Acts 15:39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

◄ Acts 15:39 ►

New International Version
They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

New Living Translation
Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.

English Standard Version
And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

Berean Standard Bible
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore a sharp disagreement arose, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas having taken Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

King James Bible
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

New King James Version
Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

New American Standard Bible
Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

NASB 1995
And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

NASB 1977
And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Legacy Standard Bible
And there was such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Amplified Bible
And it became such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took [John] Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Christian Standard Bible
They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.

American Standard Version
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;

Contemporary English Version
Paul and Barnabas argued, then each of them went his own way. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus,

English Revised Version
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus.

Good News Translation
There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus,

International Standard Version
The disagreement was so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus,

Majority Standard Bible
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

NET Bible
They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,

New Heart English Bible
Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed, separating one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

Weymouth New Testament
So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.

World English Bible
Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, sailed to Cyprus,

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore a sharp disagreement arose, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas having taken Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

Young's Literal Translation
there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, did sail to Cyprus,

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore there was an incitement, so that they separated from one another: and Barnabas, having taken Mark, sailed to Cyprus;

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there occurred a dissension, to such an extent that they departed from one another. And Barnabas, indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

New American Bible
So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

New Revised Standard Version
The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And because of this dispute, Paul and Bar’na-bas separated from each other: and Bar’na-bas took Mark, and they sailed to Cy’prus,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because of this dispute, they separated one from another. BarNaba took Marqus and traveled by sea and went to Cyprus.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
There was, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other: and Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

Godbey New Testament
But there was a paroxysm, so that they parted from one another, and Barnabas, taking Mark, sailed away into Cyprus.

Haweis New Testament
So there grew up a sudden quarrel, insomuch that they separated from each other: and Barnabas, taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus:

Mace New Testament
and the contention was so sharp between them, that they separated: so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

Weymouth New Testament
So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.

Worrell New Testament
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted one from the other; and Barnabas, taking with him Mark, sailed away to Cyprus.

Worsley New Testament
And there was a sharp dispute, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas and departed,

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul's Second Missionary Journey
…38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

1 Corinthians 9:6
Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?

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

Proverbs 18:19
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

Proverbs 17:14
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

Proverbs 19:11
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Genesis 13:7-9
And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land. / So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen. / Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Genesis 45:24
Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

2 Kings 2:1-6
Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal, / and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. / Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” ...

2 Timothy 4:10
because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

Treasury of Scripture

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;

the contention.

Acts 15:2
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 6:1
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Psalm 106:33
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

and sailed.

Acts 4:36
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Acts 11:20
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 13:4-12
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus…

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Argument Asunder Barnabas Company Contention Cyprus Departed Disagreement Grew Mark Occurred Parted Parting Resulted Sail Sailed Separated Separating Serious Setting Sharp Ship Warm

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Argument Asunder Barnabas Company Contention Cyprus Departed Disagreement Grew Mark Occurred Parted Parting Resulted Sail Sailed Separated Separating Serious Setting Sharp Ship Warm

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.

Berean Study Bible

Their disagreement
The Greek word for "disagreement" here is "παροξυσμός" (paroxysmos), which implies a sharp contention or provocation. This term suggests a significant and intense conflict, not just a mild difference of opinion. Historically, this reflects the real human emotions and challenges faced by early church leaders. It reminds us that even those filled with the Holy Spirit can have strong disagreements, yet God can use these situations for His purposes.

was so sharp
The phrase "so sharp" emphasizes the intensity of the disagreement. The Greek word "παροξυσμός" is often associated with a sudden outburst of emotion. This highlights the reality that even the most dedicated Christians, like Paul and Barnabas, can experience moments of intense conflict. It serves as a reminder that the early church was not immune to human frailties, yet God’s work continued despite these challenges.

that they parted company
The decision to "part company" indicates a significant turning point in the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. The Greek word "χωρίζω" (chorizo) means to separate or divide. This separation, while painful, led to the expansion of the Gospel as it allowed for two missionary journeys instead of one. It illustrates how God can use even disagreements to further His kingdom, showing that His plans are not thwarted by human conflict.

Barnabas took Mark
Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement," chose to take Mark, also known as John Mark. This decision reflects Barnabas's character as an encourager and mentor. Historically, Barnabas's choice to support Mark, despite his earlier failure (Acts 13:13), demonstrates the importance of second chances and the role of mentorship in the Christian faith. It highlights the grace and patience required in nurturing new believers and leaders.

and sailed for Cyprus
Cyprus was Barnabas's homeland (Acts 4:36), and his decision to return there with Mark suggests a strategic choice to minister in familiar territory. The act of sailing indicates the missionary zeal and commitment to spreading the Gospel, despite personal disagreements. This journey to Cyprus underscores the theme of mission and evangelism that is central to the Book of Acts, showing that the work of the Lord continues even amidst personal conflicts.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(39) And the contention was so sharp between them, that . . .--Literally, there was a sharp contention, (or paroxysm), so that . . . The warmth of previous affection, of a friendship begun probably in boyhood, and cemented by new hopes, and a great work in which both were sharers, made the breach between the two more painful. At this stage, both Barnabas and Mark disappear from the history of the Acts, but it will be worth while to note the chief facts in the after-history of each. (1) Probably Barnabas and Paul met again in the visit of Acts 18:22, unless, indeed, we refer the incidents of Galatians 2:11-13 to an earlier period, and then there was a yet further cause of division in his yielding to the dissimulation of the Judaising teachers. (2) In writing to the Corinthians (1Corinthians 9:6) the Apostle names Barnabas as setting the same noble example as himself in labouring with his own hands and accepting nothing from the churches. (3) On the later life of Mark see the Introduction to St. Mark's Gospel. Here it will be sufficient to note that the discipline did its work. After labouring with his cousin in Cyprus, he appears to have returned to St. Peter, as his first father in the faith, and to have been with him at Babylon (1Peter 5:13). He and St. Paul met during the latter's first imprisonment at Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24), and the Apostle learnt to recognise in him one who was "profitable to him for the ministry" (2Timothy 4:11), and whom he wished to have with him at the last. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 39. - There arose a sharp contention for the contention was so sharp between them, A.V. and T.R.; parted for departed, A.V.; so that for so sharp... that, A.V.; and Barnabas for and so Barnabas, A.V.; took Mark with him for took Mark, A.V.; sailed away for sailed, A.V. There arose a sharp contention, etc. The sense "between them" must be supplied, if the English word "contention" is used. The word παροξυσμός only occurs twice in the New Testament: once in Hebrews 10:24, in a good sense, "To provoke" (for a provocation) - " stimulate or excite" - " unto love and good works," which is its common classical sense; the other time in this passage, where the sense is attributed to it in which it is used in the LXX., as in Deuteronomy 29:28, Ἐν θυμῷ καὶ ὀργῇ καὶ παροξυσμῷ μεγάλῳ σφόδρα, "in great indignation;" and in Jeremiah 32:37 (39. 37, LXX.), coupled with the same words, ἐν παροξυσμῷ μεγάλῳ, "in great wrath;" answering to קֶצפin Hebrew. But it is more probable that St. Luke uses the word here in its common medical sense. In medical writers - Galen, Hippocrates, etc. - the παροξυσμός is equivalent to what we call an access, from the Latin aecessio, used by Celsus, when a disease of some standing takes a turn for the worse, comes to a height, and breaks out into its severest form. This is the sense in which our English word "paroxysm" is used. The meaning of the passage will then be that, after a good deal of uncomfortable feeling and discussion, the difference between Paul and Barnabas, instead of cooling down, broke out into such an acute form that Barnabas went off to Cyprus with Mark, leaving St. Paul to do what he pleased by himself. And Barnabas, etc. The R.V. is much more accurate. The consequence of the quarrel is said by St. Luke to have been that Barnabas took Mark off with him to Cyprus. The statement that Paul chose Silas is a separate and independent statement, as appears by Παῦλος (in the nominative) and ἐξῆλθε in the indicative mood. St. Luke's narrative quite sides with St. Paul, and throws the blame of the quarrel, or at least of the separation, upon Barnabas. Renan ('St. Paul,' p. 119) thinks St. Paul was too severe upon John Mark, and that it was ungrateful of him to break with one to whom he owed so much as he did to Barnabas for any cause of secondary importance. He also thinks that the real root of the quarrel lay in the constantly changing relations between the two apostles, aggravated by a domineering spirit in St. Paul. But the force of this censure turns upon the question whether it was a cause of secondary importance. If St. Paul had a single eye to the success of his mission, and judged that Mark would be a hindrance to it, it was a question of primary importance to "the work," and St. Paul was right. Renan also remarks upon the extinction of the fame of Barnabas consequent upon this separation from his more illustrious companion. "While Paul kept advancing to the heights of his glory, Barnabas, separated from the companion who had shed a portion of his own luster upon him, pursued his solitary course in obscurity." Sailed away. Cyprus was Barnabas's native country (Acts 4:36), and the scene of the earliest mission (Acts 11:19), and of Paul and Barnabas's first joint evangelistic labors (Acts 13:4). Barnabas would have many friends there, and could form plans at his leisure for his future action. The friendly mention of him in 1 Corinthians 9:6 shows both that he continued his disinterested labors as an apostle and that the estrangement between him and St. Paul had passed away. The paroxysm had yielded to the gentle treatment of charity.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Their disagreement was so sharp
παροξυσμός (paroxysmos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3948: Stimulation, provocation, irritation, angry dispute. From paroxuno; incitement, or dispute.

that
ὥστε (hōste)
Conjunction
Strong's 5620: So that, therefore, so then, so as to. From hos and te; so too, i.e. Thus therefore.

they
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

parted
ἀποχωρισθῆναι (apochōristhēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 673: To separate from; mid: I part; pass: To be swept aside. From apo and chorizo; to rend apart; reflexively, to separate.

company.
ἀλλήλων (allēlōn)
Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.

Barnabas
Βαρνάβαν (Barnaban)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 921: Of Chaldee origin; son of Nabas; Barnabas, an Israelite.

took
παραλαβόντα (paralabonta)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3880: From para and lambano; to receive near, i.e. Associate with oneself; by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn.

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

[and] sailed
ἐκπλεῦσαι (ekpleusai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1602: To sail out (of harbor), sail away. From ek and pleo; to depart by ship.

for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Cyprus,
Κύπρον (Kypron)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2954: Cyprus. Of uncertain origin; Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean.

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NT Apostles: Acts 15:39 Then the contention grew so sharp that (Acts of the Apostles Ac)