Lesson 33: Acts 15:36-41, Acts 16:1-5.

Acts 15:36-41, 16:1-5.

I. How to Read the Bible

A. Informational Reading

Behind the Text

Psalm 60:8 “Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.””

Who is Edom? Why a shoe?

Revelation 3:15–16 ““ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Laodicean aqueduct system (Hot water and cold water)

B. Theological Reading

C. Transformational Reading

II. Informational Reading

· Exegesis – the act of interpreting our drawing out the meaning of a Bible passage.

· “These words given to us in our Scriptures are constantly getting overlaid with personal preferences, cultural assumptions, sin distortions, and ignorant guesses that pollute the text. The pollutants are always in the air, gathering dust on our Bibles, corroding our use of the language, especially the language of faith. Exegesis is a dust cloth, a scrub brush, or even a Q-tip for keeping the words clean.”– Eugene Peterson

III. Reading Through Three Avenues

A. Behind the Text: This kind of reading focuses on gaining information about the language, history, culture, geography, and worldview of the times and people of the Bible.

B. In the Text: This kind of reading pays attention to how the Bible functions as literature, learning skills that help us become better readers.

C. In Front of the Text: This kind of reading listens to how those who have gone before us have read the same Bible, seeking to learn from the perspectives and insight of others.

IV. Behind the Text

This kind of reading focuses on gaining information about the language, history, culture, geography, and worldview of the times and people of the Bible.

Acts 15:36–41 — Paul and Barnabas Part Ways

Acts 15:36–41 “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.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

The Proposal (v.36)

Paul suggests revisiting the brothers and sisters in every city where they preached, to see how they are doing.

Reaching and Teaching

Anchor the gospel in the lives of the people

Shows Paul’s pastoral concern and commitment to strengthening disciples.

The Disagreement (vv.37–38)

Barnabas wants to take John Mark.

Paul refuses because John Mark had deserted them earlier (Acts 13:13).

apostasy - withdraw (1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”)

Acts 13:13 “Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,”

A sharp disagreement arises between Paul and Barnabas.

Luke does not portray his heroes as free from human passions.

paroxysmos - sharp disagreement

Most likely Barnabas thought Mark deserved forgiveness and a second chance, while Paul believed that the ongoing mission was too important and serious to warrant having an immature assistant along.

Crucial Conversations (Opposing Opinions, Strong Emotions, High Stakes) / Find the shortest path to effective conversation.

STATE

State the facts, tell your story, ask others, talk tentatively, encourage testing

The Separation (vv.39–40)

Barnabas takes Mark and sails to Cyprus.

Mark is later fully reinstated and accepted by Paul (Col 4:10; Phlm 24; 2 Tim 4:11) and of course writes the Gospel that now bears his name. Paul and Barnabas also reconcile (1 Cor 9:6).

Paul chooses Silas, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

A certain amount of good did result from this split, for there were now two mission teams working among the Gentile lands, and the help Barnabas gave John Mark was essential for his later, highly successful ministry.

Silas could speak for the Jerusalem church. he could interpret the decree (cf. 16:4 below), a matter of no small importance for the viability of the ongoing Pauline mission;

The Mission Continues (v.41)

Paul and Silas travel through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. The first task, according to v. 41, was to go through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the existing churches there,

Despite conflict, the mission expands in multiple directions.

Acts 16:1–5 — Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Acts 16:1–5 “Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.”

Meeting Timothy (vv.1–2)

Paul arrives at Derbe and Lystra.

Timothy, a disciple with a Jewish mother and Greek father, has a strong reputation among the believers.

2 Timothy 3:15 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Paul’s Decision (v.3)

Paul desires Timothy to join him.

He has Timothy circumcised because of the Jews in those regions (not for salvation, but for missional sensitivity).

Paul felt it important to have him circumcised so he could minister in Jewish as well as Gentile settings. At first glance this may seem strange or even wrong since Paul had denied the place of circumcision in salvation

1 Corinthians 9:20 “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.”

Delivering the Decisions (v.4)

They deliver the Jerusalem Council’s decisions (Acts 15) to the churches for observance.

Strengthening the Churches (v.5)

Churches are strengthened in faith.

They increase in number daily.