248
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
them on their missionary tour. He had witnessed the wonderful power
attending their ministry; he had felt the favor of God in his own heart;
he had seen the faith of his mother tested and tried without wavering;
he had witnessed the miracles performed by the apostles, and which
[353]
set the seal of God upon their work; he had himself preached the
Christian faith, and had longed to enter more fully into the work, and
entirely devote himself to it. He had, as the companion of the apostles,
rejoiced in the success of their mission; but fear and discouragement
overwhelmed him in the face of privation, persecution, and danger;
and he sought the attractions of home at a time when his services were
most needful to the apostles.
At a future period there was a sharp contention between Paul and
Barnabas concerning Mark, who was still anxious to devote himself to
the work of the ministry. Paul could not, at that time, excuse in any
degree the weakness of Mark in deserting them and the work upon
which they had entered, for the ease and quiet of home; and he urged
that one with so little stamina was unfit for the gospel ministry, which
required patience, self-denial, bravery, and faith, with a willingness to
sacrifice even life if need be.
Barnabas, on the other hand, was inclined to excuse Mark, who
was his nephew, because of his inexperience. He felt anxious that he
should not abandon the ministry, for he saw in him qualifications for
a useful laborer in the field of Christ. This contention caused Paul
and Barnabas to separate, the latter following out his convictions, and
taking Mark with him in his work.
Mark, therefore, accompanied Barnabas to Cyprus, and assisted
him there. Paul was afterward reconciled to Mark, and received him as
a fellow-laborer. He also recommended him to the Colossians as one
who was a “fellow-worker unto the kingdom of God,” and a personal
[354]
comfort to him, Paul. Again, not long prior to his death, he spoke of
him as profitable to him in the ministry.
Paul and Barnabas next visited Antioch in Pisidia, and on the
Sabbath went into the synagogue, and sat down; “and after the reading
of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them,
saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for
the people, say on.” Being thus invited to speak, “Paul stood up, and
beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give
audience.” He then proceeded to give a history of the manner in which