Acts 15:36, commentary and pictures

The verse stands in the setting of the Jerusalem meeting over circumcision and the law of Moses, where the apostles and elders counseled rather than commanded and allowed the Holy Spirit to guide the decision. The council's decision in Acts 15 concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law remained in force. Paul proposed to Barnabas another missionary journey to go again and visit the brethren in every city where they had preached the word of the Lord and see how they were doing.

The proposal showed tender concern for those who had recently accepted the gospel, a desire to revisit them, learn how they were doing, and seek them out again. That same care continued even from distant mission fields, urging converts to remain faithful and helping them grow into self-reliant Christians, strong in faith, zealous, and fully devoted to God and advancing his kingdom. The plan to revisit led to a sharp contention over taking Mark, who had previously left the work at Perga for the ease, comforts and safety of home when intimidated by opposition, perils and privations.

Paul judged Mark's desertion as evidence he lacked endurance and stamina and was unfit for gospel ministry, was not inclined to excuse his weakness in any degree, and judged him unfavorably and severely for a long time, urging that the work requires patience, self-denial, bravery, devotion, faith, and willingness to sacrifice even life if need be. Barnabas excused his nephew because of inexperience, was anxious that he should not abandon the ministry, saw in him promise and qualifications for a useful worker for Christ, and followed his convictions in taking him, with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus while Paul took different companions. Under God's blessing and Barnabas's wise training Mark gave himself unreservedly to the Lord and to proclaiming the gospel in difficult fields and developed into a valuable worker, and Paul was afterward reconciled to him, received him as a fellow laborer and help in ministry, recommended him to the Colossians, and not long before his own death spoke of him as profitable in the ministry.

The sharp contention recorded in the verse and its context is a failing, infirmity, and defect of moral character in men favored of God and entrusted with great responsibility who were overcome by temptation as people still are, proving the apostles were human and not more than human. The plain record was kept by the Holy Spirit lifting the veil from the human heart because justice required a faithful narration of facts, and it is intended as a lesson for all following generations for warning and encouragement, encouraging desponding hearts by showing where they struggled and fell and where through God's grace they could gain fresh vigor, take heart again, conquer evil nature, and press on to surmount obstacles. The verse is a model for revisiting Sabbath-keeping groups with personal effort and training, making sure they understand the truth, are established in the faith, and are engaged in the work before leaving them for another field.