficult than the previous journey. Jail was awaiting them (Acts 16:23). The time was longer – two years for the first compared to three years for the second, the places were further – to Macedonia - and the Jews were angrier (Acts 20:3, 19). Silas was as strong, solid and sacrificial as Paul. The team was always Paul and Silas (Acts 16:19, 25, 29, 17:4) from now on, never Silas and Paul. Surprisingly, unlike Barnabas (Acts 13:46) Silas never said a word in the Bible.
A website calculated the difference between the travels of first missionary journey with Paul, Barnabas and Mark and the second missionary journey with Paul and Silas. The first journey was in 53 days over 1,581 miles and the second was 100 days over 3,050 days. The second was the longest of three journeys, with the third clocking in at 92 days. (openbible.info). There were 10 cities in the second missionary journey to 17 in the second journey. There were more treachery, persecution and danger. Silas endured imprisonment, beatings and his feet fastened in the stocks (Acts 16:23-24).
Silas’ leadership, independence and experience were invaluable because for a time he had temporary custody of young Timothy when Paul sailed to Athens by himself (Acts 17:14-15), meeting two cities later at Corinth but after bypassing Athens (Acts 17:15 Athens, 18:1 Corinth). Timothy was a concern because of what happened to Mark in the first journey. The new team was now Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:10, 14, 15, 18:5) in Paul’s absence. Silas was a supervisor, support and stalwart to Timothy.
Conclusion: There is no stopping or slowing the word of God or the work of God. The church of God overcame mistreatment, misunderstanding and mistakes. In church history the word of God increased (Acts 6:7), grew and multiplied (Acts 12:24), grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19:20).
Since we have one God (1 Cor 8:6), one Lord (Eph 4:5), one Master (Matt 23:8), one Spirit (Eph 4:4) and one husband (2 Cor 11:2, let us be in one accord (Acts 4:24), of one heart and of one soul (Acts 4:29), one body (Rom 12:4), be likeminded, of the same love (Phil 2:2). Let us stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phil 1:27). Have you allowed differences and disagreements with others to divide the church, dampen the hearts or derail the gospel? How can you be an agent of reconciliation and restoration? Can you help to bury hatchets, build bridges and bind wounds?
