Acts 15: 36-40
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the Word of the Lord and see how they are.
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphilia and had not gone with them to the work.
And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.
But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
This has been called the first church split. But the church didn't split here, it's just Barnabas and Paul having a sharp disagreement.
Paul was remembering how Mark was so overcome by the ruggedness and perils that he quit and went home, and was probably concerned that it was too soon to subject him to the same hardships again. It looks like he didn't trust Mark to follow through on his commitments.
So Barnabas, the perennial encourager, took Mark to Cypress by boat, a different route than he had taken before that had discouraged him. Then we hear nothing more about where they went or what they did.
The story continues following Paul in his journeys.
O my Father, thank You for giving us this history book, recounting the first halting steps of Your church, until it is firmly established in the whole known world of the time.
Thank You for showing us the courage and boldness of Your Apostles in their zeal to spread Your Word, the news that Jesus did it all!
Thank You for preserving Your church through every generation, that we would not lose the precious Truth that our faith is founded on. That we can trust You to be strong enough to not allow the loss of a single idea, a single brick in the constitution of this building made of living stones.
You have promised to never leave us, and You are still with us today. We can count on Your Word.
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness, that You have also given to Your church to be faithful in the purpose for which You leave us here after saving us, and not taking us home immediately.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
