Parting Ways and Multiplying Effectiveness
May 22, 2025
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.” 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. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
I love the way that Luke records the practical details of the missional movement in a matter-of-fact manner, telling the story of the apostles.
In Acts 15: 36- 41 we see that Paul, in conversation with Barnabas, says “Let's go back and visit the believers in the towns where we preach the word of the Lord and see how they're doing.” Isn't that something that's just going on all the time in the ministry? You want to see how people are doing. These are people that we've invested our lives in, people that we've nurtured, people that we've tried to help them grow.
Barnabas wanted to take John, who's also called mark with them. But Paul didn't think it was wise to take him because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and not continued with them in work.
There was something that was lacking in Mark's maturity. This is the Mark who would grow up to write the Gospel of Mark and eventually be very useful to Paul. But at this point, Paul doesn't have the patience for an immature disciple or doesn't feel that it's wise to take him along.
Barnabas has that level of patience. It is the same patience he exercised with Saul, who now we're calling Paul because they're in the Greek context.
So, they had a sharp disagreement, and they parted company.
We do not always agree with each other. That does not necessarily make anyone 100% right or wrong. It is a matter of how we see things. It may be a matter of preference. It may be a way of working out our unique callings.
Barnabas took Mark and set out for Cypress. We lose track of him. Not everyone makes it to the news feed. Not everyone has all of their activities in Wikipedia. Sometimes, those who are most effective and productive work behind the scenes even after they disappear from view.
Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.
Now, there are two teams of church planters on the field. The effort has been multiplied by two.
Paul went to Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
What has happened here is that Paul and Barnabas have parted ways, but they've doubled their effectiveness. Nowhere does it say that because of their sharp disagreement that they were angry with each other or broke fellowship. They just could not agree which partner was going with them on the journey.
They had a difference in strategy and style.
It was all in the will of the Lord.
God works with our personalities, with our relationships, with our circumstances. Barnabas, the very patient, nurturing apostle and mentor, takes the young man. Paul takes the more seasoned leader. Luke, ends up with Paul. So, we start reading the book of Acts from Luke's perspective. We know more about Paul
We don't follow. Barnabas anymore. But both were no doubt very effective. God is at work in every detail of our lives.
This is the missional movement.
Why do we have so many ministries, denominations, styles of church, and kinds of leaders? I think it is part of the Spirit’s strategy from multiplying influence and effectiveness.
It is part of being laborers together with God.
God embodies all of the personality variances, strengths, and style in his person, but each of us can only have a part of that banquet at our table. We contain elements of the expression of God’s presence in the world, but none of us has every quality perfected in us.
What we have is what we need to be what we must be and do what we must do.
We will inevitably have disagreements. We may have heated debates. But, in the end, we remain siblings of Jesus and one another. For that to remain true and vibrant, we must handle our conflicts with maturity and grace.
Celebrate that!