Two by Two

Pete Kersker - Sep 08, 2026

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing" (Acts 15:36 NIV).

Paul and Barnabas decided to go back to all the places they had visited and planted new churches. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. Paul did not. John Mark had only traveled with them on the first leg of their journey before returning home to Jerusalem. So, Barnabas paired up with Mark, Paul chose Silas, and they went their separate ways.

Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits (Mark 6:7 NIV).

Even with the sharp disagreement and split between Barnabas and Paul, we can see God working things out for good. They still had a partner for their next journey. Jesus used to pair up his disciples (students) and send them out on their journeys. We saw it with the twelve. We also saw it with the seventy two.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go (Luke 10:1 NIV)

Barnabas, Mark, Paul, and Silas went out two by two. Barnabas and Mark went to the Island of Cyprus; Barnabas' childhood home where Mark had journeyed with them on the last trip. Paul and Silas visited the churches John Mark had not seen before. Each team was able to continue God's work: spreading the gospel and strengthening Christ's church.

Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:39b-41 NIV).

Do you have a partner that you do life and ministry with?
Do you (two) spread the good news about Jesus?
Do you strengthen Christ's church?