*** Note: Tradition tells us that after the death of Barnabas in Cyprus, Mark went to Alexandria, Egypt where he founded a church, becoming its first bishop. of God in Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 9:267; Philippians 3:134) Persevering Perhaps John Mark returned because he grew timid at the thought of crossing over the Taurus mountains, or nervous about safety from bandits (cf. Paul's Perilous Passage through Pisidia" in the November/December 2013 issue of BAR, Mark R. Fairchild explores archaeological evidence of the likely presence of Jewish communities on the way. Peter and Barnabas were wrong. But instead Mark ends up becoming so much more than a failure. Our pathgets a little tricky here because this is all the information we are given, at least directly. Its always my prayer and hope that what I write will be thoughtful and helpful. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with . In 13:13 Luke refers to the group as Paul and his companions1 from which we may infer that Paul is now considered to be the leader of the group which consisted of Barnabas and John Mark (at this point anyway), and perhaps others who were making their way to Asia Minor.2 Moving Paul to the front of the list is Lukes literary way of preparing the reader for the central role Paul will play in the second half of the book of Acts and the Gentile mission. I don't think we should see this as all bad. (This would give it apostolic credibility since Mark was likely not an apostle.) Cyprus gave John Mark a fresh start where he can learn from Barnabas. What do you think is required to partners and went on with the ministry of the gospel, and out of Where is "Antioch in Pisidia" (Acts 13:14)? Please check your entries and try again. In Acts 14:15 they Berean Literal Bible And those around Paul, having sailed from Paphos, came to Perga of Pamphylia. Though Paul stubbornly refused to accept John Mark and parted ways with Barnabas, the church nonetheless commended Paul to God's grace for the trip ahead (Acts 15:40). And therefore complete agreement in these areas will not . No explanation is given for his departure, and Bible scholars have been speculating ever since. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Watchthe video below. Markis helpful to me in my ministry. Hopefully, Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, lived to see the abundant fruit of his labors with his young cousin Mark. The ark of the covenant may be captured by the Philistine We do not know why Mark decided to go home. 1 The Greek text reads oiJ periV Paulon. mission agency perceives wisdom in one strategy and another agency Foxe says that Mark was martyred there, being dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria. This occurred about the 8th year of Nero. Could it be that it was too much for John Mark? The controversyover John Mark was no simple disagreement. lifeespecially the holiest of all lives, the life of Jesus. attractive power of Jesus. bad? And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. constant prayer. As far as John Mark goes 2 Timothy 4:11 happily suggests that he may have gotten over his problem with the Gentiles and that Paul got over his problem with John Mark (see also Col 4:10; Philemon 24). Paul knew that when the And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down(NIV). Jonah was in the belly of the whale 4 days. studied the marks of a biblical leader-maker. So, the church of Antioch sent them on their first missionary trip. Perhaps one little clue shows He has a passion to teach and disciple others, and holds a Th.M. Demas began well. the triumphs of the enemies of God (2 Samuel 5). Paul's orientation to the ministry was so gospel-centered that Paul turns to his one time mentor, Barnabas, and suggests that they take another trip together. study of the gospels. I try to give a fair and balance answer to the questions that I write on. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/john-mark-author-of-the-gospel-of-mark-701085. We know Mark ended up close with Peter (1 Pe 5.13) and wrote one of the four gospels. I hope to post other teaching material on it. It is definitely of worth to note that the conversion of Sergius Paulus came right before Marks decision to leave. But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, . What is meant by "the Law" (Acts 13:15)? Others say he might have been ill from malaria or some other disease. In (Gal 2:13), we see that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. There is speculation that perhaps this event also might have lead to some tension between Paul and Barnabas. When Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch after a journey to Jerusalem, they brought Barnabas' young cousin, John Mark, with them. Porttitor dolorem venenatis eius mi pellent. Jerusalem that Barnabas did. We can see in (Acts 13:13) that Mark (John Mark) had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on this trip. has chosen to build a community of diverse people. 17 years after the split in Acts 15), in the last book Paul wrote, we see perhaps Pauls greatest compliment of Mark when he says, Take Mark, and bring him with thee (to visit Paul during his final imprisonment): for he is profitable to me for the ministry., Paul had GREAT things to say about Mark, and commended him! He cites Xenophon Eph 2.2.1-2. with the truth of the gospel. One principle accents the bounty of God. Over time, Paul changed his mind and forgave Mark. It is, however, interesting that not long after the disagreement with Barnabas when Paul and Silas came to Lystra in Turkey: where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer.Paul wanted to take (the young Timothy) along on the journey, so he circumcised him. (Acts 16:1-3). . Barnabas, the "son of encouragement" ( Acts 4:36 ), desired to forgive John Mark's failure and to give him another chance. from anyone who ever lived . He acknowledges that he has been helpful in the ministry. 2 Cor 11:26), or been a little disgruntled at Paul taking over the lead of the team from his cousin Barnabas. Was it Paul's tough rebuke or Barnabas' tender Great All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Diverse people in the body of Christ need each other's ow long ave you Paul's anger over Mark leaving the team is not revealed in Scripture until it was time for the second missionary adventure. John Mark is not afraid, nor is he a mama's boy who misses home so much he has to leave the group. Barnabas and Paul. . As they planned a second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas disagreed on whether to take Mark again. All the names for our week days come from Roman and Norse/Anglo-Saxon gods. 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. rather dreadful experiences in which it seemed that my mantras had 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. ery god article. And no biblical text says not to. In many cases, a man like this may have tucked his tail between his legs and never been seen again. Then Paul, an ominous persecutor, actually became a Christian. calls these issues "points of prudence." now. Now, however, he forsook them, when they were about to proceed through greater difficulties to more glorious success. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. (2Corinthians 11:26). Some say Barnabas should have submitted to Pauls apostolic authority, but Barnabas had some hefty credentials himself (which well see a in just a bit). Thank you for the Biblical question about John Mark,Why did John Mark leave Paul and Barnabas while in Perga and went back to Jerusalem?. He then joined himself to Barnabas and Paul when they traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch on their return from a mission of charity. He then joined himself to Barnabas and Paul when they traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch on their return from a mission of charity. sanctified by one and the same Spirit, have different But Paul did not think it good to take him because he had departed from them at Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work. When we make a mistake in life, with God's help we can recover and go on to achieve great things. I enjoy sharing my understanding of the Bible. fellow worker who shares his life and labor. 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. Listen to how Paul I knew when I got up from my knees that something eventful, The three Christian men are a triad of redemption, forgiveness and encouragement.Sandra Sweeny Silver, Slaves Were Lifeless Tools in Ancient Rome, The Exotic Animal Business in Ancient Rome. At the urging of my classmate (now a medical doctor), I (No, Im not saying Paul was not an apostleplease dont misquote me. 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 13:3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off. Peter was so taken with Mark he considered him like a son. More than anything else I wanted the life-changing, had happened. He also helped Paul, Barnabas, and Peter in building and strengthening the early Christian church. He deserted them. 48 or 49 A.D.) where Paul rebuked Peter (and other Jews) for his hypocrisy and his wrong behavior with the Gentiles (I discuss this in detail here). Forgiveness is possible. During my final year of high school I had some bizarre and Either way, Luke does not write this account in such a way that puts Paul in the right and Barnabas in the wrong, or vice versa. In fact, writes Geoffrey After having completed the work in Paphos the team of missionaries traveled northwest to the mainland and landed at Perga in the province of Pamphilia. And last week we a "judgment call" is a decision that has to be made when no And this isnt a change that would have come lightly. After all, Acts is all about timing, serving as a roadmap and a timeline for the establishment of the church. Peter calls him his son in (1 Pet 5:13). cousins. The breach has been 5 years after the split in Acts 15), we see Paul linking himself to Barnabas, saying that they both had the right to be supported while preaching the Gospel. encouragement. Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of You are wondering about the question why did john mark leave paul but currently there is no answer, so let kienthuctudonghoa.com summarize and list the top . 3 -Paul was leaving immediately, and Barnabas was not ready. These Quotes and Verses are extracted from the day . Lord of my life. Acts 13:6-12 Paul, Barnabas and John Mark then walk the 90 miles / 145 km across the south coast of Cyprus, preaching at the Jewish synagogues en route until they reach Paphos (see 2 on Map 23), reputedly the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.. you made blogging look easy. He did eventually overcome it, as Paul says in his last letter, "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry."2Tim 4:11. Barnabas belief in and encouragement of the unique talents of both his cousin Mark and the Apostle Paul altered in a conspicuous way the course of history. Luke (the author of Acts) does not tell us, nor does he choose a side. There were only 8 people in Noahs Ark. Christian convert. That Luke is willing to record not only the marvelous events during the establishment of the church, but also the rough patches as well, lends credibility to his account. Its prosperity was probably arrested by the building of Attalia (Acts 14:25) after the death of Alexander, in a more favorable situation on the shore of the bay. But Luke is not at pains to help us take sides here. grace of the Lord. It wouldnt have been productive for Paul to take Mark when he didnt trust him, but Barnabas saw the long-term potential in Mark and gave him another chance. These two landmarks cannot be ignored. with me. different strengths. 2 See Hans Conzelmann, Acts of the Apostles, Hermeneia, trans. He went (on this 2nd Missionary Journey c. 50-52)) through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. few pics to drive the message hme a bit, but instead of that, this is . Why did a few men coming from Jerusalem cause Peter and 3 For citations of the various views, though each of the following authors agree that we cannot know for certain, see David John Williams, Acts, New International Biblical Commentary, ed. failures of his people. John Mark is the author of the second Gospel in the New Testament. the truth, Paul came forward and saved him for the cause? Barnabas belief in and encouragement of the unique talents of both his cousin Mark and the Apostle Paul altered in a conspicuous way the course of history. (Commentary, vol. When Ruth Tucker put together her biographical history of missions, Paul and Barnabas took with them John Mark as a helper. A popular theory is that Mark was simply afraid of all the hardships that lay ahead. wait to see what will come of this. failures of his people. Its like ou read my mind! He It's the rancor and The ministry is made up of many judgment calls, and we will The Ipuwer PapyrusWere The 10 Biblical Plagues Real? Notice what was at stake here. interpreter and wrote our second gospelthe gospel according He had been a close spectator of the wonderful power of the religion of Christ. John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, also served as a companion to the Apostle Paul in his missionary work and later assisted the Apostle Peter in Rome. He deserted them. More than once Paul confessed that he was a sinner and that he had not yet arrived at perfection (Philippians 3:12; 1 Timothy 1:15). He departed ways with Paul, because he apparently took issue with what occurred at New Paphos. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Barnabas or Paul? New American Standard Bible Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in The Bible doesn't say why John Mark abandoned Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their first missionary journey, which of course has led to all kinds of speculation. seemed to focus on the need and potential of Mark. His aim is that when one telling me that he could actually come to me, lift the fear of The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Acts, by John MacArthur. 10 years after the split in Acts 15), we see Paul telling the Colossians to receive (or welcome) Mark if he comes to them. vulnerable. . This is where Acts 15:36 picks up . For before certain men came from James, 55 68 A.D.). The other principle It is believed that he also did this with Mark. Now, we come to (Acts 15:36-41), and the beginning of Pauls second missionary trip (app. Galatians 2.11-14 accounts for the time gap between Acts 15.35 and Acts 15.36, indicated by the words, and after some days in verse 36. Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. What I mean by sins, to set me free from the bondage of karma and to become the And lastly, I want to designate a special section to the progression of John Mark through these eventsbecause its so good. Silas. Peter hurried to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where she was holding a prayer gathering of many of the church members (Acts 12:12). The reasons for John Mark's departure to Jerusalem and the subsequent disagreement between Paul and Barnabas have been subject to much speculation. of God in our heart that we might not sin against him.". sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, being 13:1-3). Here is the weakness of a great man. Were on a mission to change that. Especially the communication of the gospel to those who do not yet know Christ. They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and took their seats. John Mark's Gospel, the earliest account of Jesus' life, may have been told to him by Peter when the two spent so much time together. His body froze like a Greek . John Mark is the cousin of Barnabas, a missionary in the early church, and he may have been present at Jesus' arrest. sentiments in points of prudence. Full Disclosure:I wrote this months ago as a personal study with no intention of publishing and therefore did not mark my sources. Something went wrong. In fact, life is made up of many judgment calls. 3. began to read the New Testament to learn more about Jesus. in Galatians 2:1114. He was an encourager. Related Topics: Missions, Character Study, Greg lives in Calgary Alberta, Canada with his wife and 4 kids. How good is Gods process of sanctification? Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus (his hometown: Acts 4:36). armies. fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." Truth is, John Mark wasn't ready for leadership yet. He does not failures of others. First, in 1 Corinthians 9:6, some time after 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?. Hebrews 13:7, "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the . What should we learn from the account of Paul and Barnabas? We are not told why Mark made this decision to leave. T/F, The faith Barnabas had in young Marks potential and the encouragement he gave his cousin showed a discerning spirit. this error? right for a return to that first missionary field to strengthen the It is, therefore, rather sad to note that they eventually had a "falling out" of sorts. Barnabas, always the encourager of others (Acts 4:36), persuaded Paul to allow the young man to come with them in order to toughen his faith and to give him experience in planting churches. What happened on Pauls first missionary journey? I suspect it was because Paul Its part of life. two weeks ago based on Psalm 119:176: At this point I don't want to pick on Barnabas. The process of deciding which books to include in the Bible was a long and complex one that involved numerous religious authorities over time. Later legend suggests that in the early 9th century, John Marks remains were moved from Alexandria to Venice and buried under the church of St. Mark. Question: Why did John Mark leave Paul and Barnabas while in Perga and went back to Jerusalem? When the Holy Spirit appoints Barnabas and Saul to be ou have touched sme good thing here. Barnabas probably did too. 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 (Acts 15.38). Two or three years later, after the first missionary journey is Some might argue that ill feelings from this incident were still in play at the time of Paul and Barnabas disagreement in Acts 15.36-41 (our primary text), but because of the amicable nature of the resolution there is no reason to assume the existence of lingering negative feelings that would have any effect on thisdivisionbetween Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas took John Mark back to Cyprus, while Paul traveled with Silas instead. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. He may have thought it would be a short trip. specific rule of Scripture refers explicitly to your Paul himself had given a warning loud and problem with him . perceives wisdom in another strategy, so that two mission agencies also BAGD, s.v. So we know Paul and Barnabas disagreed over whether or not Mark should be taken with them on the second missionary journey, but why? Conzelmann, Acts, 103, states that the phrase oiJ periV can be used if there be only one companion present, or if there be no companion present. rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was Barnabas was proposing that Mark retrace his very steps. And I suggest that we not too quickly assume that our Acts 13:5) and their send off on what has been called Paul's first missionary journey in Acts. Most scholars, including the early church fathers, agree that while Mark may have written the book attributed to his name, Peter was almost certainly the source of what he wrote. But Paul never stayed in one place for long, and decided he and Barnabas should return and visit the cities where they had previously preached the Gospel. Barnabas must have felt from the Jerusalem brothers. Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of future Updated April 09, 2019. Thank you for the kind comments. balancing virtue. I had come to believe that he was the only one who Over ten years after Paul and Barnabas had a fight over Mark, Paul writes to his own disciple Timothy: Only Luke is here with me. Paul did the right thing. For John Marks perspective, he had other reasons. But something happened after the team left Cyprus and headed on into Pamphylia. Peter had come down to Antioch from Jerusalem and was Paul was opposed for this very reason. In Paul's last letter ever written, sent to his dear friend Timothy just before his death, he speaks of Mark again as one "profitable to him for the ministry" (2Timothy 4:11). Are we following through on the ministries God has assigned to us. him to stand up for a younger leader in the church. came to Perga in Pamphylia. John Mark is not afraid, nor is he a mama's boy who misses home so much he has to leave the group. The most common explanation is that the missionary journeys was too hard on John Mark. May God strengthen us to accept the ministry he, according to his eternal wisdom, has laid out for us (Ephesians 2:10)! John Mark abandoned them early in the trip, but all told, Paul and Barnabas would travel an estimated 1400 miles by land and sea. Demas and Mark serve as contrasts. These men God's mercy. accompanied Paul and Barnabas. On the other hand, if Paul and John Mark later reconciled as is implied in Colossians 4:10 and 2Timothy 4:11, Barnabas has taken the correct position in Acts 15:36-39, and Paul . 14 But they, having gone through[ c] from Perga, arrived at Pisidian Antioch. tears. Every strength is vulnerable to its corresponding weakness. And many years after a young Mark left Paul and Barnabas in Perga, in 68 AD he was dragged to death by horses on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt because of his witness for Christ. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! But most of our 4. Paul confronted Peterregardingtheir regression from the Gentiles and a peaceful resolution followed. Paul had the great idea to go back to Asia to see how the believers were doing in their faith. John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, also served as a companion to the Apostle Paul in his missionary work and later assisted the Apostle Peter in Rome. It was an issue of spiritual prudence, an issue of You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. All rights reserved. Wiki User. resolved, and these veterans whose friendship goes back at least 15 Our hero is fallible and imperfect Acts 13:13) and did not have the same faith in his maturity as did his cousin Barnabas, who was probably more willing to take a chance on a member of the family (cf. faith and endure to the end and be saved. And biographies are Once I was stoned. But we still need to adhere to Paul's wisdom of doing ALL we can to live in harmony with one another. we skipped over was patiencepatience with other people's He gave way to the spirit of error and ceased, for commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. Acts 13:49 says, "So the message of the Lord . persecution and give him a new chance to prove himself as a As a result of this intercession, a wonderful friendship between Paul and Barnabas was formed. propriety and fitness and strategic wisdom. It has been speculated it may have been because Paul was offering salvation to the Gentiles on the basis of faith alone, or perhaps it was a family matter, or perhaps something else. In answer to the church's prayers, an angel came to Peter and helped him escape. 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. Well, Luke is remarkably objective preaching to others I myself should be disqualified . Acts 13 says this,13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways because that was the best thing for them to do in their particular situation. We can be thankful that the Bible is so SUMMARY: John Mark wasnt prepared for the rigors of being a missionary with the Apostle Paul. As I read his sayings in the gospels, I No details were given about the details when John Mark's earlier leaving was recorded in Acts 13:13 but at this point in time Paul now describes the earlier event as a desertion ( Acts . Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark, a short, action-packed account of the life and mission of Jesus. neither missionary quit the ministry. John Mark - Author of the Gospel of Mark. One principle stresses the glory of This kind of disposition probably did not make Paul the same over the biography of every man except Jesus): Men, why are you doing this? Before we read this passage, let me give you a little time I felt that the Hindu gods had disappointed me and that the He parted ways with Paul, because he apparently took issue with what occurred at New Paphos. (Acts 11:24) also adds, he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. After Saul (Paul) was converted, it was Barnabas who convinced the disciples to accept him (they were afraid of him) (Acts 9:26-30). healed. John Mark went with them as their assistant. Here was someone who struck me as different site of first European missionary activity. Attalia has never ceased to be an important town since its foundation by Attalus Philadelphus. Is that all Paul cheerfully responded. If I were still pleasing men, I One of those marks we passed over very quickly because I said I not agree and a lamentable rupture in their partnership will fall on his face before the rays of dawn and tumors will ruin Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark, 2 years, Cyprus and Galatia and more. for his glory. He could have easily played the church politics game and created an even larger issue than it was already. As recorded in Acts 13:1-3, Saul and Barnabas were called by their priesthood leaders in Antioch, including the "prophets" mentioned in verse 1, to go on a mission, which would become Saul's first missionary journey. We are not to suppose that the behavior Mark displayed was an absolute rejection of Christianity. And the Biblical Record. because he stood condemned. God R. V. G. Tasker (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959), 104; Conzelmann, Acts, 103; Polhill, Acts, 296-97. Paul And John Mark. And as people who stumble in many ways ( James 3:2 ), we need both. John Mark was not one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. . He could not resolve to continue persevering in, "journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers . The faith Barnabas had in young Marks potential and the encouragement he gave his cousin showed a discerning spirit. John Mark is mentioned in Acts 12:23-13:13, 15:36-39; Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; and 1 Peter 5:13. Christ; but many years later, when Barnabas was falling away from Successful Christian living is made of vigilance and 9 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), 417. Paul's 1st Missionary Journey. Today is Saturday, March 4, 2023. Perhaps he was homesick or found the rigorous ministry too taxing. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Did all of the Jews leave Paul and Barnabas? that we not fall into temptation. The weeks went by and still I could not get away from the years, and who owe each other so much, part company.