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Joseph Barnabas was identified as an “encourager” in the Jerusalem church. His generosity was that of someone who “sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:37). Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul), on the other hand, was an “enemy and persecutor” of the Jerusalem church. It was written of him that “Saul was there, giving approval to his (Stephen) death” (Acts 8:1) A greater contrast there cannot be but God is the God of miracles – He brought them together to form the first Antioch Church Mission Team that blazed the trail for missionary teams of the future to pattern after.
However, Paul and Barnabas only shared in one mission. Preparing for a second mission project, “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15:39). This was over John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas. John had deserted the team at Pamphylia during the first mission – the reason for this desertion was not given. Probably young John Mark could not take the persecution heat of the mission. Barnabas, the encourager, was prepared to give the young man a second chance. However, Paul, the strict, no nonsense Pharisee, “did not think it wise to take him” (Acts 15:38). Hence, the two leaders of the early church “agreed to disagree”. Two mission teams resulted, one Paul and Silas and the other Barnabas and John Mark. Amazing how things worked out in God’s mission expansion!
John Mark caused this “sharp disagreement” between Paul and Barnabas. He must have been affected as he saw how his desertion caused this rift between two missionary pioneers of God. As the narrative in Acts continued, there was no mentioned about any reconciliation between the parties involved in this “sharp disagreement”. However, other portions in the New Testament teach us that John Mark was reconciled with the Apostle Paul. In 2 Tim. 4:11, Paul wrote: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry”. To the church at Colosse he sent greetings: “as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him” (Col. 4:10). Truly words of an encourager – Paul had changed as also did John Mark who must have shown strength of Christian character in the mission field. Christian tradition has it that John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark. The work of God moves on in spite of “sharp disagreement” – we can praise God for this.