Labors at Antioch
Confrontation and Conflict
Acts 15:35 KJV 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch,
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Galatians 2:1-14 KJV 1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to
Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up
by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach
among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest
by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who
was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that
because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy
out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us
into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an
hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of these
who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter
to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be
somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 7 But contrariwise, when
they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me,
as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought
effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was
mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John,
who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they
gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go
unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only they would that
we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James,
he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and
separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And
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the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas
also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that
they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto
Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of
Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live
as do the Jews?
Introduction
Paul and Barnabas returned from the Jerusalem Conference and began again to work in the Antioch Church. We cannot know for sure just how long they were in Antioch before the Jerusalem Conference or even after the Conference. We have one clue as to the time element. Paul, in writing to the churches in Galatia, referred to the Conference in chapter two of Galatians.
It was fourteen years from the time that he had been in Jerusalem when the disciples finally accepted him as one of them. This time it was for the Conference.
The Confrontation
During the time in which Paul and Barnabas were again serving in Antioch after their return from Jerusalem, the Antioch Church had some visitors from the Jerusalem Church. Paul reveals this in his letter to the Galatians.
We also learn who some of the “other brethren” from Antioch were that accompanied Paul and Barnabas to the Conference. One of them was a Greek by the name of Titus.
We are not given much information from the Scriptures concerning Titus.
We are unsure of where he and Paul met and how that Titus was saved and became part of Paul’s company. One thing history does point out, however, was that Titus was probably the longest serving with Paul of all who worked with him. Titus is believed to have been Paul’s co-worker for some twenty years.
When Paul and Barnabas went to the Jerusalem Conference, Titus was with them. The following is a good encapsulation of what we know about Titus.
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Titus was born a Gentile, and when he became a Christian,
he did not get circumcised. When Titus accompanied Paul
on a visit to Jerusalem, some Jewish Christians insisted Paul’s companion be circumcised according to Jewish law.
As Paul put it, he “did not yield submission even for a moment,” and Titus thus served as a powerful symbol of justification by grace, not by law.
Titus served with Paul during his extended stay in Ephesus
as a “partner and fellow-worker,” and from there Titus tackled his toughest assignment: to combat grave immorality
in the Corinthian Church and mediate their reconciliation with Paul.
Titus put his pastoral skills to work and reported back to a
nervously waiting Paul that Paul’s severe third Corinthian letter (lost or possibly contained in 2 Corinthians 10-13) had led to their repentance.
Titus was later appointed the first bishop of the troubled church at Crete, where Paul wrote him about the qualities of
a good bishop….
Jeffreys, Mary Ann, Paul’s Inner Circle, Church History Issue 47, Reprint 2019, p. 30
Titus is probably a part of the “others” who were preaching and teaching with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch.
When Peter visited the Antioch Church after the Conference, he ate and fellowshipped with the Gentile members without a problem. However, upon the arrival of another group of visitors from Jerusalem, some Jewish believers, Peter withdrew himself from the Gentile members. Paul confronted him challenging him to explain why he would put differences between the two groups of believers. The Jewish believers joined him in separating from the Gentiles, including Barnabas.
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Paul publicly rebuked Peter for his actions. The issue had already been settled in the Conference in Jerusalem. Now, Peter was going back into his old Jewish ways. He was not presenting a good example as a Jewish believer for the Gentile believers. We are not told in the Scriptures if this confrontation created a rift between the two leaders, but it probably did at least a little bit. Years later, however, there appeared no animosity between them.
The Conflict
Acts 15:36-40 KJV 36 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. 37 And Barnabas determined
to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought
not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia,
and went not with them to the work. 39 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; 40 And Paul chose Silas,
and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
After the Confrontation, it was not long until The Conflict arose. The Conflict had its roots in the early stages of the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. If you will recall, John Mark began the journey with them. When they arrived where the way would seem to be very difficult, he decided to return to Jerusalem. We are not told just why that he turned back, just that he did. All kinds of speculation will accomplish nothing except the fact that Paul was very displeased and apparently lost all confidence in him.
Paul and Barnabas continued on without him.
When Paul decided to again make the same circuit to visit those churches they had started to see how they fared, because a few years had now passed since they had been there, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.
Paul absolutely refused to take him, so the dissention between the two was no small thing. It would seem that Mark may have been in Antioch since Barnabas wanted to take him.
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Even the Best of Men
This quarrel and lengthy breach of fellowship in labors of Barnabas and John Mark with Paul indicates that the best of
men are not infallible, but earnest and conscientious pursuit of differing brethren in the common ministry of the Master,
with the passing of years, may bring them together again for
the greater interest and welfare of the Master. Note that in
later years Paul called for their rejoining him because they
were still profitable in the work of the Lord among the Gentiles, 1 Corinthians 9:6; 2 Timothy 4:11. Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, comments on Acts 15:37
1 Corinthians 9:6 KJV 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to
forbear working?
2 Timothy 4:11 KJV 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him
with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Paul and Barnabas had been fellow labors together for ten years. Some might think that this meant that Barnabas and Mark were “written out of history.” The thoughts of the following writer bear some consideration.
1.
The segmentation of their work did not disrupt
permanently the love and respect that Paul and Barnabas entertained for one another. Paul would later affectionately
mention Barnabas as being worthy of monetary support in his work of proclaiming the gospel (1 Cor. 9:6).
2.
The fact that this personal conflict is openly
displayed on the pages of the New Testament is evidence that the Holy Spirit guided the writer, Luke, in producing this narrative. Natural inclination would have led Paul’s friend to omit this potentially embarrassing incident!
3.
There are many wonderful truths to be learned from
the various experiences of the personalities portrayed in the 85
Sacred Volume. No account, however irrelevant such may
superficially appear to be, is without importance. There are lessons to be mastered. https://christiancourier.com/articles/the-separation-of-paul-and-barnabas
Barnabas and Mark
There are some who would suggest that the Antioch Church did not extend its blessing toward Barnabas and Mark as they departed from Antioch. I believe the latter part of verse forty indicates that both parties were recommended by the Church. Instead of this being a determent to the work, it was actually a doubling of the work. Barnabas was a spiritually mature man and provided a stable situation for Mark to mature as well. Even though Luke does not record anything else concerning Barnabas does not mean that he was not at work for the Lord. History seems to indicate that Barnabas was martyred in Cyprus because of his service to the Lord. We do not know just how long Barnabas and Mark labored in Cyprus because no indication is given to us from Scriptures or from history.
Some might be inclined to bring fault to Luke because he did not write anymore concerning Barnabas and Mark, but we must remember that it was Luke’s purpose to show the ministry of the Apostle Paul, not necessarily all of those who worked with him. That would have been a tremendous task.
Just to record what he did concerning Paul was enormous and would have extremely difficult without the aid and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
When plans were laid for the next missionary journey, Paul argued vehemently with Barnabas against taking Mark again. The disagreement was so sharp, the group split up, and Mark went with Barnabas to Cyprus.
Later, Mark and Paul must have resolved their rift, for Paul
calls Mark his “fellow-worker” and tells the Colossians: “If
[Mark] comes to you, welcome him.”
Mark eventually made his way to Rome, where he became a
companion to Peter--indeed, Peter calls him “my son Mark.”
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Early Christian writers Papias and Irenaeus say Mark
“handed down to us in writing the things that Peter had proclaimed” about Jesus. This Gospel of Mark was the first
published account of the life of Jesus.
Church historian Eusebius says Mark eventually went to Alexandria to become its first bishop. Tradition claims Mark
was martyred there; in the ninth century, his relics were carried off as war booty to Venice, where they are said to rest in the Cathedral of St. Mark. Jeffreys, Mary Ann, Paul’s Inner Circle, Church History Issue 47, Reprint 2019, p. 30
Conclusion
Sometimes in the eyes of men, things may seem to go against what God might desire, but in reality, are actually in keeping with His Will. It might fall into the court of His Permissive Will, but He can turn what may seem to be a hindrance or tragedy into a work for His good. How many people would have gone to hell after not hearing the Gospel because Paul accepted Mark to go with them? How many people did God know were searching for the truth and unknown to themselves, were waiting for some like Barnabas and Mark to show them the way to heaven? Only eternity will reveal the answers.
In the next part we see the start of the Second Missionary Journey with Paul and his new companion, Silas.
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