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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 15:36–16:5

INTRODUCTION: We’re back to Church on the Move! Today is the first message in our third set of messages from our Church on the Move series. By way of review, there are four major movements we find in the book of Acts:

   1-8 > From Jerusalem to Samaria
   9-15 > From the Jews to the Gentiles
   16-20 > From Asia to Europe
   21-28 > To the ends of the Earth

Chapters 1–8 track the movement of the church from Jerusalem to Samaria. Chapters 9–15 track the movement of the church from the Jews to the Gentiles. Chapters 16–20 track the movement of the church from Asia to Europe. Chapters 21–28 track the movement of the church as it makes its way to the ends of the earth.

Today, we begin the third of these four movements, the movement from Asia to Europe. This is the movement which really sets the stage for that fourth and final movement when the church and the gospel go to the ends of the earth. We’re part of that fourth movement, so this third movement ties directly into why we’re all here today. (Read Acts 16:4–5 and pray.)

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Our passage today marks the beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey. We’re not going to cover the whole missionary journey today, as it covers three full chapters, but today’s passage gets us started on this amazing journey.

There are three missionary journeys recorded for us in the book of Acts.
• First missionary journey > Acts 13–14 (A.D. 46–49)
• Second missionary journey > Acts 16–18 (A.D. 50–52)
• Third missionary journey > Acts 18–20 (A.D. 53–58) [keep slide up]

[Note: See chart at end of message for more detailed descriptions of all of Paul’s missionary journeys.]

On this second trip, Paul and his ministry partners visit the churches previously established during the first trip. These were the Galatian churches. We learned about that when we studied Acts 13–14.

After they finish visiting the Galatian churches, God redirects them from Asia to Europe. During this part of the journey, they share the gospel and plant churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth, while also stopping in Ephesus on the way home.

Just as we learn more about the Galatian churches through Paul’s letter to the Galatians, so also we learn more about these new churches through Paul’s letters to the Philippians, Thessalonians, Corinthians, and Ephesians.
This second missionary trip was fraught with peril. In many ways, you could say this was the missionary journey that almost didn’t happen. That would have been devastating for the cause of the gospel. It would probably mean that we wouldn’t be here today. That’s how important this mission trip was for the gospel and the world.

I. Disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (15:36–41)

The problems all began with the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas were godly men. They had been successful ministry partners in the first missionary journey, so what happened this time? Let’s find out.

   A. Revisit the churches (36)

Paul wanted to revisit the churches he and Barnabas had planted together on their first missionary journey, so it was natural to ask Barnabas to come along. Back to chapter 15, look at verse 36 with me now:

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” (Acts 15:36)

The first missionary trip took place in A.D. 46–49. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch following this first trip, and as you may recall, some troublemakers from Jerusalem had come to Antioch teaching the people that faith in Christ alone was not enough but they needed to be circumcised as well. Paul and Barnabas then traveled to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders.

This was the great Council at Jerusalem, where they determined the Gentile believers did not need to be circumcised; faith in Christ was sufficient for salvation. The council wrote a letter to the churches explaining their decisions. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch with the letter, which was a great encouragement to the Gentile believers. They then remained there teaching and preaching the word of God.

Now Paul wanted to go back and revisit the churches they had planted. It had been a year or so, and Paul wanted to see how they were all doing. So he asked Barnabas to come along.

   B. Disagreement over John Mark (37–38)

However, they immediately ran into a matter of disagreement. Look at verses 37–38:

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. (Acts 15:37–38)

Barnabas agreed to revisit the churches, but he wanted to take John Mark with them. This is the same Mark who eventually wrote the gospel of Mark. He was also Barnabas’ cousin. He had started out as a helper on the first missionary journey but left them when they got to Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). We were not told why at the time, but now the issue resurfaces as Paul and Barnabas begin to plan this second journey. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul did not think it wise. And so we have this disagreement between Paul and Barnabas before the second missionary journey even gets started.

This was not their first disagreement. When those troublemakers came to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas had also disagreed over whether or not they should eat with the Gentiles, but they worked through that one (Gal. 2:11–13). There are always going to be disagreements in the church, so we need to learn how to handle them graciously and wisely, while always deferring to Scripture.

Earlier we were told that Mark “left” them at Pamphylia. This time we are told that he “deserted” them. That is much stronger language. This is the first time we learn that Mark’s leaving them on the initial journey was not a mutual decision. Once again, we are not told why Mark left. Was he homesick? Afraid of persecution? Discouraged by the hardship of the journey? Whatever the reason, Paul did not view it as legitimate but rather as a desertion.

   C. Paul and Silas (39–41)

And that leads us to the pairing of Paul and Silas for this second missionary journey. Look at verses 39–41 next:

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:39–41)

Luke tells us this was a sharp disagreement. There was no “agree to disagree” here, and sadly no unity in the decision. Neither side was willing to back down, and this led to a split in their ministry efforts as they parted company.
It is always sad when churches or ministries split, but it is also an unfortunate reality when sinful human beings are trying to work together for the gospel. It can be very discouraging, but we should always remember God can still use it for good. Many new churches have been formed out of splits, but it is still much better to plant churches than to split them!

Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, which is where Barnabas was born. This is the last we hear about their missionary efforts, but Paul will have good things to say about both of them in the letters he will write later. (Paul writes about Barnabas in 1 Corinthians 9:6 and Colossians 4:10; he writes about John Mark in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11.)

With Barnabas out of the picture, Paul chose a new partner, Silas. We already met Silas earlier in the chapter. Silas and Judas were leaders in the church at Jerusalem who were also recognized as prophets (15:22,32). The apostles and elders sent them to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas to deliver the letter with instructions from the Council in Jerusalem (15:27,30). Silas had initially returned to Jerusalem (15:33), so either Paul sent for him or he may have been back in Antioch for a visit. Either way, Paul must have thought highly of Silas to seek him out as his next missionary partner.

As it turns out, Silas would become such an important partner for Paul, and we usually remember Paul and Silas as missionary partners rather than Paul and Barnabas, even though Barnabas came first.
And so Paul and Silas left for this second missionary journey with the prayers and blessing of the church at Antioch. This is another important missionary principle. Always pray for your missionaries before sending them out. Mission work is risky business, and you never know what obstacles they may face.

Together they traveled through Syria and then northwest into Cilicia. It’s likely they stopped at Paul’s hometown of Tarsus in Cilicia and then proceeded to the churches Paul had established on the first missionary journey.

II. Timothy joins the team! (16:1–3)

And that is when Timothy joined the team!

   A. Meet Timothy (1–2)
      – 1 Tim. 4:12; 2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14–15

When they get to Lystra, we meet another important ministry partner for Paul — the young man, Timothy. Moving into chapter 16 now, look at verses 1–2:

He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. (Acts 16:1–2)

Derbe and Lystra were two of the cities from the first missionary journey. Timothy is called a disciple here, meaning he is a follower of Jesus. He was most likely converted along with his mother on Paul’s first missionary trip to the city four years earlier. He must have still been in his teens, because fifteen years later Paul will still call him a young man (1 Tim. 4:12).

Timothy’s mother was Jewish and a believer, but his father was Greek. Luke doesn’t directly tell us whether Timothy’s father was a believer or not, but the strong implication from Scripture is that he was not. His mother is specifically said to be a believer, whereas the father is simply described by his cultural background. Later on in the letter of 1 Timothy, Paul writes how Timothy’s grandmother and mother were both women of faith, but he doesn’t mention Timothy’s father at all (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14–15).

Luke tells us the believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Lystra and Iconium were neighboring towns about twenty miles apart. This tells us Timothy had a good reputation in the community.

   B. No unnecessary offense (3)
      – Phil. 2:20–22

This is where we encounter another vital missionary principle, that in sharing the gospel with others we need to be careful not to cause any unnecessary offense. Look at verse 3 with me next:

Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. (Acts 16:3)

Perhaps Paul missed having a younger partner on the team, similar to when John Mark traveled with him and Barnabas. Either way, Paul liked what he saw in Timothy and invited him to join him and Silas for the remainder of the trip. It is good and necessary to mentor and disciple younger believers, and we must always be thinking about the next generation of leaders in the church.

There was just one problem with this plan. Having a Greek for a father rather than a Jew, Timothy was not circumcised. Paul knew this could be a stumbling block for the Jews they were trying to reach. So Paul had him circumcised before they left Lystra. This way Timothy could freely enter the synagogues with Paul and Silas without causing any unnecessary offense.

Paul stood strong against circumcision when anyone tried to make it a requirement for salvation, but he was glad to circumcise in order to remove a possible stumbling block for the gospel. Timothy was half-Jewish anyway, so this made perfect sense. Just as Gentile Christians are not required to become Jews, in the same way Jewish Christians are not required to abandon Jewish customs.

Timothy proved to be a good partner. Paul came to view him as a son and spoke of him in the highest of terms, later telling the Philippians: “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare…. You know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (Phil. 2:20–22).

III. Sharing the council’s decisions (4–5)

Paul, Silas and Timothy continued on the journey together, sharing the council’s decisions with the churches Paul and Barnabas had previously established. Look at verses 4–5 next:

As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. (Acts 16:4–5)

   A. From town to town (4)

The team of three traveled from town to town sharing the council’s decisions with the churches and encouraging them in the faith. What were these decisions? These were the decisions the council wrote down in the letter that was originally delivered to Antioch. The Gentile believers were to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from the meat of strangled animals, from the eating of blood, and from sexual immorality. [keep slide up]
When we studied this back in chapter 15, we learned that the first three items were all ceremonial issues that would have made table fellowship with Jews difficult. The fourth item was a moral issue that was prevalent in Gentile culture.

We saw that the council was not adding anything to faith for salvation with this list. Rather, they were asking for consideration and respect for their fellow Jewish believers when it came to ceremonial issues, and they were warning them against a common sin among the Gentiles that they needed to leave behind as new followers of Jesus. [take slide down]

This was good news for these Gentile churches. The council determined that the Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to be Christians. The council just asked for mutual care and respect so as not to cause any unnecessary offense that might negatively impact Christian fellowship between the Gentile and Jewish believers in Christ.

   B. Strong and growing (5)

These were all good and wise decisions. Choosing Silas worked out well, as Silas was a strong, respected leader from Jerusalem. Circumcising Timothy worked out because we don’t hear of any problems arising from Timothy partnering with Paul and Silas on this mission. And the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem worked out because they were made prayerfully with the help of the Holy Spirit and were confirmed by the church as a whole. This whole missionary enterprise required much wisdom and discernment, and as a result these new churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

This is a wonderful example of evangelism (planting the seed), followed by discipleship (spiritual growth), leading to further witness (bearing fruit for the Lord). Dawson Trottman, the founder of Navigators, wrote a little booklet called Born to Reproduce. As Christians we are born again, not simply so we may enjoy the fruits of salvation for ourselves, but so we may reproduce — sharing our faith with others so they can know Christ and so they can share their faith with others as well. When this happens, we are truly a church on the move.

APPLICATIONS: Let me share with you four applications we learn from this passage in closing.

1) The importance of developing churches (Matt. 16:18)

First of all, we learn the importance of developing churches. Paul and his partners did not merely lead people to Christ on their missionary journeys. They established churches. And they not only established churches — they went back and visited those churches to encourage them and strengthen them in the faith.

Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). The church is God’s chosen vehicle for evangelism, discipleship, and spiritual growth. If you want to be a Christian on the move, you need to be part of a church that’s on the move.

We are born to reproduce. Missionaries don’t simply share the gospel and stop there. They establish and develop churches that will continue sharing the gospel and discipling new believers long after the missionaries are gone.

2) The importance of avoiding stumbling blocks to the gospel (2 Cor. 6:3)

Secondly, we learn the importance of avoiding stumbling blocks to the gospel. Paul would later write to the Corinthians: “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited” (2 Cor. 6:3). Paul had Timothy circumcised to avoid a possible stumbling block. We also need to be careful not to create any stumbling blocks for people as we share the gospel with them.

Common stumbling blocks to the gospel today include legalism (creating commands that are not found in the Bible), hypocrisy (not practicing what we preach), and political entanglements that can cause people to confuse the gospel with politics. (This is one of the reasons I personally don’t engage in politics on Facebook. I don’t want to create any unnecessary stumbling blocks to sharing the gospel with others.)

Now I’m not saying don’t preach the gospel or God’s word. After all, the gospel itself can be a stumbling block for many people. But we do want to avoid any unnecessary stumbling blocks to the gospel. The gospel can be hard enough for people to hear and accept without us creating additional stumbling blocks that could keep them from coming to Jesus.

3) The importance of working through disagreements (Phil. 1:27)

Thirdly, we learn the importance of working through disagreements. Paul would later write to the Philippians that they should “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27–28). Our unity is so important to our presentation of the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas’ disagreement over John Mark almost derailed the whole mission trip. These were godly men. If it happened to them, it could happen to us. If we are going to be a church on the move for Christ, we need to make sure we work through our disagreements in a godly manner so we do not derail or distract from the mission of the church.

4) The importance of discipling the next generation (Ps. 78:4–6)

And then finally, we learn the importance of discipling the next generation. We read in Psalm 78: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done… so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children” (Ps. 78:4–6).

Whether it’s a John Mark or a Timothy, we need to raise up the next generation of leaders in the church to continue the work of the ministry after we are gone. We need to be patient with the next generation as we train them in ministry. John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but Barnabas made sure he got a second chance (Acts 15:39). Timothy was naturally fearful and timid; Paul encouraged him to be strong in the Lord (2 Tim. 1:6–7).

A church on the move disciples the next generation so the church can keep moving for generations to come.

Practicing missions requires wisdom and discernment. All sorts of things can go wrong when we go forth with the gospel. Missionary teams deal with interpersonal issues, cultural issues, doctrinal issues, and spiritual issues. Missionaries also encounter physical issues with illness or injury, and emotional issues of isolation and separation. Then throw in the fact that all the forces of the enemy are aligned against you, and yes, you definitely need both wisdom and discernment in order to practice missions effectively.

So much can go wrong when you are on the mission field. And so we need to pray for our missionaries. We need to pray that God would give them encouragement, strength, wisdom, and discernment as they go forth with the gospel in challenging circumstances. I pray that as a result of this message, you will better understand the challenges of missionary endeavor, and you will commit to praying for and supporting your missionaries at a higher level than ever before.
 
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PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

1st Missionary Journey >
Description: Acts 13-14
Missionaries: Paul and Barnabas
Locations: Asia Minor – Cyprus and Galatia
Time frame: A.D. 46-49

2nd Missionary Journey >
Description: Acts 15:36-18:22
Missionaries: Paul and Silas
Locations: Greece and Europe
Time frame: A.D. 51-54

3rd Missionary Journey >
Description: Acts 18:23-20:38
Missionary: Paul
Locations: previous locations
Time frame: A.D. 54-58

4th Missionary Journey? (possible, but after events recorded in Acts) >
Allusions: 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Romans 15
Missionary: Paul
Possible locations: Asia; Achaia; Crete; Macedonia; Spain
Time frame A.D. 63-64

For more information, visit the following link:
https://www.theologyfortherestofus.com/pauls-four-missionary-journeys-the-complete-guide/

© Ray Fowler

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By Ray Fowler. © Ray Fowler. Website: https://www.rayfowler.org

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