(AN: Like with Joshua, I will use song-titles to tie in both with the theme of the story as well as some song. In this case, Journey. [lol]. Though what happens in this chapter is no laughing matter.)

Separate Ways

c. 49 AD

When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Antioch, they met once again good Gaius. Lucas and was gone and John and Miriam were, as far as they had known, still in Ephesus, though no word had been heard regarding them. They gave out the declaration as ordered, and when it had been decreed, and much joy there was among the brotherhood. Further joy there was, also, when they heard that Lucas had finished his book and presented it as a gift to Joanna's grandfather Theophilus. While they were there, Barnabas heard that John Mark, who was also in the area, had finished his own account of the life of Jesus and was desirous to join Paul again in their ministry.

After some time had passed, Barsabas left Antioch while the other three declared that they would stay on for a while. One day, however, Paul received orders from the Spirit that it was time to move on. He told this to Silvanus, who was now being openly called Silas: he agreed to go with him without question.

One afternoon, while they were walking in solitude along the hills outside of Antioch, Paul brought the subject up again.

"Tomorrow at first light," he said. "We leave for Cilicia. I still await your answer."

"Paul," Barnabas said. "These past nine years I have loved you as a brother: we have come through sea and sand and much persecution for the glory of HaShem and our faith in Joshua. I would gladly spend another nine years with you for the same purpose."

"Good, then," Paul said with a smile. "That wasn't so difficult."

"There is, however," Barnabas interrupted. "One minor detail that I should bring to attention."

"Oh?"

"Our friend John Mark," Barnabas began. "He has finished his account of the life of Joshua and now wishes to spread the good news as we were commanded to do so."

"And what was five years ago, then?" Paul asked.

"Paul, he was trying to tell you," Barnabas said. "That he left to continue his work on this account. He hadn't committed any work to that cause while he was with us."

"He rejected our Great Commission!" Paul retorted, his voice rising. "That was a direct disobedience to the will of Joshua, was it not?"

"Can he not now redeem the time and follow after us in ministry?" Barnabas asked. "After all, were you also not redeemed and accepted by Joshua those fifteen years ago?"

"We were sent on this task by the Ruach HaKodesh!" Paul stated firmly. "To violate that sacred covenant is a sin that even HaShem will not forgive!"

"He obviously wants to join us again!" Barnabas argued. "Can you not forgive him, even as HaShem forgave you of killing our brothers ages ago?"

"No! He sinned against the Ruach HaKodesh! That can never be forgiven, Barnabas! Never!"

"Listen to yourself, Paul! We forgave you and accepted you into our fellowship, even when none of the other believers in Jerusalem would even have you under their roofs! We did so because we were told to forgive by Joshua. Now you have the chance to return that forgiveness, but why will you not do so?"

"I am not answerable to you!" Paul said with an offended tone. "Joshua said to judge not, lest you be judged. I will not let you pass judgment on me for my refusal to accept a traitor back into our midst! What I have against John Mark is between HaShem and I alone!"

"Paul, please!"

"No buts, Barnabas! It's me or John Mark: or maybe I should say it's God or John Mark!" he held out his arms in utter finality.

There was a moment of tension, where it seemed as though one of them would lash out at the other. Yet they held their peace, staring off at each other in silence for a moment.

"If I had known, all those years ago," Barnabas said at last. "That you wouldn't forgive a sleight against you, even though Joshua told us to forgive our fellow man..." He paused, then sighed. "I wouldn't have done a single thing different."

"And what does that mean?" Paul asked in a condescending tone.

"It means..." Barnabas said, his voice straining as he made the decision that would sever him from his companion in Christ, his brother in the faith of nine years. "...that I have chosen the path of forgiveness." With a sorrowful crunch of the stones beneath his sandals, he turned around. "Godspeed...my friend." Then, one foot in front of the other, he walked off into the city and away from Paul.

In the days that followed, Paul threw himself into his ministry. Nine years of it had told him that, whatever sorrow was on his mind, it seemed insignificant as he poured out his heart to help others. So he threw himself into his ministry, whether to forget his anger or his pain at the loss of his old friend Barnabas. Silas proved to be a worthy companion, and helped him in every way possible. It would take time growing into his new companion, becoming familiar with a different person, yet, by the grace of God, he wished that it would happen according to His will. Accordingly, the Spirit also began to make strange requests. After they had gone back to Lystra and converted Timothy, they came to Galatia and spent time among the believers. After this, they made ready to leave the south-eastern shores of Anatolia and spread the good news into the continent, yet they were told to remain. They turned then to Ephesus, and yet the Spirit told them to remain.

Troy. Of old a great kingdom inhabited the north-western coast-lands of Anatolia. Ages ago, as far back, perhaps, as the time of David the King, a great war that lasted ten years brought down the topless towers of the city of Troy. Now it was just in ruins, the stuff of legend. Here, on the foothills of Mt. Ida, two Hebrew travelers encountered an old friend on the road.

"Lucas!" Paul greeted, throwing his arms around Lucas, who was now advancing in years.

"Paul, it's been too long," he said. "I'm pleased to meet you once again. But where is Barnabas?"

At the mention of his old friend's name, Paul's countenance fell. "We are divided. The youth John Mark left us several years ago, and there was dissension among us as to his return."

"The LORD be with both of them," Lucas said. "But come now, what brings you to the ancient ruin of Troy?"

"We are awaiting the promptings of the Ruach HaKodesh," Paul said. He then introduced Lucas to Silas and told them of their predicament, as to why the Spirit was not leading them anywhere in Anatolia.

-~-|-O-|-~-

Night upon the slopes of Mt. Ida. Paul rose from where he had slept with Silas and Lucas. Looking about, a cool wind blew in from the Aegean Sea. All was dark safe for a single light that was glowing in the west. It slowly grew, until at last there appeared a man in the robes of a Greek.

"You are the one!" the man cried out, tears in his eyes. "The one called to bring the Light of Salvation to the Gentiles!" Before Paul could react, the man threw himself to his knees. "Please, I beg you, come to Macedonia and speak the words of Christ in our ears! Save us! Save us, please!"

The voice echoed on into the night, repeating the call over and over, until the light at last grew faint and disappeared once more into the west.

Morning was still some ways away when Paul woke Silas and Lucas up from their slumber. They groaned a little, but made little other protest.

"Time to leave!" Paul said with joy and tears in his voice. "The Spirit has spoken! It is time to move on!"

(AN: There was this radio adaption of the story of St. Patrick, where he also receives a vision of the Irish begging him to preach the good news among them. There was a bagpipe playing in that segment, so I put on Amazing Grace on the pipes. Anachronistic, I know, but it brought tears to my eyes as I wrote this last bit of the chapter.)