Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/164

158 to go and review their work among the Gentiles, and renew it; to take a circuit among the churches they had planted, and see what progress the gospel made among them. Antioch was now a safe and quiet harbour for them, they had there no adversary or evil occurrent; but Paul remembered that they only put in there to refit and refresh themselves, and therefore begins now to think of putting to sea again; and having been in winter quarters long enough, he is for taking the field again, and making another campaign, in a vigorous prosecution of this holy war against Satan's kingdom. Paul remembers that the work appointed him, was afar off among the Gentiles, and therefore he is here meditating a second expedition among them to do the same work, though to encounter the same difficulties; and this some days after, for his active spirit could not bear to be long out of work; no, nor his bold and daring spirit to be long out of danger. Observe,

1. To whom he makes this motion; to Barnabas, his old friend and fellow-labourer; he invites his company and help in this work. We have need one of another, and may be many ways serviceable one to another; and therefore should be forward both to borrow and lend assistance. Two are better than one. Every soldier has his comrade.

2. For whom the visit is designed; "Let us not presently begin new work, or break up new ground; but let us take a view of the fields we have sown. Come, and let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vine flourish, Cant. 7. 12. Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord." Observe, He calls all the christians brethren, and not ministers only; for, Have we not all one Father? He has a concern for them in every city, even there where the brethren were fewest and poorest, and most persecuted and despised; yet let us visit them. Wherever we have preached the word of the Lord, let us go and water the seed sown. Note, Those that have preached the gospel, should visit those to whom they have preached it. As we must look after our praying, and hear what answer God gives to that; so we must look after our preaching, and see what success that has. Faithful ministers cannot but have a particular tender concern for those to whom they have preached the gospel, that they may not bestow upon them labour in vain. See 1 Thess. 3. 5, 6.

3. What was intended in this visit: "Let us see how they do," —how it is with them. It was not merely a compliment that he designed, nor did he take such a journey with a bare How do you do? No, he would visit them, that he might acquaint himself with their case, and impart unto them such spiritual gifts as were suited to it; as the physician visits his recovering patient, that he may prescribe what is proper for the perfecting of his cure, and the preventing of a relapse. Let us see how they do, that is, (1.) What spirit they are of, how they stand affected, and how they behave themselves; it is probable that they frequently heard from them; "But let us go see them; let us go see whether they hold fast what we preached to them; and live up to it, that we may endeavour to reduce them if we find them wandering, to confirm them if we find them wavering, and to comfort them if we find them steady." (2.) What state they are in; whether the churches have rest and liberty; or whether they are not in trouble or distress, that we may rejoice with them if they rejoice, ahd caution them against security; and may weep with them if they weep, and comfort them under the cross, and may know the better how to pray for them.

II. The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas about an assistant; it was convenient to have a young man with them that should attend on them and minister to them, and be a witness of their doctrine, manner of life, and patience; and that should be fitted and trained up for further service, by being occasionally employed in the present service. Now,

1. Barnabas would have his nephew John, whose surname was Mark, to go along with them, v. 37. He determined to take him, because he was his relation, and, it is likely, was brought up under him, and he had a kindness for him, and was solicitous for his welfare. We should suspect ourselves of partiality, and guard against it in preferring our relations.

2. Paul opposed it; (v. 38.) He thought not good to take him with them, —he did not think him worthy of the honour, nor fit for the service, who had departed from them, clandestinely as it should seem, without their knowledge, or wilfully without their consent, from Pamphylia, (ch. 13. 13.) and went not with them to the work, either because he was lazy, and would not take the pains that must be taken; or cowardly, and would not run the hazard. He run his colours just as they were going to engage. It is probable that he promised very fair now, that he would not do so again. But Paul thought it was not fit he should be thus honoured, who had forfeited his reputation; nor thus employed, who had betrayed his trust; at least, not till he had been longer tried. If a man deceive me once, it is his fault; but if twice, it is my own, for trusting him. Solomon saith, Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint, which will hardly be used again, Prov. 25. 19.

III. The issue of this disagreement; it came to such a height, that they parted upon it. The contention, the paroxysm (so the word is,) the fit of passion which this threw them both into, was so sharp, that they departed asunder one from the other. Barnabas was peremptory that he would not go with Paul unless they took John Mark with them; Paul was as peremptory that he would not go if John did go with them. Neither would yield, and therefore there is no remedy but they must part. Now here is that which is very humbling, and just matter of lamentation, and yet very instructive. For we see,

1. That the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are, as these two good men had expressly owned concerning themselves; (ch. 14 15.) and now it appeared too true. I doubt there was (as usually there is in such contentions) a fault on both sides; perhaps Paul was too severe upon the young man, and did not allow his fault the extenuation it was capable of, did not consider what a useful woman his mother was in Jerusalem, (ch. 12. 12.) nor make the allowances he might have made to Barnabas's natural affection. But it was Barnabas's fault that he took that into consideration in a case wherein the interest of Christ's kingdom was concerned, and indulged it too much. And they were certainly both in fault to be so hot as to let the contention be so sharp, (it is to be feared they gave one another some hard words) as also to be so stiff, as each to stick so resolutely to his opinion, and neither to yield. It was a pity that they did not refer the matter to a third person; or that some friend did not interpose to prevent its coming to an open rupture. Is there never a wise man among them to interpose his good offices, and to accommodate the matter, and to put them in mind of the Canaanite and the Perizzite that were now in the land; and that not only Jews and heathens, but the false brethren among themselves, would warm their hands at the flames of the contention between Paul and Barnabas? We must own it was their infirmity, and is recorded for our admonition; not that we must