Paul and Barnabas disagree about whether Mark should travel with them.

Acts 15:37-38

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“Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 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.” Acts 15:37-38

Barnabas insisted that John [who went by the name of Mark] should go along with them to revisit all of the cities where they shared the testimony of Jesus. Mark was the cousin of Barnabas, Colossians 4:10. However, Paul was just as insistent that Mark should not go with them because he left the work in Pamphylia and returned to Jerusalem, “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem…” Acts 13:13. Mark started the missionary work with Paul and Barnabus in Cyprus, as described in Acts 13:4-5.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we agree that our work is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but other details may cause disagreement. Even so, our perseverance in the presence of the Holy Spirit is what causes fruitfulness/productiveness in the work of the Lord. This is seen in the coming verses, 39-40.

Mark may have left Paul and Barnabas and left the missionary work, but he is also the one who later wrote the Gospel of Mark. Also, Paul and Mark reconciled in the name of Jesus to continue in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11 This is what forgiveness, grace, and mercy between one another is all about, to allow the work of the Lord to continue.

Mark is first mentioned in Acts 12:12 as the son of a woman named Mary, whose house was being used as a place for believers to gather and pray.

On the map below, Pamphylia is to the far left between Colossae and Attalia. That is where John Mark left Paul and Barnabas, Acts 13:13-14, and returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas are now at Antioch at Syria [Acts 14:26-35], which is to the far right in the picture and circled in yellow.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11