Today's passage will also be a focus for us on Sunday. We've seen Paul and Barnabas working together for years. In this passage they have a conflict about who to take with them in ministry. The conflict is such an issue that they decide to go their separate ways. I think that must have been hard for both of them, but they both felt strongly about what they were doing so they had to follow their conviction. Conflict is an inevitable part of relationship; the question is how we address it.
God bless,
Sam
Acts
15:30-41
30 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they
gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When
its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. 32Judas
and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen
the believers. 33After they had been there for
some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. 35But
Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught
and proclaimed the word of the Lord.
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Come, let us return
and visit the believers in every city
where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ 37Barnabas
wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38But Paul decided not to
take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied
them in the work. 39The disagreement became so sharp that they
parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40But
Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him
to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia,
strengthening the churches.
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