Why did Barnabas want to take John Mark, according to Acts 15:37?

Barnabas’s Immediate Desire

“Now Barnabas wanted to take along John, also called Mark.” (Acts 15:37)

Barnabas’s intent is clearly stated: he personally desired to bring John Mark on the next missionary journey. The verse presents the choice as Barnabas’s own initiative.

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Scripture Clues Behind the Desire

• Family Bond

– Colossians 4:10 notes that Mark was Barnabas’s cousin, so loyalty and family responsibility were likely factors.

• Character of Encouragement

– Acts 4:36 calls Barnabas “Son of Encouragement.”

– Acts 11:24 describes him as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

– True to his nature, he sought to restore one who had stumbled (cf. Galatians 6:1).

• Commitment to Second Chances

– Mark had previously left the team (Acts 13:13).

– Barnabas believed failure need not be final and wanted to give Mark another opportunity to serve.

• Vision for Future Usefulness

– Paul later acknowledged Mark’s value: “he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).

– Barnabas saw that potential early and was willing to invest in it.

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Take-Home Reflections

• Extend grace: past mistakes don’t disqualify a willing servant.

• Encourage growth: like Barnabas, mentor others back into fruitful ministry.

• Trust God’s restoration: John Mark ultimately became a trusted coworker (Philemon 24) and the writer of the Gospel of Mark.

In Acts 15:37, Barnabas’s desire to take John Mark springs from relational loyalty, a heart for encouragement, and faith in God’s power to redeem and reuse those who have faltered.