Acts 15:37
New International Version
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,

New Living Translation
Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.

English Standard Version
Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

Berean Standard Bible
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.

Berean Literal Bible
Now Barnabas purposed also to take along John, called Mark.

King James Bible
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

New King James Version
Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

New American Standard Bible
Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

NASB 1995
Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

NASB 1977
And Barnabas was desirous of taking John, called Mark, along with them also.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

Amplified Bible
Now Barnabas wanted to take [his cousin] John, who was called Mark, along with them.

Christian Standard Bible
Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.

American Standard Version
And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

Contemporary English Version
Barnabas wanted to take along John, whose other name was Mark.

English Revised Version
And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along.

Good News Translation
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them,

International Standard Version
Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark,

Majority Standard Bible
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.

NET Bible
Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too,

New Heart English Bible
Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Weymouth New Testament
Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark,

World English Bible
Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Barnabas resolved to take with [them] John called Mark,

Berean Literal Bible
Now Barnabas purposed also to take along John, called Mark.

Young's Literal Translation
And Barnabas counselled to take with them John called Mark,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Barnabas purposed to take with them John, called Mark.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Barnabas wanted to take John, who was surnamed Mark, with them also.

New American Bible
Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark,

New Revised Standard Version
Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now Bar’na-bas wanted to take John who was also called Mark.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But BarNaba had wanted to take Yohannan, who was surnamed Marqus.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Barnabas determined to take with him John, whose surname was Mark.

Godbey New Testament
But Barnabas advised to take with them John, also called Mark.

Haweis New Testament
Now Barnabas had resolved to take with him John, whose surname is Mark.

Mace New Testament
upon which Barnabas propos'd to take John surnam'd Mark, with them.

Weymouth New Testament
Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark,

Worrell New Testament
And Barnabas was desiring to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

Worsley New Testament
And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Second Missionary Journey
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. 38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.…

Cross References
Acts 13:13
After setting sail from Paphos, Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Colossians 4:10
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.

2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.

Philemon 1:24
as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

1 Peter 5:13
The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark.

Acts 12:12
And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.

Acts 12:25
When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.

Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.

Acts 9:27
Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

Acts 11:25-26
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, / and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Acts 4:36-37
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), / sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Galatians 2:13
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

2 Corinthians 8:23
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. / For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!


Treasury of Scripture

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

John.

Acts 12:12,25
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying…

Acts 13:5,13
And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister…

Colossians 4:10
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

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Acts 15
1. Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision.
5. The apostles consult about it,
22. and send their determination by letters to the churches.
36. Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together,
39. disagree, and travel different ways.














But Barnabas
The name "Barnabas" means "son of encouragement" in Aramaic, and he is consistently portrayed in the New Testament as a figure of support and encouragement. Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus, and his role in the early church was significant, as seen in Acts 4:36-37, where he sold a field and brought the money to the apostles. His desire to take John Mark reflects his character as someone who sees potential and is willing to give second chances, embodying the grace and forgiveness central to Christian teaching.

wanted to take
The Greek word for "wanted" here is "βουλόμενος" (boulomenos), which implies a strong desire or intention. This suggests that Barnabas had a firm conviction about including John Mark in their mission. This decision was not made lightly but was a deliberate choice, reflecting Barnabas's commitment to mentoring and restoring those who may have faltered, aligning with the Christian principle of redemption and restoration.

John, also called Mark
John Mark, often referred to simply as Mark, is traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Mark. His dual name indicates his Jewish heritage (John) and his Roman connections (Mark), suggesting a bridge between Jewish and Gentile worlds. Historically, John Mark had previously left Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey (Acts 13:13), which led to a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. This context highlights the tension between human frailty and divine grace, as Barnabas's willingness to give Mark another chance underscores the transformative power of forgiveness and the belief in personal growth and redemption.

(37) Barnabas determined.--The Greek verb is hardly so strong, better, was minded. The ties of relationship led the uncle, or cousin, to wish to make another trial of his kinsman's fitness (Colossians 4:10). He saw extenuating circumstances which St. Paul could not recognise, and which half-excused his turning back when he had set his hand to the plough. (See Note on Acts 13:13.) To St. Paul one who had so acted, seemed, in our Lord's words, "not fit for the kingdom of God," and needing at least the discipline of rejection for a time, from the higher work for which he had shown himself unworthy.

Verse 37. - Was minded for determined, A.V. and T.R.; John also for John, A.V. and T.R.; who was called for whose surname was, A.V. Was minded. It is doubtful which is the true reading, ἐβουλεύσατο or ἐβούλετο. The difference of meaning is small. The first means "took council with himself," i.e. planned, thought, to take Barnabas; the second, "wished," i.e. his deliberate will was to take Barnabas. Singularly enough, Alford, who rejects ἐβούλετο, which is the reading of R.T., translates ἐβουλεύετο by "was minded," which is the translation of ἐβούλετο in the R.V. We see in this choice of Mark by Barnabas the natural partiality of a near relation. We may also see the same flexibility of disposition which made him yield to the influence of the emissaries of James (Galatians 2:13). Who was called. It might seem odd that this description of John should be repeated here after having been given in Acts 12:25. But perhaps it was usual so to designate him (see Luke 8:2; Luke 22:3; Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:23; Acts 10:6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Barnabas
Βαρνάβας (Barnabas)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 921: Of Chaldee origin; son of Nabas; Barnabas, an Israelite.

wanted
ἐβούλετο (ebouleto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1014: To will, intend, desire, wish. Middle voice of a primary verb; to 'will, ' i.e. be willing.

to take
συμπαραλαβεῖν (symparalabein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4838: To take along as a companion. From sun and paralambano; to take along in company.

John,
Ἰωάννην (Iōannēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

[also] called
καλούμενον (kaloumenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

Mark.
Μάρκον (Markon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3138: Of Latin origin; Marcus, a Christian.


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