Acts 15:38 - Exposition

Take with them him for take him with them, A.V.; withdrew for departed, A.V. Withdrew . The Greek word ἀποστάντα (from which comes the substantive apostasy ) is a strong one, and denotes decided blame, as does the indication of the opposite course, by way of contrast, which he did not take. "He did not go with them to the work " to which God called them, as he ought to have done. The whole phrase, too, which follows is strongly worded. "Paul thought good," as regards one who had turned back from the work, "not to take that man." The μὴ συμπαραλαβεῖν of Acts 15:38 is, as Meyer observes, sharply opposed to the συμπαραλαβεῖν of Acts 15:37 . Luke evidently sides strongly with Paul, and almost reproduces the ipsissima verba of the "sharp contention." One would infer that this passage was penned by Luke before the reconciliation which appears in 2 Timothy 4:11 , and that we have here an indication of the early date of the publication of "The Acts." Perhaps also there is an indication in the narrative, coupled with Mark's subsequent attach-merit to Peter, that Mark rather leant at this time to Judaizing views, and that his previous departure "from the work" was partly owing to a want of complete sympathy with St. Paul's doctrine. St. Paul would have no half-hearted helper in his grand and arduous work.