Introduction
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson's disagreement was deeply rooted in their contrasting political philosophies, visions for the United States, and even personal rivalries.
Their differences played out over decades, from the American Revolution to their presidencies.
John Adams, a Federalist, favored a strong central government, a more structured economy, and closer ties with Britain. He believed in an elitist system where the educated and wealthy should lead.
Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, advocated for a smaller federal government, stronger states’ rights, and an agrarian society. He distrusted centralized power and leaned toward France in foreign affairs.
The 1800 election was one of the most bitter in U.S. history. Jefferson ran against the incumbent president, Adams, and both campaigns were filled with bitter, personal attacks.
John Adams’ Federalists accused Jefferson of being an atheist and too radical because of his sympathy toward the French Revolution.
Jeffersonians painted Adams as a monarchist and accused him of trying to curb individual liberties.
After the election of 1800, in which Jefferson won, and Adams left office bitterly after one term as president, their relationship soured for years.
Adams felt betrayed and underappreciated, while Jefferson felt that Adams had abandoned the ideals of the Revolution by siding too much with centralized power.
Their friendship was rekindled in 1812 when they began writing letters and exchanging ideas about politics, philosophy, and their contributions to the nation.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day, July 4, 1826, 50 years after the Declaration of Independence.
Adams’ last words were reportedly, “Jefferson still lives” (though Jefferson had died a few hours earlier).
Despite their deep disagreements, Adams and Jefferson ultimately respected each other as key architects of America.
Their debates shaped the early political landscape of the U.S., setting the stage for the ongoing struggle between federal and state power.
The Book of Acts describes a notable disagreement between church leaders.
The disagreement was between two first-century leaders, Paul and Barnabas.
Two of the church’s key leaders eventually disagreed as the gospel significantly impacted wherever it went.
Scripture
Let’s read Acts 15:36-41:
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Lesson
Acts 15:36-41 teaches us that disagreements in ministry, while challenging, can serve God’s greater purpose when approached with humility and a focus on the mission.
Let’s use the following outline:
1. The Reasons for the Disagreement (15:36-39a)
2. The Results of the Disagreement (15:39b-41)
I. The Reasons for the Disagreement (15:36-39a)
First, let’s look at the reasons for the disagreement.
Paul and Barnabas had returned to their home church in Antioch from the first missionary journey.
When they arrived in Antioch and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).
God had used Paul and Barnabas in significant ways to see the gospel take root in Gentile and pagan communities.
Scores of people came to faith in Jesus.
However, while Paul and Barnabas taught in the Antioch Church in the subsequent days, some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers that they had to be circumcised according to Moses's custom to be saved (Acts 15:1).
Paul and Barnabas had no minor disagreements with them (Acts 15:2), but they could not persuade them that they were wrong.
So, the Antioch Church appointed Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerusalem to find out what one must do to be saved.
After the Jerusalem Council settled what one must do to be saved, Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas returned to Antioch.
Acts 15:35 states, “But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”
Then we read in verse 36, “And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.’ ”
The phrase “after some days” is an indefinite period.
Scholars differ over the time that Paul and Barnabas spent in Antioch. Different scholars suggest anywhere between several months and eleven years.
Paul’s desire to retrace his steps to see how the new Christians and churches were doing was not because he was getting bored in the Antioch Church.
Serving a growing, thriving church is incredibly fulfilling.
But Paul also keenly felt God's call on his life to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
So, he wanted to visit the churches he and Barnabas had planted.
He also wanted to travel to new places to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
At this point, Paul and Barnabas, two key leaders in the Antioch Church, had a significant disagreement.
A. One Leader Says “Yes” (15:37)
The first reason for the disagreement is that one leader says “yes.”
Verse 37 states, “Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.”
The English word translated as “wanted” (boulomai) is in the imperfect tense in Greek. This is a verb tense that describes ongoing and repetitive actions.
In other words, Barnabas was persistent; he wanted to take with them John called Mark.
Now, who was John called Mark?
John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas (see Colossians 4:10).
John Mark was a team member on Paul’s first missionary journey.
However, when the team reached Perga in Pamphylia, John Mark left Paul, Barnabas, and the others and returned to Jerusalem (see Acts 13:13).
We have not been told why John Mark left the team and returned to Jerusalem.
As we shall see, Paul did not want John Mark to accompany them on this second missionary journey.
Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” was all for giving second chances. He was persistent in wanting to take John Mark with them.
So, the first reason for the disagreement is that one leader says “yes.” Barnabas wanted to give John Mark a second chance and take him with them.
B. Another Leader Says “No” (15:38-39a)
The second reason for the disagreement is that another leader says “no.”
Verse 38 says, “But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.”
Paul had no confidence in John Mark.
One commentator says of Paul, “The tough, battle-hardened soldier of Christ had no use for deserters” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1994], 82).
Paul did not want team members he would have to “baby.”
Paul wanted team members who would contribute and get the job done.
Verse 39a states, “And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they [that is, Paul and Barnabas] separated from each other.”
The Greek word behind the English expression “sharp disagreement” (paroxusmos) is the root of the English word “paroxysm,” which means “a sudden violent emotion or action” (Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. [Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003]).
In other words, Paul and Barnabas did not shake hands and go their separate ways.
Their parting was the result of violent emotions.
Commentator John MacArthur writes, “The question arises as to who was right, Barnabas or Paul.” He answers as follows:
Although the Scripture does not explicitly say, the weight of the evidence favors Paul. He was an apostle, Barnabas was not. Therefore, Barnabas should have submitted to Paul’s apostolic authority. Also, Paul and Silas, but not Barnabas and Mark, were commended by the church (v. 40). Finally, Barnabas should have realized that it would have been unwise and difficult to have Mark along if Paul did not trust him (John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1994], 82.
II. The Results of the Disagreement (15:39b-41)
Second, let’s examine the results of the disagreement.
What happened when Paul and Barnabas separated from each other?
A. One Team Goes in One Direction (15: 39b)
The first result of the disagreement is that one team goes in one direction.
Verse 39b states, “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.”
Why Cypress?
Acts 4:36 tells us that Barnabas was “a native of Cyprus.”
Barnabas had family and friends on Cypress. Perhaps he wanted to be in a place that would be more welcoming to him and Mark.
I want you to note that the church did not commend Barnabas and Mark to the grace of the Lord, as they did with Paul and Silas.
Barnabas had likely upset some of the church members at the Antioch Church.
Moreover, this is the last mention of Barnabas in the Book of Acts. Luke never again mentions Barnabas.
That may also indicate that Barnabas was wrong in disagreeing with Paul.
However, as mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, Barnabas and Mark had fruitful ministries.
Several years later, Paul approved Barnabas’ ministry (see 1 Corinthians 9:6).
Barnabas also helped John Mark, who caused Paul and Barnabas to disagree, develop valuable ministry skills.
Mark eventually became one of Paul’s valued co-laborers.
For example, Paul concluded his Second Letter to Timothy: "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11; see also Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24).
Mark also became a close associate with the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13).
In addition, Mark was privileged to write one of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark.
So, what started as a terrible disagreement eventually became a source of blessing to Paul and Peter and countless people worldwide (who read the Gospel of Mark).
B. Another Team Goes in a Different Direction (15:40-41)
The second result of the disagreement is that another team goes in a different direction.
Verse 40 says, “But Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.”
The Antioch Church commissioned Paul and Silas for the next missionary journey that Paul was about to start.
They assured Paul, Silas, and the rest of the team of their prayers for them.
They also assured them of their financial support for their ministry.
They would be gone for about three years, from around 50 to 52 A.D.
About Silas, Paul’s new missionary partner, John MacArthur writes:
Paul’s new partner, Silas, had been one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church. He was in every respect a suitable man for missionary work. As a prophet (Acts 15:32), he was adept at proclaiming and teaching the Word. As a Jew, he had entrance into the synagogues. As a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37), he enjoyed the same protection and benefits as Paul. His status as a respected leader of the Jerusalem church reinforced Paul’s teaching that Gentile salvation was solely by grace. That was especially significant since part of their ministry involved delivering “the decrees, which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem” (Acts 16:4) (John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1994], 82–83).
Verse 41 says, “And he [that is, Paul] went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
On his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas first visited the island of Cypress. Since Barnabas was already there, Paul felt no need to return to Cypress.
So, Paul and Barnabas went to Syria and Cilicia, where Paul strengthened his previously planted churches.
Conclusion
Let me suggest three lessons we can learn from our passage.
The first lesson is this: Recognize that disagreements with believers sometimes happen.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was no disagreement in any church?
Yes, it would. But that will never happen this side of glory.
Because the church is made up of sinners like you and me, we must expect that there will be times when we disagree with one another.
We must affirm that if godly leaders like Paul and Barnabas disagree, you and I can certainly disagree with someone else.
Commenting on this passage, the Puritan Matthew Henry wrote, “We shall never be all of a mind till we come to heaven, where light and love are perfect” (Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume [Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994], 2133).
That is why listening and loving are crucial in all our relationships, especially when there is a disagreement.
The second lesson is this: Rest in God’s providence to overrule disagreements for good.
Satan thought he had won a victory when Paul and Barnabas disagreed.
Satan’s attempt to hinder the gospel's spread doubled its progress. Instead of one missionary team, there were now two.
What Satan intended for evil, God turned for good (see Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
When there is a disagreement between believers, try to find ways to encourage each other.
You may consider the other person utterly wrong and even want to remove them from your prayer list.
Please don’t do it!
Instead, consider what God may be doing through the other believers that can advance the witness of the gospel.
The third lesson is this: Remember that differences don’t have to destroy love.
It is clear from Scripture that Paul and Barnabas eventually reconciled.
Paul affirmed Barnabas.
Paul even came to depend on John Mark to help him in ministry.
Paul kept Barnabas--and Mark--on his prayer list.
I am sure that Barnabas did the same for Paul and Silas.
We must remember that we are all on the same team as Christians.
There must never be any competition.
Several notable preachers, such as Charles Haddon Spurgeon and G. Campbell Morgan, existed in the middle to late 19th century.
F. B. Meyer was envious of the success of these men and others.
Then, one day, he decided to pray for the success of their ministries.
Not long after he started praying for the success of the gospel by other preachers, he noticed God blessing his preaching ministry.
Friends, God uses all of us to advance his kingdom.
Let us not have differences destroy our love for one another. Amen.
