Acts 15:36-41; Ephesians 4:29-32
Part 4
"The Final outcome? They separated from one another" The two men went their separate ways and never ministered together again. If you take out a Bible atlas, you'll find that they trekked off in opposite directions. Barnabas and John Mark traveled the water route to Cyprus. Paul and his new partner, Silas, traveled the land route in a northeasterly direction to Syria, turning westward to Cilicia and the surrounding cities.
But Paul chose Silas and departed, being committed By the brethen to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the Churches (vv.40-41)
Keep in mind that Paul and Barnabas were longtime friends. Remember, Barnabas was the one introduced the converted persecutor of the church to the Christian community (see Acts 9:19b-27). But in a fireworks display of emotion, their ministry together blew up in their faces.
Yet just as a violent storm leaves a nourishing rain in its wake, so alsogood things can result from a temperatuous falling out. Who know what ministries grew up in Cyprus and blossomed in the regions beyond? Futhermore, it was John Mark who wrote the gospel of Mark.
Time healed the wounds of that closing encounter between Paul and Barnabas. Later in life Paul wrote favorably of Barnabas (see 1 Cor. 9:6). He even wrote favorably of John Marj: "Pick up Mark and bring him with you. For he is useful to me for service" ( 2 Tim. 4:11b).
The best part of this story is that both of these strongly principled men got over their disagreement. In too cases the battles go on and on, long after the dust of the original conflict has settled. How many people today are sitting in a stew of bitterness over past battles, still licking their wounds?
Disagreement are discouraging, but they need not be debilitating. Paul and Barnabas didnt spend the remainder of their lives getting back at each other. That takes grace.
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