But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
- KJV But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
- NKJV But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
- NASB But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
- NLT But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul objected because Mark had earlier deserted them in Pamphylia. Paul judged Mark's past withdrawal as disqualifying for this journey.
Overview
Mark had left the first journey early (Acts 13:13), and Paul considered this a serious reliability concern. The disagreement was over wisdom in stewarding the mission, not over doctrine. Scripture presents both men's concerns honestly without condemning either, showing how sincere believers may differ over ministry decisions.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Acts 13:13After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
- Prov 25:19Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
- Luke 14:27–34And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
- Jas 1:8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
- Ps 78:9The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.
- Luke 9:61Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 15:38 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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