But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
But {G1161} Paul {G3972} thought {G515} not {G3361} good {G515} to take {G4838} him {G5126} with them {G4838}, who {G3588} departed {G868} from {G575} them {G846} from {G575} Pamphylia {G3828}, and {G2532} went {G4905} not {G3361} with them {G846} to {G1519} the work {G2041}.
But Sha’ul thought it would be unwise to take this man with them, since he had gone off and left them in Pamphylia to do the work by themselves.
But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
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Acts 13:13
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. -
Luke 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. -
Luke 14:34
Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? -
James 1:8
A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways. -
Proverbs 25:19
¶ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. -
Psalms 78:9
¶ The children of Ephraim, [being] armed, [and] carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. -
Luke 9:61
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Commentary on Acts 15:38
Acts 15:38 details a significant moment of disagreement between the Apostle Paul and Barnabas concerning John Mark. This verse highlights Paul's reluctance to take John Mark with them on their second missionary journey due to Mark's previous decision to leave them during their first evangelistic endeavor.
Context
This verse is part of a crucial discussion between Paul and Barnabas following the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35), where they decided to revisit the churches they had previously established. Barnabas, being John Mark's cousin, desired to bring him along. However, Paul objected, recalling John Mark's departure from them in Pamphylia during their first journey, where he "went not with them to the work." This disagreement, described in the following verse as a "sharp contention," ultimately led to Paul and Barnabas separating. Barnabas then took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and began his second major mission to Asia Minor and Greece.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "thought not good" (οὐκ ἠξίου, ouk ēxiou) conveys Paul's strong conviction that it was not fitting or proper to include John Mark given his past actions. It suggests a judgment based on practical experience and a desire for reliability in challenging missionary endeavors. The word "departed" (ἀποστάντα, apostanta) emphasizes John Mark's act of leaving or withdrawing from the work, which Paul viewed as a desertion.
Practical Application
This narrative offers several practical lessons for believers today: