By Robert Olsen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
KINGDOM WORK
Acts 15:39–16:10
Plan Threatened (15:39–41)
After the council in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas decided to visit the believers from their previous missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to bring along John Mark again, but Paul did not because in their previous journey, John Mark had left them. We do not know what caused Mark to leave but whatever the reason, it did not sit well with Paul, and he was not going to take Mark again.
This disagreement caused Barnabas to take Mark and go to Cyprus — the first stop from the last trip — while Paul took Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia. We do not know the details of the argument, but out of this disagreement two missions teams were created, allowing the gospel to travel twice as effectively. God can use our disagreements to serve His purposes.
It is good for us to see that later in the Bible, Paul had patched up his disagreement with Mark, as Paul mentions Mark positively in 2 Timothy 4:11.
Plan Activated (16:1–5)
While Paul and Silas were visiting the various believers, they met a Christian named Timothy who then accompanied them on their missionary journey. Although Timothy was uncircumcised, he agreed to be circumcised to keep this from being a stumbling block in the future for Jews. This shows that Paul did not want to cause any unnecessary divisions in the churches but wanted to keep the focus on the gospel. We have to make decisions like these often in our current circumstances. For example, some Christians believe you can only listen to certain types of music or read from a specific version of the Bible. Issues like these can become the main attraction instead of remaining side issues, but Paul says in Romans 14:19 and following that it is better to give up our own freedoms for the gospel.
Plan Altered (6–7)
As Paul and company traveled, they were prevented by the Holy Spirit from going into Asia. We are not given information as to how they knew this. Did they receive a dream of some sort, or was it a prophecy from a local Christian? They may have been physically prevented by a storm or other event. We are not given this information, but we know they obeyed and understood it to be from the Holy Spirit.
We also need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The best way for us to know the Holy Spirit’s leading is through prayer and reading the Bible. We can also receive input from our fellow believers. Instead of seeing roadblocks as obstacles to overcome, we can see that sometimes God is using them to turn us in another direction. If we walk with God we can see our circumstances as situations created by God by which we are to glorify Him instead of complaining about them.
Plan Confirmed (8–10)
While they traveled to Troas, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help. Paul and his companions thus began to travel to Macedonia for this purpose.
It is not common for us today to receive visions from God. Since we do not often get directions from God in this way, how do we know what God wants us to do? Apart from reading the Bible, God gives us desires and gifts to be used for His glory. If we are actively seeking God and following Him, then we can act on our gifts and desires and see this as a way that God is leading us.
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