27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 12 20-25 THE WORD OF GOD GREW 21 Acts 12 25 God’s fellow workers
📖 Acts 12:20-25
21 – Fri, 14 Feb 2025 – *God’s fellow workers* - _Acts 12:20-25_ – THE WORD OF GOD GREW – _I Corinthians 03:03-10_
_Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, *and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark*._
Paul and John Mark were reconciled and we are all blessed by this reconciliation. We are blessed because John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark. This book is a legacy of the reconciliation and the resultant maturity of John Mark.
Did Paul and Barnabas reconcile after the split that happened between them because of John Mark?
_Acts 15:36-40 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." (37) Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. (38) But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. (39) Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; (40) but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God._
There is nothing specific in the Bible about whether Paul and Barnabas reconciled but we know that Paul held Barnabas in high regard.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians about Barnabas. _I Corinthians 9:6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?_ Paul went to Corinth on his second missionary journey. It was Silas who accompanied Paul, not Barnabas.
It is obvious that the Corinthians knew of Barnabas and so Barnabas too would have ministered in Corinth. Paul knew of Barnabas’s visit to Corinth and he used the visit of Barnabas to Corinth as a means to build the Corinthians in their walk with the Lord.
Though Barnabas and Paul were now moving separately in their missionary journeys, they knew of each other's movements and they built on one another’s work.
Similarly, the believers in Colosse knew of Barnabas. Paul visited Colosse on his third journey. In writing to the Colossians, he is referring to Barnabas, and so they too knew of Barnabas. _Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark *the cousin of Barnabas* (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),_
The relationship between Paul and Barnabas was now at a different level. They were now working together for the furtherance of the Gospel by building on one another’s work in His kingdom, though not together physically.
The Lord was sovereignly in control over what took place between Paul and Barnabas. From a human standpoint, we would look at the split between these two great leaders as unfortunate.
In God’s design, this was necessary for the growth of the Gospel. Paul and Barnabas had to operate separately for the growth of the Gospel. Though they continued to build on each other’s work.
What are the lessons for us?
- *Do not get unduly perturbed over differences in our approaches while engaged in God’s work*. The Bible does teach us to be of one heart and mind in the ministry. _I Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment._
At times it is better to part company and take up the work of God in different directions rather than staying together and being distraught over each other. In all matters, we must be led by the Holy Spirit in making the right decision. _Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left._
- Even if we decide to part company because of differences in the perspective of the ministry, we must continue to build each other and build with one another, just as we see from the ministries of Paul and Barnabas and others.
We have seen how leaders could become quite nasty or negative over each other because they decided to part ways.
_I Corinthians 3:3-10 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (4) For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? (5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? (6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. (7) So then *neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (8) Now he who plants and he who waters are one*, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (9) For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. (10) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it._
```He who plants and he who waters are one. We are God’s fellow workers. Paul and Barnabas parted company but they were together as God’s fellow workers.```