Acts 15:37
in Acts 15Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.
KJV
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
⋯
This verse in Acts 15
Commentary
10 notes on this verseJohn, called Mark, was accompanying them on the evangelic journey, from Palestine as far as Pamphylia. Then, finding the apostles' route too strenuous, and his spirit unbending toward those engaged in struggles, Mark, being a man given to exhaustion and not suited to so laborious …
This site's exposition
John, whose surname was Mark
on Acts 15:37-39
Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark, his own kinsman by Colossians 4:10, but Paul thought not good to take him, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work, the desertion at 13:13 still weighing against him in Paul's judgment. The contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other, Luke naming the break without assigning blame to either man, and the bench likewise declines to rule which apostle judged rightly, since Paul later calls for Mark as profitable to him for the ministry at 2 Timothy 4:11. So Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus, the work multiplying into two teams rather than ending in either man's disgrace.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other." And already indeed Luke has described to us the character of the Apostles, that the one was more tender and indulgent, but this one more strict and austere. For the gifts are diverse-(the gifts, I say), for that this is a gift is manifest-but the one befitting one, the other another set of characters, and if they change places, harm results instead of good. In the Prophets too we find this: diverse minds, diverse characters: for instance, Elias austere, Moses meek. So here Paul is more vehement.
And there seems indeed to be exasperation, but in fact the whole matter is a plan of the Divine Providence, that each should receive his proper place: and it behooved that they should not be upon a par, but the one should lead, and the other be led. "And so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches." And this also is a work of Providence. For the Cyprians had exhibited nothing of the like sort as they at Antioch and the rest: and those needed the softer character, but these needed such a character as Paul's.
And besides, the contention cannot be said to be evil, when each disputes for such objects (as here) and with just reason. I grant you, if the exasperation were in seeking his own, and contending for his own honor, this might well be (reproved): but if wishing, both the one and the other, to instruct and teach, the one took this way and the other that, what is there to find fault with? For in many things they acted upon their human judgment; for they were not stocks or stones. And observe how Paul impeaches (Mark), and gives the reason. For of his exceeding humility he reverenced Barnabas, as having been partner with him in so great works, and being with him: but still he did not so reverence him, as to overlook (what was necessary).
The Medieval Church1 voice
A certain misunderstanding arose between Paul and Barnabas: one stood on the ground of justice, while the other wished to set justice aside, but each had one goal—the service of faith. The cause of the misunderstanding was as follows. On the evangelical journey, a certain …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Barnabas determined,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
If ever there was a heaven upon earth, surely it was in the church at Antioch at this time, when there were so many excellent ministers there, and blessed Paul among them, building up that church in her most holy faith.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And Barnabas determined - Greek: willed, or was disposed to (ἐβουλεύσαντο ebouleusanto). John ... - See the notes on Act 12:12. He had been with them before as a traveling companion, Act 12:25; Act 13:5. He was the son of a sister of Barnabas Col 4:10, and it is probable that Barnabas’ affection for his nephew was the main reason for inducing him to wish to take him with him in the journey.
Barnabas determined to take with them John - John Mark was his sister’s son; and natural affection might have led him to the partiality here mentioned.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Βαρναβᾶς | barnabas | Barnabas | G921 → | 28 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐβούλετο | ebouleto | was planning | G1014 → | 37 times |
| συμπαραλαβεῖν | sumparalabein | to take along | G4838 → | 4 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰωάννην | ioannen | John | G2491 → | 134 times |
| τὸν | ton | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καλούμενον | kaloumenon | is being called | G2564 → | 147 times |
| Μᾶρκον· | markon | Mark; | G3138 → | 8 times |
ΒαρναβᾶςBarnabas
barnabasG921 →28 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐβούλετοwas planning
ebouletoG1014 →37 times
συμπαραλαβεῖνto take along
sumparalabeinG4838 →4 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἸωάννηνJohn
ioannenG2491 →134 times
τὸνwho
tonG3588 →19766 times
καλούμενονis being called
kaloumenonG2564 →147 times
Μᾶρκον·Mark;
markonG3138 →8 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 12:25When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
it leads to
- Acts 12:12
And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 12:12
Through
Colossians 4:10My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
it leads to
- Acts 19:29
Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 15:37–39
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 19:29
Through
Acts 12:12And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.
it leads to
- 1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
- 1 John 5:14–15
Through
Philemon 1:24as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:14
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
- 2 Timothy 4:10–11
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Colossians 4:14
Through
Acts 13:5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
it leads to
- Acts 13:14
And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down.
- Acts 13:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
On this chapter
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.