15 ³⁶ AFTER A WHILE Paul said to Barnabas, 'Ought we not to go back now to see how our brothers are faring in the various towns where we proclaimed the word of the Lord?' 15 ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them; 15 ³⁸ but Paul judged that the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on to share in their work was not the man to take with them now. 15 ³⁹ The dispute was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus, 15 ⁴⁰ while Paul chose Silas. He started on his journey, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord, 15 ⁴¹ and travelled through Syria and Cilicia bringing new strength to the congregations.