Exposition of Acts: Falling Out
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. CHOICE OF SILAS OVER BARNABAS
A. WHY NOT BARNABAS?
1. HARMONY
Acts 15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are.”
2. HALTED
Acts 15:37-39a Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.
(also, Gal 2:11-13; Acts 15:2, 7; Mt 5:23-24; Col 4:10; Phil 4:24; II Tim 4:11)
B. WHY SILAS?
1. HELD HIGH
Acts 15:40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
(also, Acts 16:37; I Pet 5:12; Acts 15:22, 32)
2. HELPING
Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
II. CHOICE OF TIMOTHY OVER JOHN MARK
A. WHY NOT JOHN MARK?
1. HESITANT
Acts 15:37-38 Now Barnabas was determined to take John Mark with them. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had abandoned them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
(also, Acts 13:13; Luke 9:62)
2. HOMEWARD BOUND
Acts 15:39b Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
(also, Col 4:10; Acts 4:36; 9:26)
B. WHY TIMOTHY?
1. HISTORY
Acts 16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
(also, Acts 14:8-21; II Tim 1:5)
2. HONORED
Acts 16:2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
(also, Phil 2:19-22)
3. HEEDED
Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
(also, I Cor 9:22; Gal 2:3-5)
III. CHOICE OF EUROPE OVER ASIA
A. WHY NOT ASIA?
1. HANDS ON
Acts 16:4-5 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So, the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
2. HINDERED
Acts 16:6-8 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the province of] Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, by-passing Mysia, they went down to Troas.
B. WHY EUROPE?
1. HAILED
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
2. HESITATION
Acts 16:10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.