Bible Strands
Acts 15:38
But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul and Barnabas are debating whether to bring John Mark on a second missionary journey after departing Antioch.
The words — The text uses ἀποστάντα (apostanta), meaning "having withdrawn" or "deserted," and ἠξίουν (ēxiou), meaning "was considering" or "deeming." These terms ground Paul’s refusal in a direct assessment of past conduct.
The thread — This decision directly references Acts 13:13, where John left the mission team in Pamphylia. The pattern of unreliable withdrawal aligns with the warning in Proverbs 25:19 against trusting a faithless man, and reflects the retreat motif in Psalms 78:9.
Why it lands — The verse states that prior desertion justifies withholding partnership in future work. It asks readers to evaluate past reliability before committing to shared ministry tasks.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to 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.
- Psalms 78:9 The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.
- Proverbs 25:19 Like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.
- Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.
- James 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
- Luke 9:61 Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”