Acts 15:38

Act 15:38. Παῦλος δὲ, but Paul) Barnabas had been in Christ before Paul: but Paul now in this instance walks more uprightly than Barnabas.—ἠξίου, thought fit) This has more reason in it [ἀξιόω from ἄξιος, worthy] than the ἐβουλεύσατο, determined, of Barnabas: Act 15:37. See Luk 9:62.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act_15:38-39. But Paul judged it not right (ἠξίου, comp. Act_28:22; Xen. Anab. v. 5. 9; Mem. ii. 1. 9) to take with them this one who had fallen away from them from Pamphylia, etc. (comp. Act_13:13).[45] Observe the μὴ συμπαραλαβεῖν standing in sharp opposition to the συμπαραλαβεῖν of Act_15:37, and the τοῦτον significantly repeated at the close. The purposely chosen ἀποστάντα, and the decisive rejection which Paul founded on this falling away, even in opposition to the highly esteemed Barnabas, who did not wish to discard his cousin (Col_4:10), proves that the matter was not without grave fault on the part of Mark. Fickleness in the service of Christ (Mark had been οὐ Χριστὸν ἀρνησάμενος, ἀλλὰ τὸν δρόμον τὸν πολὺν καὶ βαρὺν παραιτησάμενος, Oecumenius) was to Pauls bold and decided strength of character and firmness in his vocation the foreign element, with which he could not enter into any union either abstractly or for the sake of public example.

This separation was beneficial for the church, because Barnabas now chose a sphere of operation for himself. Act_15:39; 1Co_9:6. And as to Mark, certainly both the severity of Paul and the kind reception given to him by Barnabas were alike beneficial for his ministerial fidelity, Col_4:10; 2Ti_4:11. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ Παύλου φοβερὸν ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτόν· τὸ δὲ Βαρνάβα χρηστὸν ἐποίει μηκέτι ἀπολειφθῆναι. Ὥστε μάχονται μὲν, πρὸς ἓν δὲ τέλος ἀπαντᾷ τὸ κέρδος (Chrysostom).

παροξυσμός] an exasperation. Dem. 1105. 24; Deu_29:28; Jer_32:37. The expression is purposely chosen; it was οὐκ ἔχθρα οὐδὲ φιλονεικία (Chrysostom). But the thing itself had its ground in the ἀνθρωπίνῃ διανοίᾳ according to its relation to the difference of the character confronting it (οὐ γὰρ ἦσαν λίθοι ἢ ξύλοι, Chrysostom).

[45] Luke does not mention the later reunion (Col_4:10; Phm_1:24; 2Ti_4:11), which, if the view as to the book being intended as a reconciliation of Paulinism and Petrinism were correct, must occasion great surprise, as Mark was a disciple of Peter.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act 15:38 . ἠξίου , cf. Act 28:22 (Luk 7:7 ), and cf. 1Ma 11:28 , Mal 2:8Mal 2:8 , etc. ἐβούλ . is a mild word compared with this. συμπαραλαβεῖν , cf. Act 12:25 , used also by Paul in Gal 2:1 of taking Titus with him to Jerusalem, and nowhere else in N.T. except in this passage, cf. Job 1:4 , Mal 1:1Mal 1:1 , so in classical Greek. τὸν ἀποστάντα ἀπʼ αὐτῶν : the neutral word ἀποχωρεῖν ἀπʼ αὐτῶν , Act 13:13 , is not used here, but a word which may denote not disloyalty in the sense of apostasy from Christ, but to the mission, 1Ti 4:1 (Rendall); it is doubtful, however, whether we can press this (see Weiss, in loco ). τοῦτον : significant at the end of the verse, and note also decisive contradiction between συμπαραλ ., Act 15:37 , and μὴ συμπαραλ . here.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Paul thought not good to take him with them who departed from them--that is, who had departed; but the word is stronger than this--"who stood aloof" or "turned away" from them.

from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work--the work yet before them. The allusion is to what is recorded in Act 13:13 (see on Act 13:13).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them] On this subject, See Clarke on Ac 13:13.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

38. who departed from them] See above Act_13:14. He turned back to Jerusalem from Perga.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And the contention was so sharp between them,.... About this matter; Barnabas insisting on it, that John Mark should go with them, he being a relation of his; and in whose favour it might be urged, that his mother Mary was an excellent good woman, who had received the saints into her house, in a time of persecution; and that it should be considered, that this her son was but a young man, and could not be thought to have that courage, resolution, constancy, and solidity, as older professors and ministers; and that his crime was not very heinous, and should be overlooked. Paul, on the other hand, opposing his going with them, as a very unworthy person, because he had behaved so cowardly, and had shown such a coldness and indifference to the work of the ministry, and had so shamefully left them; and thus they disputed the point till there was a paroxysm between them, as is the word used: they were irritated and provoked by one another, and were so warmed and heated on both sides,

that they departed asunder one from another; thus as soon almost as peace was made in the church, a difference arises among the ministers of the word, who are men of like passions with others; and though it is not easy to say which was to blame most in this contention; perhaps there were faults on both sides, for the best men are not without their failings; yet this affair was overruled by the providence of God, for the spread of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his interest; for when these two great and good men parted from one another, they went to different places, preaching the word of God:

and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus;

See Gill on Act 13:4.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

Ver. 38. Who departed from them] Providing for his own ease; for they were then to take a tedious and dangerous journey over the high hill Taurus. This John liked not, but left them, and went his ways.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Paul thought not good - Did not think it proper. Because he could not confide in his perseverance with them in the toils and perils of their journey.

Who departed from them ... - Act 13:13. Why he did this is not known. It was evidently, however, for some cause which Paul did not consider satisfactory, and which, in his view, disqualified him from being their attendant again.

To the work - Of preaching the gospel.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

This deserting of Paul and Barnabas by John, is mentioned Act 13:13.

To the work; the work unto which the Spirit had called them, Act 13:2, which was to offer life and salvation unto the Gentiles, and to gather them into the fold of Jesus Christ. This objection was very considerable, and ought to have weighed more than this John’s propinquity, or nearness in blood, unto Barnabas.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

38. Thought not good—Barnabas previously determined, Paul thought not good; these phrases, both in the Greek and the English, imply personal will on the one side, and moral decision on the other.

Departed… went not—Mark’s fault is unreliability, desertion from the post where he was invited and needed. He had probably gone home to his mother’s (Barnabas’ sister’s) house at Jerusalem, and staid until Barnabas took him thence to Antioch, and had given to Paul no proof of any new firmness of character.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Take with them him for take him with them, A.V.; withdrew for departed, A.V. Withdrew. The Greek word ajpostanta (from which comes the substantive apostasy) is a strong one, and denotes decided blame, as does the indication of the opposite course, by way of contrast, which he did not take. "He did not go with them to the work" to which God called them, as he ought to have done. The whole phrase, too, which follows is strongly worded. "Paul thought good," as regards one who had turned back from the work, "not to take that man." The mh sumparalabein of ver. 38 is, as Meyer observes, sharply opposed to the sumparalabein of ver. 37. Luke evidently sides strongly with Paul, and almost reproduces the ipsis-sima verba of the "sharp contention." One would infer that this passage was penned by Luke before the reconciliation which appears in 2Ti_4:11, and that we have here an indication of the early date of the publication of "The Acts." Perhaps also there is an indication in the narrative, coupled with Mark"s subsequent attach-merit to Peter, that Mark rather leant at this time to Judaizing views, and that his previous departure "from the work" was partly owing to a want of complete sympathy with St. Paul"s doctrine. St. Paul would have no halfhearted helper in his grand and arduous work.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But Paul thought it not right - To trust him again, who had deserted them before: who had shrunk from the labour and danger of converting those they were now going to confirm.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

See notes on verse 36

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

38. τὸν ἀποστάντα ἀπ’ αὐτῶν, him who departed from them. See above, Act 13:13. He turned back to Jerusalem from Perga.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

38. ἠξίον] Not as Vulg. ‘rogabat:’ but ‘æquum censebat,’ as Beza. It gives Paul’s refusal in the strongest manner. The position of the accusatives also forcibly expresses his decided rejection of one who had not dared to face the dangers of the untried country before. But Paul thought proper (as to) one who had fallen off from them from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work, not to take with them that man. We may well believe that Paul’s own mouth gave originally the character to the sentence.

τὸν ἀποστ.] See ch. 13:13. It hence is evident that his departure was not by the authority of the Apostles (as Benson).

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Him [τουτον] . Lit., that one. It marks him very strongly, and is an emphatic position at the end of the sentence.

Departed [αποσταντα] . Rev., withdrew. It furnishes the derivation of our word apostatize.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.