Acts Lesson 27 Contention between Christians Scripture Acts 15:32-41 Introduction: There are times when we disagree. Sometimes we separate and go our own ways. Sometimes we agree to disagree and work together. Churches have a perfect Shepherd (Jesus), but imperfect sheep. Imperfections always leave the possibility for conflict. It how we resolve those conflicts that is important. I. The Continuation of Ministry Note: All involved are about the work of Christ in the Church. They are serving God with a whole heart. A. The Focus of ministry 1. Teaching 2. Exhorting 3. Strengthening B. The Fellowship of ministry 1. Shared the responsibility 2. Silas stays II. The Concern for the Other Churches Note: We cannot be myopic and only focus on ourselves. A. The concern to be informed. 1. We should not be busybodies 2. We should be caring. B. The Concern to go encourage. 1. They needed assuring 2. They needed strengthening III. The Contention between Christians i Note: Doesn t surprise you this conflict happened? A. The Source of the conflict. 1. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance. ii 2. Paul did not have any confidence in Mark. B. The Severity of the conflict. 1. They would not compromise. 2. They would separate. iii Note: There are times when resolution will need to happen later.
IV. The Consequence of Actions Note: Paul is determined to follow his heart felt calling. iv A. The Companions 1. Silas is chosen. v 2. Mark goes with Barnabas. B. The Commendation 1. The church supports Paul. 2. The church does not condemn Barnabas either. C. The Course they took 1. Barnabas Cyprus 2. Paul Syria and Cilicia Notes: 1. A benefit or good that came about is we now have two teams. 2. Barnabas is not mentioned again in Acts. 10236. Locking Horns And Dying In an old monastery near Bebenhausen, Germany, one may see two pairs of deer horns interlocked. They were found in that position many years ago. The deer had been fighting; their horns got jammed together and could not be separated; so they died. Dr. Kerr, who first told the story, added, "I would like to carry those horns into every house and school." We might add, "And into every church." Harold P. Barker The Rev. John Clark of Frome was asked, one day, how he kept from being involved in quarrels. He answered, "By letting the angry person always have the quarrel to himself." Henry 10251. Son Staying In Between In his home a pastor was counseling privately with a man. They heard the patter of feet. The closed door opened. A little boy entered the room. The man turned toward the boy and asked him a question: "Son, suppose your dad and mamma would quarrel, what would you do? Would you, with your mamma fight against your dad: or would you help your dad against your mamma?" After a moment's silence, the following thoughtful answer came from the son of the pastor: "I would not side with either. I would stay in between and try to stop their fighting." Christian Index The Rev. John Clark of Frome was asked, one day, how he kept from being involved in quarrels. He answered, "By letting the angry person always have the quarrel to himself." Henry Locking Horns And Dying In an old monastery near Bebenhausen, Germany, one may see two pairs of deer horns interlocked. They were found in that position many years ago. The deer had been fighting; their horns got jammed together and could not be separated; so they died. Dr. Kerr, who first told the story, added, "I would like to carry those horns into every house and school." We might add, "And into every church." Harold P. Barker A Surprised Judge
Hell is vibrant with ghoulish glee when Christians in church fight among themselves. A New Jersey judge advised prayer as a solution to a church property dispute. "It is hard to understand," he told members of both factions in his court, "how professed Christians could become so bitter as to bring a matter involving dollars and cents into court. This controversy should be resolved by members of both groups on their knees in prayer to demonstrate your right to be called Christians." Walter B. Knight Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: i Strong's Number: Original Word: παροξυσμός, paroxysmos Usage Notes: (Eng., "paroxysm"), lit., "a sharpening," hence "a sharpening of the feeling, or action" (para, "beside," intensive, oxys, "sharp"), denotes an incitement, a sharp contention, Acts 15:39, the effect of irritation; elsewhere in Heb. 10:24, "provoke," unto love. See PROVOKE. - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. ii (1) What Barnabas Determined (15:37) And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. Barnabas had evidently made up his mind about that. When back in Jerusalem he had doubtless renewed his contact with Mark. More than likely he stayed in the home of Mary, Mark's mother, his own sister. Mark would have expressed his regrets over his past failure, apologized, and asked his uncle to give him another chance. The thrilling stories told by his uncle only fired the fervor of the young man. He pleaded to be included again the next time. We can picture it happening. Perhaps Barnabas had said, "We'll see, Mark. I'll give it much thought and I'll pray about it, but I'll have to talk to Paul."
One way or another, Barnabas had made up his mind. And he made it up on the side of grace, being, as his name implies and as Paul had long known, a true Son of Consolation. - The John Phillips Commentary Series Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary iii The question arises as to who was right, Barnabas or Paul. Although the Scripture does not explicitly say, the weight of the evidence favors Paul. He was an apostle, Barnabas was not. Therefore, Barnabas should have submitted to Paul's apostolic authority. Also, Paul and Silas, but not Barnabas and Mark, were commended by the church (v. 40). Finally, Barnabas should have realized that it would have been unwise and difficult to have Mark along if Paul did not trust him. Although they apparently never again ministered together (this is the last mention of Barnabas in Acts), we know Paul and Barnabas eventually reconciled their differences, because Paul later wrote approvingly of Barnabas's ministry (1 Cor. 9:6). Even John Mark, the cause of all the trouble, later became one of Paul's valued co-laborers (Col. 4:10; Philem. 24; 2 Tim. 4:11). He also became a close associate of the apostle Peter (1 Pet. 5:13) and was privileged to write one of the four gospels. Barnabas did a remarkable job in helping to turn around the life and ministry career of his young cousin. After his split with Barnabas, Paul chose Silas and departed, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. Yet another of Satan's attempts to hinder the spread of the gospel backfired. Now there were two missionary teams where before there had been one. Their impact had doubled.- The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary Acts 13-28. (4.) This difference was afterwards reconciled, and Paul and Barnabas again became travelling companions, 1 Corinthians 9:6, Galatians 2:9. (5.) There is evidence that Paul also became reconciled to John Mark, Colossians 4:10, Philemon 1:24, 2 Timothy 4:11. How long this separation continued is not known; but perhaps in this journey with Barnabas, John gave such evidence of his courage and zeal as induced Paul again to admit him to his confidence as a travelling companion, and as to become a profitable fellow-labourer. See 2 Timothy 4:11, "Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is profitable to me for the ministry." 2. (15:39) Conflict Division Unity: the sad result of honest conflict. Three results are seen in the experience of Paul and Barnabas, results that are tragically too common. 1. There was "sharp contention" (paroxusmos PWS: 752). The idea is that of differing to the point of suffering pain. Contrary to the picture usually painted of the conflict, the picture seems to be that both men were hurting. The difference was sharp and both hearts were cut deeply. Each man was thoroughly convinced that he was right before the Lord; therefore, each argued strongly for his position. This does not mean that they were cutting each other with sharp and ugly words. This is important to note, for sharp words should never be spoken among believers. But the opposing positions and convictions cut and hurt both hearts. They loved and respected each other, and their sharp conflict seemed irreconcilable. There seemed to be no solution. 2. There was the loss of each other. This fact is often forgotten, but should not be. The two men loved and respected each other, greatly so. Few men ever mean to each other what Barnabas and Paul meant to each other. When Paul needed help, Barnabas was the only believer who stepped forward to help him. Barnabas was the spiritual brother or father to Paul. Barnabas had taken Paul under his wings and... stood up for him against all other believers (Acts 9:27). nurtured him in the faith and ministry (Acts 11:25-26). seen God bless his efforts, moving Paul to the forefront in carrying the gospel to the world (Acts 13:9; Acts 13:14-16).
Paul owed so much to Barnabas, he would never have allowed the conflict to divide them unless he was thoroughly convinced he was right. And Barnabas loved Paul so much the same was true of him. The conflict was an honest conflict, but the results were tragic. Two dear brothers, so strong in the Lord and so caring for each other, were splitting up their ministry. Their only hope was that God would overrule and show the one who was wrong that he was mistaken, forgiving him and continuing to use him just as effectively as before. The question naturally arises: Who was wrong? The answer is not known with absolute certainty. But Paul evidently misjudged. And the church's failure to commend Barnabas and Mark was apparently a tragic failure. Mark did redeem himself. He is later seen serving with both Paul and Peter (Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philemon 24; 1 Peter 5:13). Paul spoke affectionately of Barnabas, acknowledging his great ministry in writing to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 9:6). Thought 1. A believer is to make every effort possible to avoid conflict. He is to do all he can to live and serve in peace with his Christian brothers and sisters. - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible Acts. iv Paul's passionate concern for those without Christ found an echo in the heart of J. Hudson Taylor, the nineteenth-century English missionary to China. He wrote: I have a stronger desire than ever to go to China. That land is ever in my thoughts. Think of it 360 million souls, without God or hope in the world! Think of more than twelve millions of our fellow creatures dying every year without any of the consolations of the Gospel. Barnsley including the Common has only 15,000 inhabitants. Imagine what it would be if all these were to die in twelve months! Yet in China year by year, hundreds are dying, for every man, woman and child in Barnsley. Poor, neglected China! Scarcely anyone cares about it. (Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, J. Hudson Taylor: A Biography [Chicago: Moody, 1981], 17. Italics in the original.) - The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary Acts 13-28. v DEEPER STUDY #1 (15:34) Silas: Silas became one of the great missionaries of the early church (cp. Acts 15:40). He was an outstanding believer; a disciple and a close companion of Paul. He was apparently a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37). Silas... was a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:27). was sent to Antioch to share the great decree of salvation (Acts 15:27, 32-33). was a prophet (Acts 15:32). was a disciple of Paul, joining Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40). was imprisoned with Paul (Acts 16:19-40). remained in Berea with Timothy to minister to the believers (Acts 17:14). was with Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:5; 2 Cor. 1:19). ministered with Peter, apparently after Paul's death (1 Peter 5:12). is mentioned in the following New Testament books: 1 Thes. 1:1; 2 Thes. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Peter 5:12. - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible Acts.
SILAS Respected leader in the Jerusalem church, also called Silvanus (2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1; 1 Pt 5:12). "Silas" is most likely the Aramaic form of the Hebrew name "Saul," which when given a Latin form became Silouanos (Silvanus). Silas thus carried two names a Latin and a shorter, Semitic name. The name was known in the Hellenistic era and appears in various inscriptions. Luke used the name Silas when he narrated the history of the Jerusalem church in Acts. Paul and Peter used the Roman name in their epistles. Silas is introduced in Acts 15:22 as a distinguished delegate who conveyed to Antioch the decree of the Jerusalem Council. Several manuscripts (of lesser quality than the best-attested ones) include 15:34; this added verse indicates that Silas remained in Antioch because shortly thereafter he joined Paul on his second missionary tour (Acts 15:40). His service as a prophet may be evident in Acts 16:6, when the Spirit redirected the company through Asia. Silas's name appears eight times within the second tour (Acts 16:19, 25, 29; 17:4, 10, 14-15; 18:5), as he accompanied Paul through the hardships suffered at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. When Paul was safely ushered out of Macedonia by the Berean Christians (17:14), Silas remained behind with Timothy to oversee the work already begun in the region. Later in Corinth (18:5), Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul. Their report prompted Paul to correspond with the church at Thessalonica. This explains Silas's name in the prescript of both 1 and 2 Thessalonians. It seems dear that Silas was well known to the Corinthians. Not only does he stay in the city with Paul for a year and a half (Acts 18:11), but it may be conjectured that he stayed behind in Corinth after the dispute before Gallic Paul, on his final tour, wrote to Corinth from Ephesus and mentioned Silas again (2 Cor 1:19), reminding the Corinthians of the earlier ministry among them. The subsequent history of Silas is obscure. Some believe Silas was a respected Christian scribe. Silas's involvement in 1 and 2 Thessalonians is often mentioned, pointing to Paul's sustained use of the first person plural. Some scholars find resemblances among 1 and 2 Thessalonians, the decree of Acts 15, and 1 Peter, where Silas is mentioned as a scribe (1 Pt 5:12). This latter association with Peter is intriguing and has led to the speculation that Silas ultimately joined Peter and ministered in north Asia. Tyndale Bible Dictionary.