Tuesday 8th July Acts 15.30-41

Qn. 3

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”(36): These cities that were to be visited were the ones where they had preached the gospel during Paul’s first missionary journey (13.14-26). It’s obvious that they still needed people to affirm them. It’s commendable that when we share the word of God with some people, who might respond well, we need to follow them up until they get strong enough to help more others. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away from Cyprus, (39): Barnabas and Mark were not mentioned any more in this book of Acts of the Apostles. However, Paul refers to him again as an exemplary figure who knows how to work for a living (1 Cor. 9.6). As you serve in God’s ministry, bear in mind that you may have conflicts with your colleagues, yet that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your calling. What you need to do is devise every means for reconciliation with those you might have conflicted with. Consider: Matthew 5.23-24.