Paul’s second missionary journey got off to a bad start. After several months at Antioch, Paul suggested to Barnabas that they retrace their steps over the route they had followed on the first journey. This would enable them to present to each congregation the message from the council at Jerusalem and also to revive and strengthen the faith of their earliest converts.

Barnabas wanted to take with them John Mark, the young mam who had begun the first journey with them but had withdrawn from it in Pamphylia and had returned alone to Antioch. Paul was not yet ready to forgive Mark’s "desertion" and this led to a sharp and most unfortunate confrontation with Barnabas. The result was that Paul and Barnabas each went his separate way, which must have been a wrenching blow to both of them after …