Friday, May 7, 2010

Acts 15:36-16:5

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

1He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Questions to consider:

• What causes sharp tension between Paul and Barnabas? What happens? How does God
overrule this argument for good?
• Why, do you think, do Paul and Barnabas choose to work with someone else rather than
alone?
• Do you have a friend with whom you work, pray, and share God’s workings?
• How can you reconcile God’s action regarding Timothy with the decision of the apostles
and elders from Chapter 15?


Possibilities for prayer:

One of the really exciting things about life in relationship with Christ is that we are allowed and even encouraged to be in community. Of course, sometimes being in community with others can be challenging (as Paul and Barnabas experienced first hand), but I’ve personally found it to be incredibly rewarding as well. Let’s thank God for the people, community, that we’ve been given. And if you don’t feel like you have someone to share work, prayer, and Jesus-seeking life with, try taking some time to pray that God would provide a friendship like that.