Acts Message 37

Division Acts 15:36-16:5

Intro: Acts 15 deals with confrontation and conflict. First Paul and Barnabas, James. Peter deal with the situation and the circumcising of the Gentiles. Elab

Acts 15:36–16:5 NKJV

36 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.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now there is a strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, resulting in them going their separate ways. The first confrontation was necessary even though unpleasant.

But the second disagreement is more puzzling. Why did Paul and Barnabas differ so strongly? Why didn’t one of them change their mind? Why was this wonderful team spit up? What can we learn from the disagreement of these two great Christian warriors? We will look at the results the disagreement of the two.

I.The Division of two leaders VS. 35-39a

Acts 15:36 NKJV

36 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.”

VS36 “After some days” 1. Not sure how many days. Go back to VS 35 Read rest of Vs Let us go.........

A. Paul wasn’t going to set around . There was a group of new believers, new churches he wanted to go see how they were doing. “How they are doing” Elab

b. Paul was a man who loved Jesus. He was driven by a desire to share Jesus

C. He was a motivated man because of the mercy God had given him. This was a man who had persecuted Christians, now he is sharing Jesus.

D. He was so thankful for the salvation that God had given him that he wanted to share it with the world. He knew Christ had changed him. That is way he wrote to the corn. “Therefore if in Christ......

F. He was a passionate man on the go.

VS 37

Acts 15:37 NKJV

37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

1. God has a calling for all believers Sometimes it means he has to move people to get His work done.

2. As Paul sets to go back to the churches that he and Barnabas started. Barnabas wants to take John Mark “Mark” his cousin.

a. He determined, it means consistently and persistently. Elab

VS 38

Acts 15:38 NKJV

38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

b. Paul said no, he quit the first time, he didn’t do the work he was assigned, which ,meant it put more work on Paul and Barnabas.

Elab on the work he would have done. Acts 13:13

Acts 13:13 NKJV

13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

1. Why did he quit? Scripture does not say.

a. Paul was a strong willed person, he had a hard time with weakness.

b. Barnabas on the other hand was an encourager, and loved Mark, he was a good kid, and he wanted to give him a second chance.

Acts 15:39 NKJV

39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

1. There was a strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. Elab

a. But I don’t think that they had a personal falling out. They may had been mad, but I believe they still prayed for each other and still remained friends.

b. Paul had good things to say about Barnabas later in the Gal.

2. The differences between these two great men of God was not rooted in pride, personal ambition, they were rooted in different spiritual gifts, different outlook, and different callings. .

1. Paul and Barnabas kept the problem on a personal level.

a. They had a personal disagreement, which they dealt with personally, face to face. So as far as we are told they did not involve others in the disagreement. 2. Paul and Barnabas saw the matter through to a resolution.

a. Each man stuck to his convictions, neither was willing to change, but they did come to a solution. The solution was a separation-to go on two separate missions, but it was a solutions. The problem did not continue to fester.

3. Paul and Barnabas seem to be acting out their own spiritual gifts.

a. Barnabas, with his gift of encouragement was the perfect person to take Mark and encourage him to use his gifts after he had quit.

B. Paul, strong willed, would come down hard of Mark for quitting.

4. Paul and Barnabas both ministered to Mark by what they did.

a. Knowing that Paul would not take him surly had an impact on him. Elab

b. Knowing Barnabas would invest in his life and ministry in him, even though he failed, this had to be an encouragement.

5. They would see later that Paul and Barnabas acted in a way that was beneficial to them, to Mark, to each other, and to the gospel

a. By Paul and Barnabas going their separate was there were two mission teams instead of one. Others were involved in ministry, Silas, Timothy, Luke. Many new churches were started. The book of Mark was written.

b. Paul spoke of Mark in II Tim 4:9-11

2 Timothy 4:9–11 NKJV

9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

II. God worked through two great teams Vs 39b-16:5

VS 39b

Acts 15:39 NKJV

39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

1. “the contention was sharp” a. They both had their convictions about Mark. So who was right and who was wrong?

b. I believe they both were right. c. Paul was going back to Lystra, the were he was stoned and left for dead. Going back to the a very hostile area. May have been to much for mark to handle.

d. Barnabas takes Mark to Cyprus, a place a little more laid back. VS 40

Acts 15:40 NKJV

40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

1. With Barnabas now out of the picture, Paul would need someone accompany him. Paul would chose Silas. These would show to be a good choose.

a. Paul and Silas will head out with the prayers and support of the church.

b. It is important that Christian workers have the prayers and support of the church. Elab VS 41

Acts 15:41 NKJV

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Means to further support.

Acts 16:1 NKJV

1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.

VS 1 1. Timothy, his mother Eunice, his grandmother Lois, had become believers on Paul’s first trip to Lystra.

a. Timothy had grown spirituality since Paul had been gone. This was due to the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother. Paul writes about them in II Tim.

b. His father was a Greek but we are not told if he is still living.

c. Timothy being ½ Gentile ½ Jew could benefit him. VS 2

1. Timothy was well spoken of from the believers in Lystra and Iconium.

a. He was not only known as fine Christian young man in his own home town but also in Iconium.

b. He may have already been using his gift of preaching.

c. His reputation caught Paul’s attention, and he was invited to join he and Silas. VS 3

Acts 16:3 NKJV

3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.

1. Paul had just dealt with the issue of the Gentiles and them being circumcised. Elab

a. So why circumcise Timothy?

b. Timothy was ½ Jew, being circumcised would make him whole Jew. He would be welcomed into the synagogues.

(Elab our troops growing beards in Irqa and Afgan)

c. For Timothy to go through with this showed his commitment. VS 4

Acts 16:4 NKJV

4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

1. Paul sets out with his new team. Silas and Timothy.

a. They deliver the (decrees) the information that from the conference at Jerusalem. VS 5

Acts 16:5 NKJV

5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

1. Churches were strengthened, and made strong in their faith.

a. “an increased in numbers daily”

b. That was and is God’s program for the church. It should be evangelistic. Winning souls for Jesus. It should be growing daily.

c. John Phillips “evangelize or fossilize”

2. The church grew, souls were being saved.

a. Because of the division of Paul and Barnabas, the gospel would be multiplied.