Acts 15:39 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The disagreement grows so sharp that Paul and Barnabas part ways; Barnabas sails for Cyprus with Mark.
What Does Acts 15:39 Mean?
The disagreement becomes a parting. Luke does not hide it: the contention was sharp, and the team that had carried the gospel through Cyprus and Galatia together now divides. Barnabas takes Mark and sails for Cyprus, his home island (Acts 4:36), to strengthen the churches there.
The honesty of Scripture here is a mercy: even devoted servants of Christ can clash painfully. Yet the work of God does not stop — one missionary team becomes two, and the gospel moves out in two directions at once. Time will also heal the breach; Paul will later call Mark 'profitable to me for the ministry' (2 Timothy 4:11). God overrules our sharpest hours, and his grace reaches beyond them to reconcile.
Acts 15:39 in the Original Language
paroxysmos (παροξυσμός), 'contention' -- a sharp provocation or heated dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 15:39
What does Acts 15:39 mean?
The disagreement grows so sharp that Paul and Barnabas part ways; Barnabas sails for Cyprus with Mark.