Ministry Meltdowns: Revisiting Paul and Barnabas’ Dispute over John Mark

“And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left . . .” (Acts 15:38)

As bad and damaging as all the ministry schisms are in modern day churches, they do not compare to the potential damage done on the early Church by the dissension between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark in Acts 15. All three men are venerated figures in Church history. But a significant question remains unanswered by Luke: Who was right? Paul or Barnabas? I suspect the question goes unanswered because it is meant for us to ponder and explore what it means for us in our ministry conflicts.

I am not sure any of us would have enjoyed witnessing the heated argument between Paul and Barnabas. But, using “sanctified imagination,” I’ve tried to create a plausible dialogue based on what we know of their back stories. My hope is that it will quicken your imagination as you ponder their ministry meltdown and how it relates to modern day divisions in our churches. You may want to first read Acts 15:36-41 to set the stage for what follows.

The Crisis Unfolds

Barnabas searched everywhere for Paul but could not find him. Seeing Silas in the front courtyard of their Antioch residence he asked, “Silas, have you seen Paul? I need to discuss our plans with him.”

Silas turned and gazed at his friend. “Yes, I’ve seen him. And you can probably guess what he’s doing! He’s out back sharing the gospel with a merchant while mending his tent.”

Barnabas rounded the corner, and he heard Paul before he saw the familiar form of his dear friend and ministry partner. He smiled to himself, watching Paul finish sharing the gospel with the merchant as he handed him his tent.

The two men had grown close working together over the past years. They had come to lean on each other’s strengths and spiritual gifts; while both had the gift of evangelism, Barnabas was the “son of encouragement,” who saw potential in new disciples and nurtured it—he had done that with the raw Saul of Tarsus, now before him using his gifts so effectively for the Lord; Paul, the former Saul, was now the sold-out Apostle/teacher, fiery and passionate. Like flint and steel in the hand of the Lord, the two had been used to ignite many a heart for Jesus.

“Brother Paul!” Barnabas exclaimed excitedly. Paul, with his back to his friend, jerked at Barnabas’ boisterous greeting. The needle he had been using stuck his finger, causing a drop of red blood to ooze from the wound. “Ouch! Barnabas, must you always sneak up on me like that?” Paul protested though smiling, sucking the blood off his finger.

“Sorry, my brother” Barnabas replied. “I’m just excited at the prospect of our new adventure! Yesterday, you suggested we revisit the brothers in the cities where we preached the gospel before our recent trip to Jerusalem. I’ve prayed about it, feel that the Spirit said ‘Yes,’ and I’m raring to go!”

“Praise the Lord!” Paul cheerfully responded. “Let’s get packing!”

“There’s even better news,” Barnabas said. “I’ve spoken to John Mark, and he is eager to accompany us again!”

Paul fell suddenly silent. His body froze like a Greek statue except for the cloud that came over his face, his eyes serious, his lips twitching as he searched for the right words.

“John Mark? Again?” Paul said slowly. “How can you possibly consider taking that deserter?” You know how, as soon as things got difficult for us, it was not two minutes before he abandoned us for your aunt’s comfortable home in Jerusalem!” Paul was clearly still agitated over Mark’s unwillingness to endure hardship for Christ’s sake.

Barnabas, taken aback by Paul’s quick judgment and frankness (though he should have been used to it by now) swallowed hard before replying. “Brother, you’re not being fair. John Mark has SO much potential. He was young when he went with us the first time. He has matured and grown since then. Peter has had an impact on him. I see he could be a future leader for the kingdom.” Barnabas had a rare edge to his voice. “Besides, nobody’s perfect, especially young believers. I believe that if we both pour into his life, he will carry the torch forward for Christ if something happens to us.”

Paul turned directly to his friend and frowned; he crossed his arms as evidence of a settled opinion. “I just . . . I just don’t think so, Barnabas. Mark disqualified himself in my book by deserting us at Pamphylia. I don’t trust him to stay the course if things heat up again. I know you favor him because he is your cousin, but we can’t overlook a man’s failures just because he is family!”

Barnabas knew Paul’s prophetic gifting came with a passionate sense of right and wrong, so he reminded Paul of his own history and doubts people had about him: “Brother, what was your reputation with the Twelve before I took you under my wing and introduced you to them? Were they eager to accept you or to avoid you based on your history?”

Barnabas then, uncharacteristically, became incensed as he thought about that event and Paul’s charge of giving Mark special treatment because they were family. He felt insulted and let Paul have it: “And who stood by you when all the Apostles saw was the man who was pumping his fist in agreement as he stood by the clothes of those who stoned our brother Stephen?” he blurted.

Barnabas’ could see that his jab stung Paul deeply. At the same time, he knew he was out of his league arguing like this. Paul was a master at argument, and he was too kindhearted, too pastoral. His conscience also immediately began to assail him at the confrontation, but he knew Paul was wrong about Mark.

Paul was momentarily quieted by Barnabas’ reminder of the most shameful day of his life. He sought for words. Slowly but firmly, he uttered, “My brother, I owe you everything. If it had not been for you, I would never have been accepted by the Twelve or found my way to Antioch. I spent three years seeking the Lord in the desert. I knew no comfort. I had no place to call home. I had no wealthy mother to care for me.” Paul then set his jaw: “But Mark was not ready to go with us and you insisted on us taking him. He has had it too easy, and I am not sure he has changed. Besides, running in the face of trouble is a pattern with him. When the disciples abandoned the Lord in Gethsemane as soldiers arrested Him, Mark, who had followed them from the upper room, fled naked as they grabbed at him and pulled his tunic off!”

Barnabas replied, “That’s not fair, Paul! He was just a teenager when that happened. Have you forgotten David’s prayer, ‘Remember not the sins of my youth’? Should we hold something against a brother who was a child at the time of his actions? He only followed the example of Peter and the others by fleeing!”

Paul shot back, “Well then, maybe Peter can use John Mark. He is of little help to me. Mark is not cut out for this kind of work. You think he would stick around if the rocks started flying like they did in Lystra?  No, my brother, I can’t budge on this one. Send him back to Jerusalem – that’s where he belongs!”

“I will NOT send him back!” Barnabas could not remember ever being this angry, and he quickly forgot his pang of conscience. “He has potential just like you did, and I want to develop that potential!”

“Well then,” Paul shrugged, “Perhaps you should, but I don’t trust him and won’t be responsible for him. You’ll have to ‘develop’ him by yourself.”

Dazed at this suggestion and its implications, Barnabas replied slowly, “Wait,…are you saying we should part ways? What about all the things we’ve seen God do together? Are you ready to walk away from all that God has done though us and will do in the future?”

“That is exactly my point,” Paul countered, sitting back down. He began to pack up his tent-making material, and without looking up said, “I will not risk the success of our work on John Mark. He would be the weak stitch in the seam of our ministry. The whole thing might come apart!”

“Well, brother Paul,” Barnabas replied, now with sadness in his voice, “It seems it already has come apart. I will take Mark with me. You are too impatient and harsh to disciple someone like Mark anyway.” Barnabas’ words flew out of his mouth like a boomerang that immediately returned and wounded his own good heart, but he felt he must ignore the pain.

“So be it,” said Paul with finality. “Now, where can I find Silas?”

Questions to Ponder

• How might Paul and Barnabas’ recent, and no doubt stressful, debate in Jerusalem have played into their argument (Acts 15:1-35)?
• How did Paul’s spiritual gifts differ from Barnabas’ and how might that have shaped the way each man saw the situation with John Mark?
• Do you have anyone around you whose gifts create tension with your own? (Hint: If you are married, you do!)
• How does God’s sovereignty play into the outcome of their argument?
• Does God’s sovereignty justify the way they handled the situation? Why or why not?
• How might both men have failed to recognize what God was doing through the conflict?
• What advice would you have offered Paul and Barnabas?

I think working through questions like these as a church staff or as elders/deacons can instill greater discernment when ministry conflict comes – and it will come. Interestingly, God’s opinion on what transpired between Paul and Barnabas is hidden from the account. He clearly used it, but it is also clear that they later reconciled completely.

All three men head off into successful ministries. Barnabas mentors Mark to the point where Paul later sees him as a useful helper. Mark goes on to serve the Apostle Peter and record the Gospel that bears his name! Paul heads off with Silas to see God do great things and to learn the meaning of suffering for his soul (1 Cor. 11:23-29). We will not know who was right about John Mark until the Judgment Seat, but I suspect both men were.

(For further study review the following references: Acts 9:27; 11:23-26; 12:12-13, 25; 13:5, 13; Col. 4:10; Phil. 24; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Peter 4:13. While it is not certain, many commentators believe that Mark tells a little of his own story in Mk 14:50-52.)

Mark Barnard serves with Blessing Point Ministries which helps ministries experience healing from internal crises. He is coauthor, with Dr. Kenneth Quick, of The Dance of the Gifts: How Ministry Leaders Can Discern God’s Will.