The Bible’s text
Barnabas and Paul: the split in Acts 15
Barnabas was the man who first vouched for Paul and travelled with him on his first mission. Then the two parted after a sharp argument. What does the New Testament say happened between them?
1The question
Why did Barnabas and Paul part ways, and what does it tell us about the early church?
2What Christians believe
Christians answer that the split was personal, not about doctrine. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin Mark on their next journey, and Paul did not, because Mark had left them before (Acts 15:37–38). Both went on preaching the same gospel.
Christians note that Paul later speaks of Barnabas warmly (1 Corinthians 9:6) and of Mark as a helper (Colossians 4:10), so the quarrel did not last for ever.
3What the texts say
Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
The argument over Mark
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
The clash in Antioch
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Later mentions
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
4What scholars say
F. F. Bruce (Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 1977) reads the split in Acts 15 as a disagreement over Mark, but links it to the earlier tension in Antioch, when Barnabas sided with Peter.
James D. G. Dunn (Beginning from Jerusalem, 2009) sees the Antioch incident in Galatians 2 as a turning point: Paul lost the argument there, and afterwards worked more independently of Antioch and Jerusalem.
Scholars agree that Galatians 2:13 shows Barnabas siding with Peter and the men from James against Paul on eating with Gentiles, and that Acts describes the later split more gently.
5The Islamic perspective
The Qur’an honours the disciples of Jesus as the helpers of God, who believed in the one God and surrendered to him:
But when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah's helpers. We believe in Allah, and bear thou witness that we have surrendered (unto Him).
O ye who believe! Be Allah's helpers, even as Jesus son of Mary said unto the disciples: Who are my helpers for Allah? They said: We are Allah's helpers. And a party of the Children of Israel believed, while a party disbelieved. Then We strengthened those who believed against their foe, and they became the uppermost.
Muslims notice that Barnabas, a respected early leader from the Jerusalem church, did not simply follow Paul. In Antioch he stood with Peter and the followers of James. For Muslims this shows that the early church held different views, and that Paul’s way was not the only one.
6Objections and responses
“Acts says the argument was about Mark, nothing more.”
Response: Acts gives that reason. But Paul himself, in Galatians, describes an earlier break in Antioch where “Barnabas also was carried away” with Peter. Paul’s own letter is the earlier source, and it shows a disagreement about practice, not only about a travel companion.
“Paul later speaks well of Barnabas, so they agreed on everything.”
Response: Speaking kindly of someone does not mean agreeing with them on everything. Muslims do not claim Barnabas was an enemy of Paul, only that the early leaders did not all see things Paul’s way.
7Conclusion
Both sides agree that Barnabas first brought Paul to the apostles, that they worked together, and that they later parted after a sharp argument. Christians see a personal quarrel that healed. Muslims see a sign that the first followers of Jesus did not all follow Paul’s path.
Read Acts 15:36–41 and Galatians 2:11–14 together and compare the two accounts.
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Related topics
Sources
- Bible, King James Version:Acts 9:27Acts 13:2Acts 15:37Acts 15:38Acts 15:39Galatians 2:131 Corinthians 9:6Colossians 4:10
- Qur’an, translated by M. Pickthall:Qur’an 3:52Qur’an 61:14
- F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (1977)
- James D. G. Dunn, Beginning from Jerusalem (2009)