First Tuesday of Lent
Lectionary texts for today:
OT: Genesis 15:1-6
NT: Romans 4:1-5
Today we return to our Acts Bible study. Please read Acts 15:30-40.
The Jerusalem Council is completed with the Apostolic letter written by James. Paul and Barnabas, along with the Jerusalem apostles Silas and Judas return to Antioch. Antioch remains the central headquarters for Paul. Silas is also called Silvanus, a Greek/Latin form of his name. He may well have been the writer of 1 Peter (see 1 Peter 5:12). Judas was a common name among Jews in this time period. Jesus had a brother named Judas (Matthew 13:35, Mark 6:3). We change his name to Jude in the letter of Jude in the New Testament. This is to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, Jesus' betrayer. Silas and Judas soon return to their home base Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch.
Paul wants to revisit the churches he and Barnabas had founded in central Turkey on his first missionary journey. Barnabas wants to take John Mark with them. Luke tells us that there was a huge argument between Paul and Barnabas over whether John Mark should go with them. Paul feels that John Mark had abandoned them right after the Cyprus mission was over. It also appears that John Mark was not involved in preaching there but was traveling with them in a supportive role. Luke minimizes conflict among Christians, which is not easy to do when you're writing about Paul. Luke does not report the details of the argument but admits that "the disagreement became so sharp that they parted company." (Acts 15:39). Barnabas returns to Cyprus with John Mark. Paul gets in touch with Silas in Jerusalem, who agrees to accompany Paul on what will be the second missionary journey. Neither Barnabas nor John Mark is mentioned again in Acts.
Paul relates what happened somewhat differently. In Galatians 2:11-14 Paul writes that Peter came to Antioch. Peter was eating with gentiles before this, but when some messengers came from James (the sect of the Pharisees?), Peter stopped his association with gentiles. Paul was furious with Peter!
It is difficult to put Luke's account together with Paul's. Luke says nothing of what happened with Peter in Antioch. Apparently James had at least temporarily changed his mind about the Jewish/gentile mixing issue. Peter takes his orders from James. Paul does not. Paul says further that even Barnabas went over to the James and Peter side of this argument. Paul says nothing about John Mark. Galatians implies that Paul and Barnabas parted ways over this issue, not over John Mark. It is noteworthy that like Barnabas, Peter also is never mentioned in Acts again.
Luke never speaks negatively about James, Peter, or Barnabas. Paul does. He is especially negative toward Peter in this controversy. Luke avoids mentioning this entire Peter in Antioch scene. The result is the same. Paul and Barnabas split. Silas will go with Paul.
As we have noted, Luke likes to smooth over conflict between Christians. Paul seems almost to thrive on it. We'll be comparing Acts with Paul's letters the rest of the way through our study.
Lord of the Apostles,
We give you thanks for all they did, for their determination, for their fearless preaching, and for their faithfulness to you, even when they were in conflict with one another. In the name of their Lord Jesus and ours. Amen.
Faithfully,
Christian
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