Acts 15:36-40 - Hypocrisy

Scripture:

 

Acts 15:36-40

36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40 But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
NASU

 

 

Thoughts:

 

There's such an irony between these verses and the rest of chapter 15.  Paul and Barnabas, having been the champions against the legalism in Antioch, now find themselves dividing over a debatable matter (verses 37-38).  How sad that they would allow their friendship to at least temporarily fall prey to a difference of opinion (verses 39-40).

 

It's understandable why Paul feels this way -- John Mark had deserted them previously (verse 38) -- but it's sad that they allow the issue to break their fellowship, and can't come to a peaceful resolution.  It highlights again why it is so important to allow the Bible to be the standard, and not our own opinions.  Using the Bible as the standard, we can hopefully agree with what it says to resolve conflicts!

 

However, this story is so true to life.  It's easy to find this kind of inconsistency in our lives.  We can't see how the very thing we oppose on one hand, we are involved in on the other!  Paul and Barnabas had opposed adding requirements inconsistent with scripture on to other believers, but now are dividing over an issue not addressed by it.  Paul is adding a requirement for John Mark, that was not stipulated by scripture.

 

 

Prayer:

 

Lord, help me to see any areas of hypocrisy in my life.  Let me be true to You and to Your word in all that I think and do.  Let me be especially true to Your standard as I relate to other believers. 

 

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.