Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 15:38
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
38. who departed from them ] See above Act 13:14. He turned back to Jerusalem from Perga.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them] On this subject, See Clarke on Ac 13:13.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 Johns propinquity, or nearness in blood, unto Barnabas.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
38. But Paul thought not good totake him with them who departed from themthat is, who haddeparted; but the word is stronger than this”who stood aloof”or “turned away” from them.
from Pamphylia, and went notwith them to the workthe work yet before them. The allusion isto what is recorded in Ac 13:13(see on Ac 13:13).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But Paul thought not good to take him with them,…. He did not think him worthy, or a fit and proper person to go with them, as the word used seems to signify, and therefore he refused to take him: the Syriac version renders it, “but Paul would not take him with them”; and, the Ethiopic version is very expressive, though it renders it in softer language, “Paul prayed, or entreated Barnabas that he would leave Mark”; that is, behind them at Antioch: his reasons were as follow:
who departed from them from Pamphylia, [See comments on Ac 13:13]; either through the fatigue of the journey, or fear of danger, or weariness in his work, or affection to his mother; or be it what it will, it seems in the apostle’s opinion of the matter, he was very blameworthy, and on account of it very undeserving, at least at present, of being a companion of theirs in their travels:
and went not with them to the work; the Arabic version adds, “of preaching”; that is, the Gospel, in the several places whither they went, and to which the Holy Ghost had called them, and for which the church at Antioch had separated, and sent them forth; but in the midst of this John deserted them; and which the apostle resented, he having, as yet, not given any evidence of his sense of his evil, and of his repentance for it, to his satisfaction; though it seems as if he afterwards did, since in Col 4:10 he speaks of him with great respect, as one of his fellow workers, and who had been a comfort to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But Paul thought not good to take with them ( — ). The Greek is far more effective than this English rendering. It is the imperfect active of , old verb to think meet or right and the present active infinitive of the same verb () with negative used with this infinitive. Literally, “But Paul kept on deeming it wise not to be taking along with them this one.” Barnabas looked on it as a simple punctiliar proposal (aorist infinitive), but Paul felt a lively realization of the problem of having a quitter on his hands (present infinitive). Each was insistent in his position (two imperfects). Paul had a definite reason for his view describing John Mark as “him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia” ( ‘ ). Second aorist active articular participle of , intransitive use, “the one who stood off from, apostatized from” (our very word “apostasy”). And also as the one who “went not with them to the work” ( ). At Perga Mark had faced the same task that Paul and Barnabas did, but he flinched and flickered and quit. Paul declined to repeat the experiment with Mark.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Him [] . Lit., that one. It marks him very strongly, and is an emphatic position at the end of the sentence.
Departed [] . Rev., withdrew. It furnishes the derivation of our word apostatize.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But Paul thought not good to take him with them,” (Paulos ed eksiou me sumparalambanien touton) “Yet Paul considered it not proper or judicious to take this one (John Mark) as an equal, a colleague, in travel with them,” perhaps because he had deserted them, refused to go overland into Asia Minor, where the going was dangerous on their former tour, Act 13:13. Reliable men, not neophytes or quitters, not easily discouraged are needed on mission crusades, on mission fields, 1Co 15:58; Gal 6:9.
2) “Who departed from them from Pamphylia,” (ton apostanta ap’auton apo Pamphulias) “The one who withdrew from (deserted) them from Pamphylia,” on their former trip, Act 13:38.
3) “And went not with. them to the work.” (kai me anunelthonta autois eis to ergon) “And did not go in colleague with them (Paul and Barnabas) into the work,” when the mission work took them to face real danger overland into the interior of Asia Minor, yet he was some fourteen years later called to Paul’s help and ministry in Rome, on the European continent, 2Ti 4:11.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 15:38-39 . But Paul judged it not right ( , 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 standing in sharp opposition to the of Act 15:37 , and the significantly repeated at the close. The purposely chosen , 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 , , Oecumenius) was to Paul’s 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 . . , (Chrysostom).
] an exasperation. Dem. 1105. 24; Deu 29:28 ; Jer 32:37 . The expression is purposely chosen; it was (Chrysostom). But the thing itself had its ground in the according to its relation to the difference of the character confronting it ( , 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.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
38. ] Not as Vulg. ‘rogabat:’ but ‘quum 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.
. ] See ch. Act 13:13 . It hence is evident that his departure was not by the authority of the Apostles (as Benson).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 15:38 . , cf. Act 28:22 (Luk 7:7 ), and cf. 1Ma 11:28 , Mal 2:8Mal 2:8 , etc. . is a mild word compared with this. , 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. : the neutral word , 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 ). : significant at the end of the verse, and note also decisive contradiction between ., Act 15:37 , and . here.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
thought . . . good. Greek. axioo, to reckon worthy, or right. Here, Act 28:22. Luk 7:7. 2Th 1:11. 1Ti 5:17. Heb 3:3; Heb 10:29.
departed = fell away. Greek. aphistemi. Compare Luk 8:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
38. ] Not as Vulg. rogabat: but quum censebat, as Beza. It gives Pauls 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 Pauls own mouth gave originally the character to the sentence.
.] See ch. Act 13:13. It hence is evident that his departure was not by the authority of the Apostles (as Benson).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 15:38. , but Paul) Barnabas had been in Christ before Paul: but Paul now in this instance walks more uprightly than Barnabas.-, thought fit) This has more reason in it [ from , worthy] than the , determined, of Barnabas: Act 15:37. See Luk 9:62.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
who: Act 13:13, Psa 78:9, Pro 25:19, Luk 9:61, Luk 14:27-34, Jam 1:8
Reciprocal: Exo 13:17 – the people repent Deu 20:8 – fearful Job 34:27 – turned Jer 20:9 – I will Jon 1:3 – to flee Luk 9:62 – No Act 2:10 – Pamphylia Act 14:24 – Pisidia Act 27:5 – Pamphylia Phi 2:21 – all 1Ti 5:21 – without preferring 2Ti 4:10 – hath
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
Act 15:38. Paul mistrusted Mark’s stability on account of his desertion of the work at Pamphylia. (See chapter 13:13 for the account of this circumstance.)
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 15:38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them. We may well believe that Pauls own mouth gave originally the character to this sentence (Alford).
Who departed from them from Pamphylia. See Act 13:13, where this backsliding of Mark is briefly mentioned. Some have tried to excuse the desertion of Mark by supposing it was on account of illness or weak health, but Paul would never have censured him so severely had this really been the cause of his leaving them. No doubt the young man shrank from the toils and dangers of the work, and such conduct one like Paul could never bear or even find excuses for. It has been suggested with some reason that the dispute between Peter and Paul, in which Barnabas even was carried away by the party opposing Paul, had left behind a coolness between the two former friends; and on this account Paul was less likely to condone any former offence or weakness shown by Barnabas nephew. The strict and truthful accuracy of the writer of these Acts is shown by his faithful record of the parting between the two friends Barnabas and Paul. It was necessary for his history of the first beginnings of Christianity to show how the founders of the Gentile missions first separated and chose independent fields of labour; therefore, in his work, the writer does not shrink from telling the story of this sorrowful dispute. Both those noble men seemed to have erredthe one perhaps too harsh, the other too forgiving; neither chose to yield his opinion, and so they parted. The New Testament writers, faithful and true, tell us but of One Teacher whose love and charity never failed.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 36
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 38
And went not with them; as related Acts 13:13,