Acts 17:26-34 ESV

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said," 'For we are indeed his offspring.’

29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

HE COMMANDS ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TO REPENT

As a sovereign God, He does authorize who will rule (Rom 13:1–7) and what the geographical boundaries and rule tenure of nations. (Deut 32:8]. Thus, "they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him" (v.27).

God can't be far away because even the Greek poets affirmed in their writings that God gives people life. Further, they said that we are His offspring. And since we are, it is foolish to think God could be represented by an immobile statue designed by human imagination and made by human hands, is it not? (v. 28,29)

Instead, Paul calls the Athenians to repent. Repentance is a change of mind that affects one’s action. They had disrespected God and need to admit their sin of idolatry. God is a jealous God and he won’t share His glory to another.[Isa 48:11] Just as God set times for individuals and nations, He set a time for future judgment. He affirmed this by selecting the judge and identifying Him by raising Him from the dead (v. 30,31).

Christ’s resurrection is the pivotal event in history. Since then, Jesus has ascended into heaven and is coming again to judge the living and the dead. [1 Pet 3:22] As Paul explained, “21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”[1 Cor 15:21-24]

In summary, Paul's wit and argument to take an altar to an unknown God and wind it around to Jesus' resurrection is impressive, is it not? Unfortunately, neither Epicureans nor Stoics believed in the resurrection of the dead, so that they did not believe in a future judgment. The Stoics thought the chief aim of man is to live in harmony with the logos—the law that governs the universe—to which they will return. While the Epicureans thought life is about finding just enough food, pleasure, and comfort to not be in want but not be in excess. For them, fulfillment comes in the moment, and when they die, they will cease to exist. Thus, they mocked Paul but a few asked for more and eventually believed.

- Acts 17:22-27 ESV

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.

TO THE UKNOWN GOD

They became curious to what Paul had preached. Thus, they invited Paul to speak at Areopagus. According to gotquestions.org, “Northwest of the city of Athens, Greece, is a small hill covered in stone seats. This area was once used as a forum for the rulers of Athens to hold trials, debate, and discuss important matters. This location was called Areopagus, a combination of the Greek words for “god of war” and “stone”: the Areopagus is literally “Ares’ Rock.” The equivalent to Ares in Roman mythology is Mars. By the time of Paul and the early Christian church, this location was under Roman control, so the spot was known as Mars Hill.”

Paul started by commending the people about their culture of religiosity. Being religious isn’t a bad thing. There is a good religion. James says, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”[Jas 1:26,27]

Paul was observant. And, he connected well with the people by identifying their religiosity. The Greeks basically believed in a pantheon of gods. But, Paul was quick to tailor the gospel message on one altar. He said, “For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”

Could God be confined on an altar? He is the transcendent God. That is, as the creator, He is over and above creation. As Paul said, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. “ Moreover, He is sovereign. Paul continued. “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him.”

Why they placed an altar with the inscription, “to the unknown god”? When it is uncertain, they didn’t want to miss anyone. Perchance, this god could be appeased their sacrifices. It’s ridiculous to believe on something like an idol blindly, is it not. Thank God for we can know God because He reveals to us in the person of Christ.

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Acts 17:16-21 ESV

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

A NEW TEACHING

Paul waited the arrival of Silas and Timothy at Athens. When he saw the city full of idols. He was provoked within him. Was he moved with compassion as Jesus saw the multitudes? [see Matt 9] Was it because he was zealous for the glory of God?

His passion moved him into action. He reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Paul was an oppotunist for the gospel. Are we?

He conversed with the Epicureans and Stoics. Epicureans believed in materialism and annihilationism: that there is no true supernatural and when a person dies there is no soul or spirit to resurrect. Stoics, on the other hand, believed everything is material, including the soul, which is made of fire, and at death the soul returns to logos, the foundational law of the cosmos. Both don’t believe in a final judgment of wrong behavior.

They accused Paul as a babbler. It refers to a bird that picks up random seeds from the ground. Metaphorically, it refers to someone who wanders about the marketplace, picking up bits and pieces of different philosophies and mashing them together in an incohesive mess.

They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. In other words, they were just curious at what Paul proclaimed. The gospel was not new. It’s only that they were ignorant about it yet.

Today, whether people would believe the gospel or not, that doesn’t change the truth of it as somebody would take his medicine or not. We don’t amend the message to make it palatable. The gospel must be proclaimed as it is. As Paul said, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”[1 Cor 1:18]

Let’s take heed to what Peter has admonished us, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”[1 Pet 3:15,16]

Acts 17:10-15 ESV

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

THE NOBLE BELIEVERS

When God allows a set back, He is opening a new opportunity. Indeed, He directs our steps as He did to Paul to escape death fromThessalonica to Berea. Was he afraid to die? Definitely not! He has zeal but according to wisdom.

Nobody can quench the flaming heart of Paul and the team. Instead of resting at Berea, they went to synagogue to preach. Amazingly, they received the word with all eagerness. In fact, these Jewish believers were more noble than in Thessalonica.

Why?

They were examining the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul had preached were so. The Bereans' response to study for themselves is unique and admirable (1 John 4:1). Their study and acceptance surely had allowed Jesus' story to reach further into the synagogue's leadership. This provided Paul and Silas more freedom to teach definitely. This is a beautiful example in Scripture which endorse an informed and reasonable faith (1 John 4:1; 2 Cor 13:5)

It's not enough to receive the gospel by faith. We must grow and demonstrate it in our lives. As Paul said, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”[Col 2:6,7] And, this needs our faithfulness in spending time in the scriptures. The scriptures builds us up. [Acts 20:32] As the psalmist writes;

“his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.”[Psa 1:2-3]

Our nobility rests in the depth of our grasp of Scriptures.

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Acts 17:1-9 ESV

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

MEN WHO HAVE TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

For three Sabbaths, Paul preached in the synagogues at Thesssalonica to the Jews, as it was his custom. He reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”[v.2,3]

Are we zealous to proclaim Christ and Him alone like Paul? Even to the Corinth Christians Paul had declared, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”[1 Cor 2:2] The gospel is our only message that is powerful.[Rom 1:16]

Many Jews, devout Greeks and even many influential women were persuaded. Indeed, the crucified Christ is irresistible. Jesus even claimed, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John recorded,” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”[John 12:3-33]

The gospel that attacks would antagonize the enemies of Christ and his servants. The Jewish leaders who were jealous instigated a mob. They articulated well about the essence of the gospel message by their accusations. In what ways? That, Paul and company were counter-culture. Because their message transformed lives, they were branded as ‘men who have turned the world upside down.’ The Christians with Jason, who accommodated Paul and Silas, were willing to suffer for Jesus. Later, Paul wrote about the supernatural conversion and transformation of the Thessalonian Christians, saying, “Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”[1 Thess 1:5-10]

Acts 16:16-19 ESV

16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

THE SLAVE GIRL SET FREE

This slave girl’s story is from bondage to freedom. She was governed by demons so that she could perform divinations or fortune telling. Her owners had used her with much gain. Sadly, she was both enslaved physically and spiritually. Similarly, the god of this world has enslaved every sinful man. As Paul described, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”[Eph 2:1-3]

She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” [V.17] Why was Paul annoyed? Because someone possessed by an evil spirit was riding on the real deal, that is, the Gospel of Christ. She may have recognized them as people spreading the gospel, but the foundation and source of her ability was not Christ, but a demon. The reason behind why he rebuked the demon.

What does this mean to us today?

You see, friends and brethren , this scenario is the subtle infiltration of Satan to the gospel work. It's about exposing and stopping counterfeits who present themselves as "Christs." It's about discerning the spirit behind each and every person's choices and decisions, and acting accordingly.

As Paul rebuked the demon, he came out at that very hour as darkness will give way when the light comes. As John said, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”[1 John 1:5] She was freed by the name of Jesus, not because she had faith in Jesus but the faith of Paul. In contrast to her deep misery as a slave, she obtained and experienced true freedom. As Jesus has said, “ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”[John 8:36]

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Acts 16:13-15 ESV

13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

LYDIA, THE FIRST CONVERT IN EUROPE

It was divine appointment that Paul and team met Lydia. However, it should have not happened should they didn’t go where people were gathering by the riverside. It was place of prayer in Philippi where they found women praying during Sabbath. They looked for an opportunity to proclaim the word[gospel].

Normally, when entering a new city, Paul attends the local synagogue and waits for an opportunity to speak (see also Acts 13:5; 18:4). And, there was a requisite ten Jews needed to maintain a synagogue. Most probably, there were not enough Jewish men in Philippi to open a synagogue there. All it had was a group of women who worshiped the Jewish God and met on the Sabbath at the river to pray.

Paul and team had no idea who among the ladies would the Spiriit would convict until Lydia responded upon hearing the word preached. Indeed, faith comes by hearing the word[Rom 10:17]. God had rerouted Paul and friends and also ensured that Lydia would be in the right place at the right time to encounter Paul and hear the good news of Jesus.

Definitely, the Lord had opened her blinded heart to believe the gospel. Let’s not forget that ‘the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’[2 Cor 4:4] But, God is light so that he could open eyes and dispel darkness. [1 John 1:5]

Lydia was from the city of Thyatira, who was a seller of purple goods, must be a wealthy businesswoman. Thyatira was famous for, being a center of indigo trade. Lydia apparently had moved to Philippi to ply her trade in that city. And, she was a worshiper of God. Was Lydia a Jewish woman because she was worshipping God during Sabbath or a Jewish proselyte.

What could we learn from her story?

We see the sovereignty of God in salvation. As Jesus has claimed, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). She and her household were baptized. The gospel is too good not to be shared to her household. Moreover, we also see the immediate bond that a new believer has with other believers in Christ. Lydia showed hospitality to Paul and the team, and she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

Interestingly, the early church was filled with "firsts." The church in Jerusalem was the first church (Acts 2:1–4). Cornelius and his household were the first large group of Gentiles to come to faith in Christ (Acts 10:44–48). The church in Syrian Antioch was the first to be home to large numbers of Gentiles (Acts 11:19–26). The church in Philippi was the first church in Europe, and the first documented to start with a Gentile household, and the first that began with a woman.

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Acts 16:6-12 ESV

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.

THE MACEDONIAN CALL

There was no doubt That Paul, Silas and Timothy were dedicated to enter new places to preach the good news. Paul, himself was tasked and committed, to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, in the heartland of Asia.

The question is where?

The team planned and worked their itinerary. They had come up to Mysia, attempted to go into Bithynia, But the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. Troas is a port town on the westernmost shore of modern-day Asia Minor. At Troas, Paul saw a vision in the night. An image of a man of Macedonia appeared standing, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Planning isn’t wrong in itself, unless we won't involve God. This was the warning of James, who said, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”[Jas 4:13-17] This was the mistake of the rich farmer in Jesus’ parable in Luke 12.

As a response to the vision, Paul and the team immediately sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. His will was clear and their obedience was prompt.

What does this mean to us today?

Solomon has admonished, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”[Prov 16:3] We should plan with God’s guidance. He continued to say, “ The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”[Prov 16:9] Should we plan and our thoughts are subservient to God’s ways, He promised to lead us to the right direction. As Prov 3:5-6 says;

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.”

As the saying goes, “Plan your ways but don’t carve it upon the stone’ Let’s not seek a vision or dream for primarily the bible can give us principles in making decisions. However, let’s give the benefit of the doubt to God and seek Him in prayer. He may use people and our circumstances to affirm our plans or not. Why? Isaiah has articulated the sovereignty of God , saying;

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”[Isa 55:8,9]

Acts 16:1-3 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

TIMOTHY, A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE

As they arrived in Derbe and Lystra, Paul saw Timothy. Who was he? He was a ‘mestizo’. His mom and grandmom were Eunice and Lois, respectively . Both of them were Jewish believers while his dad was Greek, presumed as an unbeliever. And he was a devout disciple of Christ, well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Paul decided to take him in his missionary journey with the rest of the team. But, he wasn’t circumcised yet. Thus, Paul had him circumcised because of the Jews. That is, not to provide a stumbling block in preaching the gopel to the Jews. Later, Paul had clarified this by saying, “ For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”[1 Cor 9:19-23]

Paul had endeared Timothy so that he referred him as son in the faith. He wrote to him, “To Timothy, my true child in the faith:” [1 Tim 1:2] This is also seen in 1 Tim 1:18, 2 Tim 2:1 and 1 Cor 4:17. It is either because he won Timothy to the Lord or he was his apprentice or both. It is worth noting that in each of these instances, as well as the other places that Paul calls someone his “son,” he uses the Greek word “teknon” rather than the much more commonly used word “huios’ for “son” in the New Testament. “Teknon” is taken as a more a figurative sense than “huios.” We do not know for sure why Paul used the word “son,” but we know that when he used it, he had great affection for that person.

Timothy was a very dependable son to Paul. Paul commended him to the church of Philippi, saying, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”[Phil 2:19-22] Paul has poured his heart to him, saying, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”[2 Tim 2:1,2] But, Timothy was a little timid too. As a pastor in Ephesus later, Paul has encouraged him, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”[1 Tim 4:12]

Timothy was chosen by Paul for a greater task not in order to become faithful. It was because he was already proven faithful. As Jesus highlighted an important principle, that is, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”[Luke 16:10] Your faithfulness in your task today is a preparation for a greater task someday.

Acts 15:36-40 ESV

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

DO AGREE TO DISAGREE

The dust of confusion brought about by the false teachers has cleared among the believers, in both Jewish and non-Jewish believers. The Jewish false teachers were put to silence and their plan was foiled. Then, Paul and Barnabas planned their second mission trip. Paul was clear about their purpose of this visit. That was, they would ‘visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.’ [v.36] Young churches needed support and encouragement. If they are left to themselves as orphans, they won’t survive surely. Nurture is important. As Paul expects every Christian, by saying, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”[Col 2:6,7] Christian growth is not an option but a must. Where there is life there should be growth.

But, Paul and Barnabas disagreed about bringing John Mark with them or not. Paul thought best not to take him with them. In their first journey, John Mark had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. But, Barnabas, John Mark’s cousin differed Paul. Their sharp disagreement led them to separate into two missionary teams.

Certainly, Paul and Barnabas were united in the idea to have another trip in order to follow up the new churches. It was in the ‘how’ they should form the team that they differed. In the same manner in most cases, we do have the same heartbeat about the needs in ministry and the gospel, don’t we? It’s on the ‘process’ that we differ. Thus, we should be magnanimous in such situation to agree to disagree.

Both, Paul and Barnabas had merits in their decision. Paul seemed task-oriented that John Mark may fail to complete this trip again. For him, it was not yet time for them to take John Mark. While, Barnabas, as an encourager himself, was people-oriented. That, John Mark could learn from his mistake and has to be given the chance. Later, he was proven right for John Mark was back to his feet again. But, we know later that Paul has nothing personal to John Mark. He wrote to Timothy, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”[2 Tim 4:11]

We should be united in the gospel. Both had the same heartbeat about the importance of spreading the gospel. However, God allows diversity consistent to the uniqueness of our giftedness and personalities in the non-essentials. God allows preferences so that we don’t necessarily agree in everything. Let’s not coerce and force our opinions at others. Let us take note that both teams of Paul and Barnabas had made great impact for the expansion of God’s kingdom through the ministry of the gospel. Thus, let us be magnanimous in our spirit.

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