Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 15]
who "went not with them to the work" (\kai m• sunelthonta autois
eis to ergon\). At Perga Mark had faced the same task that Paul
and Barnabas did, but he flinched and flickered and quit. Paul
declined to repeat the experiment with Mark.
15:39 {A sharp contention} (\paroxusmos\). Our very word paroxysm
in English. Old word though only twice in the N.T. (here and Heb
10:24), from \paroxun•\, to sharpen (\para, oxus\) as of a blade
and of the spirit (Ac 17:16; 1Co 13:5). This "son of
consolation" loses his temper in a dispute over his cousin and
Paul uses sharp words towards his benefactor and friend. It is
often so that the little irritations of life give occasion to
violent explosions. If the incident in Ga 2:11-21 had already
taken place, there was a sore place already that could be easily
rubbed. And if Mark also joined with Peter and Barnabas on that
occasion, Paul had fresh ground for irritation about him. But
there is no way to settle differences about men and we can only
agree to disagree as Paul and Barnabas did. {So that they parted
asunder from one another} (\h•ste apoch•risth•nai autous ap'
all•l•n\). Actual result here stated by \h•ste\ and the first
aorist passive infinitive of \apoch•riz•\, old verb to sever, to
separate, here only and Re 6:4 in the N.T. The accusative of
general reference (\autous\) is normal. For construction with
\h•ste\ see Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 999f. {And Barnabas took
Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus} (\ton te Barnaban
paralabonta ton Markon ekpleusai eis Kupron\). Second infinitival
clause \ekpleusai\ after \h•ste\ connected by \te\. The same
participle is used here minus \sun, paralabonta\ (second aorist
active). Barnabas and Mark sailed out (\ekpleusai\ from \ekple•\)
from the harbour of Antioch. This is the last glimpse that Luke
gives us of Barnabas, one of the noblest figures in the New
Testament. Paul has a kindly reference to him in 1Co 9:6. No
one can rightly blame Barnabas for giving his cousin John Mark a
second chance nor Paul for fearing to risk him again. One's
judgment may go with Paul, but one's heart goes with Barnabas.
And Mark made good with Barnabas, with Peter (1Pe 5:13) and
finally with Paul (Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11). See my little book on
John Mark (_Making Good in the Ministry_). Paul and Barnabas
parted in anger and both in sorrow. Paul owed more to Barnabas
than to any other man. Barnabas was leaving the greatest spirit
of the time and of all times.
15:40 {Chose} (\epilexamenos\). First aorist middle (indirect)
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