Acts 15:30-16:5
“Silas, Mark & Timothy” • 2.17.09 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission, Session #13
Intro.
- The council at Jerusalem has been dismissed. There is a buzz of excitement in the air and resolve in the steps of these leaders. The author of Acts follows Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch.
- After delivering the good news to the church family, Paul and Barnabas decided it was time to venture back to the churches that they had visited before.
• Acts 15:36 : “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.’”
- Barnabas heard Paul’s idea and jumped out to look for his little buddy John Mark, who had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first journey, but left pretty quickly, barely lasting a chapter.
- Paul was not too keen on having John Mark come again, but Barnabas was insistent. Things got a little heated from there.
• Acts 15:39 : “Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.”
- Having come to chapter 16, Paul and Silas’ journey puts them into contact with a future draft pick in Timothy.
• Acts 16:1,2 : “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.”
- Paul took an immediate liking to Timothy and wanted to take him along. Timothy also was willing to go!
• Acts 16:4,5 : “And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
- In the section before us, we see some real humans, with real passion about a real mission.
- Paul and Barnabas we know. Paul the ex-Christian hunting Pharisee. Barnabas, the son of encouragement who hunted Paul down and brought him into the ministry.
- Both have a heart geared toward missions. Both are men of impact. God uses their passions and convictions to spread them out in different directions.
- What seems like a negative experience, turns into a missions boon, as one team turns to two. And the law of multiplication comes into play, as three more men are added to the fold of ministers.
- Today, I want us to focus on the lessons that come from these three men’s lives.
• Acts 15:22 : “Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch wi th Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.”
- Silas, along with his tag team partner Judas/Barsabas, were “leading men.” Here in verse 32, these leading men were also assigned the titles of the prophetic office.
- Judas and Silas were gifted to speak and lead in the things of the Word of God.
- Their gifts were for the body of Christ. They opened the Word and the result was encouragement and strengthening for those who received their words.
- After staying for a season, the group decided that it was time to go. Silas however saw an opportunity to remain. It seemed good to him.
- While it seemed good to Him, I believe that it was so because God planned for Silas to meet Paul the Apostle. Silas was being prepared for something that he could not have anticipated.
- God was about to turn the page and begin writing a new chapter in Silas’ life and he needed to stay to see that come to fruition.
- I wonder how many of us leave something prematurely before the Lord brings His blessing and reveals His calling. Silas was faithful to remain in the good work that God was doing through Him.
- Silas speaks to me of stability and strength of character and later, when Paul seeks out a partner to accompany him on his next journey, Silas is the obvious choice.
- Turn with me to II Timothy. Very likely the last words of Paul to Timothy, speaking of the necessity of transference. What kind of man would you pass a spiritual legacy on to?
• II Timothy 2:1,2 : "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
- Paul did not mention that it would be the talented, the gifted or the great men. It was faithfulness. Give it to faithful men.
- There was a premium on this characteristic in Paul's mind. Today, we might value other characteristics in men, but faithfulness is the one that God values through His Word.
- Paul chose Silas, a man with a proven track record of faithfulness to God's call on his life.
- Are you that faithful man? Would Paul have chosen you or I? Let us learn to be faithful. Faithful to our Lord. Faithful to His Word. Faithful to our mission!
• Acts 15:39 : “Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;” : We will recall from the early parts of that first missionary journey that John Mark decided to return to Jerusalem.
- You can read later in Acts 13, but the gist of that first episode related to Paul rebuking false teachers and a sorcerer! Sergius Paulus got saved, but Mark had seen enough!
- Acts 13:13 quickly tells us that Mark returned from there to Jerusalem.
- At the time, nothing was said about how Paul or Barnabas felt about this decision. Barnabas being a man of grace, knew that he wanted to offer Mark another chance to grow.
- He was encouraging when Mark left, letting him know that he understood and that God was not done with him.
- Paul was less thoughtful. He was cordial, but the man was now marked with a red flag. "Mark the flake" Paul probably thought. He thought, "We'll never be able to work together again."
- I have seen these attitudes. Some men like Barnabas are disciplers, always ready to take someone under their wings, no matter his reputation.
- Others are pioneers, whose hearts can only focus on the work that God has put them on this earth to do. Putting two together can result in this exact scenario.
- Paul and Barnabas argued, heatedly and could not continue together. It's interesting that the Spirit does not assign blame or give us a view into who was right or wrong.
- I mentioned earlier that God used this argument to create two missions teams. But please do not misunderstand: God brought good out of this, but this situation was not good!
- As men of God, we should always be able to reconcile our differences.
- Turn with me to Ephesians 4. Paul is talking about the new man and hs new behaviors.
• Ephesians 4:26,27 : "'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil."
- God knows that we will become angry with one another. That does not need to lead to sin. We can be angry, but we must put a time table on it.
- As brothers, we cannot accept an anger that continues among us. God would move us to reconciliation.
- There are a few things that we can gather from this passage. First, these men were not perfect saints. God was still working out things in their lives.
- Second, God's men will not always see eye to eye.
- Barnabas still wanted to invest in Mark. He still saw potential and hope for Mark's life. He was still willing to come along side of Mark and see what the Lord would do. Paul was not in agreement.
- For Mark's part, I can only imagine how he must have felt. Here the Apostle Paul, a great hero of the early church, refuses to work with him.
- He must have battled discouragement and the argument that came up at the mention of his name, must have re-opened old doubts about his ability to go back out.
- For his part, Mark did get back up and he did go back out! He did not let his past paralyze him. He worked through the discouragement and he went forward.
- The beautiful thing about failures is that they don't have to be eternally identified as failures!
- Turn with me to John 21. Peter denied Jesus three times. The third time was witnessed by Jesus Himself. Peter was devastated. Time to get back to fishing. Jesus catches up with them at Galilee. Three times Peter denied, three times Jesus gives Peter a chance to re-affirm his love.
• John 21:18,19 : "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.' This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me.'"
- To Peter the failure, Jesus says "follow me!" To Mark the failure, Barnabas says, "Come with me!" To all of us failures, Jesus says the same thing!
- Mark's life teaches us that while we may fail and falter, we can get back up and sail again!
- Don't let your past or present sins keep you from the present and future that God has for you!
• Acts 16:1-3 : “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.” : Timothy was already a disciple. He was devout and was raised in the things of the Lord.
- Turn with me to II Timothy 3. Paul comments on Timothy's upbringing.
• II Timothy 3:14,15 : "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
- Paul says that Timothy learned the scriptures from childhood. From my understanding of this Greek word, literally, this refers to the earliest point of his life, at the least, from infancy!
- The person who invested in Timothy was his mother. She was a completed Jew, having believed in Christ, and spent every moment from infancy on pouring scripture into his life!
- Timothy's Dad however was a non-believing Greek. I can't help but wonder if this was part of the source of timidity in Timothy's life later.
- He saw the balancing act that has to take place in a marriage when there is a believer and non-believer. Talk about differing ideologies that Timothy had to struggle through!
- Somehow, Timothy's mother prevailed and soon, Timothy's faith was observed.
- He was "well spoken of." Literally, that which was witnessed about him was good. His actions backed up his words.
- Paul saw something in Timothy that impressed him. Paul was not unwilling to work with people. He wanted partnership. In a way, what he lost in Barnabas, he gained in Timothy.
- He took Silas along as a partner, and he wanted Timothy to come along as an apprentice.
- Then Paul does something kind of strange, especially in light of the last section of scripture. He has Timothy circumcised!
- The principle behind it shows a great heart toward Timothy's future. For one, this action would ensure Paul's continued ministry in the synagogues.
- Because of Timothy's father, it was known that he was not circumcised. The fact that his mother was Jewish though, made him an Apostate and thus, unable to come into a synogogue. This would have shut the doors permanently.
- Paul looked into the future and saw a young man that would be greatly used by the Lord. With that eye, he secured a place for Timothy by his side.
- It would be Timothy that would train alongside of Paul and then the one that Paul would later identify as his successor. Throughout his epistles to Timothy, he refers to him as his son.
- Paul looked at Timothy and saw the future of his own work.
- Are we looking out for a son in the faith, one that we can transfer our experiences, and our stories into? You realize that this is why God has put us together right?
Conclusion
- This week, I am impressed that God is calling me to be a Silas, faithful, and steady in the work that He has called me to.
- I am also encouraged that as a Mark, I can pick myself up and get back to the race that God has called me to, even though I am a failure like he was.
- I can open myself to a Timothy situation, being discipled and carried along in another's experience and wisdom! However, we need men on the other side of this equation as well.
- Who will be the man, looking for a partner to come alongside of him in his work?
- Who will be the man, standing alongside the one whose reputation might not be the greatest?
- Who will be the man, willing to bring a young man along? Let the Lord open the books and call you where you fit!
“Silas, Mark & Timothy” • 2.17.09 • The Power Of One: One Man, One Life, One Mission, Session #13
Intro.
- The council at Jerusalem has been dismissed. There is a buzz of excitement in the air and resolve in the steps of these leaders. The author of Acts follows Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch.
- After delivering the good news to the church family, Paul and Barnabas decided it was time to venture back to the churches that they had visited before.
• Acts 15:36 : “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.’”
- Barnabas heard Paul’s idea and jumped out to look for his little buddy John Mark, who had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first journey, but left pretty quickly, barely lasting a chapter.
- Paul was not too keen on having John Mark come again, but Barnabas was insistent. Things got a little heated from there.
• Acts 15:39 : “Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.”
- Having come to chapter 16, Paul and Silas’ journey puts them into contact with a future draft pick in Timothy.
• Acts 16:1,2 : “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.”
- Paul took an immediate liking to Timothy and wanted to take him along. Timothy also was willing to go!
• Acts 16:4,5 : “And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”
- In the section before us, we see some real humans, with real passion about a real mission.
- Paul and Barnabas we know. Paul the ex-Christian hunting Pharisee. Barnabas, the son of encouragement who hunted Paul down and brought him into the ministry.
- Both have a heart geared toward missions. Both are men of impact. God uses their passions and convictions to spread them out in different directions.
- What seems like a negative experience, turns into a missions boon, as one team turns to two. And the law of multiplication comes into play, as three more men are added to the fold of ministers.
- Today, I want us to focus on the lessons that come from these three men’s lives.
I. Silas: Faithfulness Personified (15:32-34)
II. Mark: Failure Restored (15:39)
III. Timothy: Future Observed (16:1-3)
TextII. Mark: Failure Restored (15:39)
III. Timothy: Future Observed (16:1-3)
I. Silas: Faithfulness Personified (15:32-34)
• Acts 15:32-34 : “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.” : This is not the first mention of Silas in the scripture. We read of him back at the Jerusalem council.• Acts 15:22 : “Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch wi th Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.”
- Silas, along with his tag team partner Judas/Barsabas, were “leading men.” Here in verse 32, these leading men were also assigned the titles of the prophetic office.
- Judas and Silas were gifted to speak and lead in the things of the Word of God.
- Their gifts were for the body of Christ. They opened the Word and the result was encouragement and strengthening for those who received their words.
- After staying for a season, the group decided that it was time to go. Silas however saw an opportunity to remain. It seemed good to him.
- While it seemed good to Him, I believe that it was so because God planned for Silas to meet Paul the Apostle. Silas was being prepared for something that he could not have anticipated.
- God was about to turn the page and begin writing a new chapter in Silas’ life and he needed to stay to see that come to fruition.
- I wonder how many of us leave something prematurely before the Lord brings His blessing and reveals His calling. Silas was faithful to remain in the good work that God was doing through Him.
- Silas speaks to me of stability and strength of character and later, when Paul seeks out a partner to accompany him on his next journey, Silas is the obvious choice.
- Turn with me to II Timothy. Very likely the last words of Paul to Timothy, speaking of the necessity of transference. What kind of man would you pass a spiritual legacy on to?
• II Timothy 2:1,2 : "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
- Paul did not mention that it would be the talented, the gifted or the great men. It was faithfulness. Give it to faithful men.
- There was a premium on this characteristic in Paul's mind. Today, we might value other characteristics in men, but faithfulness is the one that God values through His Word.
- Paul chose Silas, a man with a proven track record of faithfulness to God's call on his life.
- Are you that faithful man? Would Paul have chosen you or I? Let us learn to be faithful. Faithful to our Lord. Faithful to His Word. Faithful to our mission!
II. Mark: Failure Restored (15:39)
• Acts 15:39 : “Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;” : We will recall from the early parts of that first missionary journey that John Mark decided to return to Jerusalem.
- You can read later in Acts 13, but the gist of that first episode related to Paul rebuking false teachers and a sorcerer! Sergius Paulus got saved, but Mark had seen enough!
- Acts 13:13 quickly tells us that Mark returned from there to Jerusalem.
- At the time, nothing was said about how Paul or Barnabas felt about this decision. Barnabas being a man of grace, knew that he wanted to offer Mark another chance to grow.
- He was encouraging when Mark left, letting him know that he understood and that God was not done with him.
- Paul was less thoughtful. He was cordial, but the man was now marked with a red flag. "Mark the flake" Paul probably thought. He thought, "We'll never be able to work together again."
- I have seen these attitudes. Some men like Barnabas are disciplers, always ready to take someone under their wings, no matter his reputation.
- Others are pioneers, whose hearts can only focus on the work that God has put them on this earth to do. Putting two together can result in this exact scenario.
- Paul and Barnabas argued, heatedly and could not continue together. It's interesting that the Spirit does not assign blame or give us a view into who was right or wrong.
- I mentioned earlier that God used this argument to create two missions teams. But please do not misunderstand: God brought good out of this, but this situation was not good!
- As men of God, we should always be able to reconcile our differences.
- Turn with me to Ephesians 4. Paul is talking about the new man and hs new behaviors.
• Ephesians 4:26,27 : "'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil."
- God knows that we will become angry with one another. That does not need to lead to sin. We can be angry, but we must put a time table on it.
- As brothers, we cannot accept an anger that continues among us. God would move us to reconciliation.
- There are a few things that we can gather from this passage. First, these men were not perfect saints. God was still working out things in their lives.
- Second, God's men will not always see eye to eye.
- Barnabas still wanted to invest in Mark. He still saw potential and hope for Mark's life. He was still willing to come along side of Mark and see what the Lord would do. Paul was not in agreement.
- For Mark's part, I can only imagine how he must have felt. Here the Apostle Paul, a great hero of the early church, refuses to work with him.
- He must have battled discouragement and the argument that came up at the mention of his name, must have re-opened old doubts about his ability to go back out.
- For his part, Mark did get back up and he did go back out! He did not let his past paralyze him. He worked through the discouragement and he went forward.
- The beautiful thing about failures is that they don't have to be eternally identified as failures!
- Turn with me to John 21. Peter denied Jesus three times. The third time was witnessed by Jesus Himself. Peter was devastated. Time to get back to fishing. Jesus catches up with them at Galilee. Three times Peter denied, three times Jesus gives Peter a chance to re-affirm his love.
• John 21:18,19 : "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.' This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me.'"
- To Peter the failure, Jesus says "follow me!" To Mark the failure, Barnabas says, "Come with me!" To all of us failures, Jesus says the same thing!
- Mark's life teaches us that while we may fail and falter, we can get back up and sail again!
- Don't let your past or present sins keep you from the present and future that God has for you!
III. Timothy: Future Observed (16:1-3)
• Acts 16:1-3 : “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.” : Timothy was already a disciple. He was devout and was raised in the things of the Lord.
- Turn with me to II Timothy 3. Paul comments on Timothy's upbringing.
• II Timothy 3:14,15 : "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
- Paul says that Timothy learned the scriptures from childhood. From my understanding of this Greek word, literally, this refers to the earliest point of his life, at the least, from infancy!
- The person who invested in Timothy was his mother. She was a completed Jew, having believed in Christ, and spent every moment from infancy on pouring scripture into his life!
- Timothy's Dad however was a non-believing Greek. I can't help but wonder if this was part of the source of timidity in Timothy's life later.
- He saw the balancing act that has to take place in a marriage when there is a believer and non-believer. Talk about differing ideologies that Timothy had to struggle through!
- Somehow, Timothy's mother prevailed and soon, Timothy's faith was observed.
- He was "well spoken of." Literally, that which was witnessed about him was good. His actions backed up his words.
- Paul saw something in Timothy that impressed him. Paul was not unwilling to work with people. He wanted partnership. In a way, what he lost in Barnabas, he gained in Timothy.
- He took Silas along as a partner, and he wanted Timothy to come along as an apprentice.
- Then Paul does something kind of strange, especially in light of the last section of scripture. He has Timothy circumcised!
- The principle behind it shows a great heart toward Timothy's future. For one, this action would ensure Paul's continued ministry in the synagogues.
- Because of Timothy's father, it was known that he was not circumcised. The fact that his mother was Jewish though, made him an Apostate and thus, unable to come into a synogogue. This would have shut the doors permanently.
- Paul looked into the future and saw a young man that would be greatly used by the Lord. With that eye, he secured a place for Timothy by his side.
- It would be Timothy that would train alongside of Paul and then the one that Paul would later identify as his successor. Throughout his epistles to Timothy, he refers to him as his son.
- Paul looked at Timothy and saw the future of his own work.
- Are we looking out for a son in the faith, one that we can transfer our experiences, and our stories into? You realize that this is why God has put us together right?
Conclusion
- This week, I am impressed that God is calling me to be a Silas, faithful, and steady in the work that He has called me to.
- I am also encouraged that as a Mark, I can pick myself up and get back to the race that God has called me to, even though I am a failure like he was.
- I can open myself to a Timothy situation, being discipled and carried along in another's experience and wisdom! However, we need men on the other side of this equation as well.
- Who will be the man, looking for a partner to come alongside of him in his work?
- Who will be the man, standing alongside the one whose reputation might not be the greatest?
- Who will be the man, willing to bring a young man along? Let the Lord open the books and call you where you fit!
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