After the Council ruling/decision that Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to be Christians, Paul and Barnabas decided it was time to head out again with the Good News. Their initial thought was to revisit the places they had already been. But there was an issue that would divide them.

Acts 15:36–41 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 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. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Disagreements do occur among believers. It happened in the early church. It happens today as well. Unfortunately, in our world today, people seem to take the attitude, “If you disagree with me, you are no longer my friend.” That may sound like an oversimplification, but that is often the end result. We don’t know how to disagree without being disagreeable, which many times ruins relationships.

Paul and Barnabas “solved” their conflict by parting company and going their separate ways. They did not view each other as enemies. They both continued the work of sharing the love of God in Christ. Their conflict over John Mark resulted in two teams going out with the Gospel instead of just one. God truly does use all things for good. What follows is the start of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.

And in case you were wondering, Paul mentions both Barnabas and John Mark favorably in the days ahead in his epistles (1 Corinthians 9:6; 2 Timothy 4:11). The disagreement did not keep them from being brothers in Christ.

Lord, when conflict arises among the faithful, help us remember that we can disagree and still be brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to strive for unity in Jesus’ name. Amen.