There is a sharp disagreement that separates Barnabas and Paul. They had agreed in Acts 15:36 “let us return and visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” Paul refused to let Mark come with them because he had quit early on their earlier trip. Barnabas goes to Cyprus, as they had on their first trip so Paul heads North with Silas. Paul visits some of the churches they had planted and then the Holy Spirit prevents Paul from going further North. He heads further West but the Holy Spirit prevents him going North again. Finally in a vision, Paul has a request to go West to Macedonia, this is new ground and again, Paul is off taking the gospel to the Gentiles.
They Rejoiced at the Encouragement
Let Us Return and Visit the Brothers
Acts 15:36-41
Paul and Barnabas have been fast colleagues since Paul first came back to Jerusalem after his Damascus experience, his conversion. Barnabas went and found Paul and the two taught in Antioch for a year. Then some time later the Holy Spirit said in
Acts 13:2 And while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
This was about two years planting churches together, and then back to Antioch. Now, in
Acts 15:36 And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Come then, let us return and visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
The Lord had already told Paul to go to the Gentiles and the Holy Spirit had sent these two together and Paul thinks it is time for them to return and check on these churches. Barnabas agrees in Acts 15:37 and suggests they take Mark with them. But Mark had quit their last trip early and Paul says no. So, in
Acts 15:39 “a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another”.
Barnabas went with Mark in Acts 15:39 and Paul went with Silas in Acts 16:40. Paul was always hard edged, and Barnabas a gentler soul, but the Lord does not intervene. However, “Since Mark and Paul were later reconciled (2 Tim. 4:11), one is inclined to side with Barnabas, who has already proven a good judge of character and potential with Paul himself”.1
And later, Paul writes Eph 3:14-21 “I bend my knees before the Father … that he may grant you … to be strengthened … to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God”
They Passed On To Them To Observe The Rules
Come Over to Macedonia and Help Us
Acts 16:6-10
Barnabas had gone West to Cyprus as they had for their first missionary journey so Paul heads of on his own with Silas, to the North. But his direction is changed, and he can’t go further North in
Acts 16:6 And they traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.
So, they head west to Tarsus, Derbe, and turned North to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (the other Antioch). These were all places he had wanted to visit with Barnabas to strengthen in Acts 15:36, the churches they had planted. Then again his direction was changed and he could not go further North in
Acts 16:7 And when they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
and it seems Paul did not want to go South, that might have intersected with Barnabas, but now Paul gets direction, there are people that have not yet heard the good news, in
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul during the night: a certain Macedonian man was standing there and imploring him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”
Now, it seems that Paul has connected again with the plan the Lord had for him.
There Was a Place of Prayer
These Men Are Servants of the Most High God
Acts 16:16-24
Paul and Silas have come to Philippi in Acts 16:12 “a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony” and it seems there was not a synagogue there, so instead in Acts 16:13 “on the day of the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate beside the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer”. This became their meeting place and as they were going daily, a woman, a fortune teller, began following them in
Acts 16:17 “She followed Paul and us and was crying out, saying, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
and apparently this seemed harmless, at first and then in
Acts 16:18 “she was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed and turning around, said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out immediately.
Without this spirit, she was useless to her masters and they brought accusations against Paul and Silas and they were put in jail.
Study Verses
- Acts 15:36-41 Let Us Return and Visit the Brothers
- Acts 16:6-10 Come Over to Macedonia and Help Us
- Acts 16:16-24 These Men Are Servants of the Most High God
Today’s Reading
- Acts 15:30-41
- Acts 16:1-24
References
- 1. Baker, W. H. (1995). Acts. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 908). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.