Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,
- KJV And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
- BSB Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
- NASB Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.
- NLT Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.
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
The dispute grew so sharp that they parted, Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus. A painful disagreement divided the partnership, yet God still advanced the gospel.
Overview
Luke records the conflict candidly, without taking sides, presenting these leaders as real, fallible people. Remarkably, God used even this separation to create two mission teams instead of one. Mark was later restored and valued by Paul himself (2 Timothy 4:11), showing God's grace to overcome failure and disagreement.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Col 4:10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),
- Acts 4:36Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,
- Eccl 7:20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.
- Jas 3:2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
- Rom 7:18–21For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
- Acts 6:1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
- Acts 13:4–12So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
- Acts 11:20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
- Acts 15:2Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
- Acts 27:4Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
- Ps 119:96I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless. MEM
- Ps 106:33because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.
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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.
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Original language
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