So were the churches established

Although the issues are very different, it is sad to observe that chapter 15 ends on a similar note to where it began, for it closes with division. Who would have imagined that two brethren who had preached and taught together, and who had laboured and suffered together for many years would fall out to the extent that ‘the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another’, v. 39 NKJV.

A man who had displayed such gracious humility in bringing Saul of Tarsus to Antioch in the early days of the Lord’s work there now acts on fleshly impulse. Allowing family ties to cloud his spiritual discernment, Barnabas leaves Antioch without commendation; taking his nephew John Mark with him, he returns to his homeland of Cyprus. What a salutary lesson this is for each of us! We must not allow natural relationships to prejudice our decisions relative to spiritual matters.

Having been commended to the grace of God, Paul sets out from Antioch on his second missionary journey, taking Silas with him. Soon they reach Derbe and Lystra, places where Paul had been some years before. On that former occasion Timothy had been converted through the apostle’s preaching, and in the intervening years he had developed spiritually. Being well reported by the assemblies in that region, Timothy was requested by Paul to join with him, and so began a long companionship. Such was the affinity between them that, writing to the church at Philippi, Paul stated, ‘I have no man likeminded’, Phil. 2. 20.

Working in unison with Timothy, and implementing the prudent measures which had resolved the doctrinal conflict at Antioch, Paul had the joy of seeing the Christians in various cities progressing spiritually such that they were ‘established in the faith’. Coupled with that spiritual progress there was a numerical increase on a daily basis. What a thrill it would be to recapture such times of blessing in our day!

Sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Paul abandoned his attempts to go to Bithynia and moved westwards into Macedonia eventually reaching Philippi. How thankful we should be that he did so, as this is the first time we read of the gospel coming to Europe!