Acts 15:38 Meaning and Explanation
“But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul judges it unwise to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and not continued in the work.
What Does Acts 15:38 Mean?
Paul sees it differently. Mark had departed from them at Pamphylia, turning back just as the work pressed inland into hardship (Acts 13:13). For Paul, the road ahead — mountains, mobs, and prisons — is no place for a companion who might leave again.
The caution of Paul is not cruelty; the demands of the mission are real, and trust once broken must be soberly weighed. Scripture lets both concerns stand side by side — the grace of Barnabas and the prudence of Paul — without condemning either man. Devoted servants can weigh the same facts and reach different judgments. What matters most is what each does next: keep serving the Lord wholeheartedly, as both of them will.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 15:38
What does Acts 15:38 mean?
Paul judges it unwise to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and not continued in the work.