What caused Paul and Barnabas to separate, and what was the outcome?
The separation between Paul and Barnabas was caused by a falling out over John Mark. As a result, Barnabas slips off the scene, and Silas ascends to preeminence alongside Paul. God had prepared for this by having Silas remain rather than return to Jerusalem.
Les explains that God knew Paul and Barnabas were going to have a falling out, so He caused Silas not to go back to Jerusalem with the rest, allowing Silas to abide there still. Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch preaching the Word of the Lord with many others. Then in verses 36 to 41, the falling out between Paul and Barnabas occurred because of John Mark. Barnabas slips off the scene, and Silas ascends to preeminence with Paul. Prior to this, they had been dismissed from the Jerusalem Council with permission to preach the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles, and they returned to Antioch, gathered the multitude, and delivered the epistle, which brought rejoicing because the Gentiles did not have to keep the Judaic Law or circumcision.
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
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