Not only was their friction
concerning his writings, Paul also had problems with
his traveling companions.
Acts 15:37
37 Barnabas wanted to take
John, also called Mark, with them,
38 but Paul did not think it was wise to take
him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia
and had not continued with them in the work.
39
They had such a sharp disagreement
that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and
sailed for Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas.
Paul also was in conflict with the
Roman authorities. At the end of the book of Acts we
read about those who came to listen to Paul while he
was under house arrest imposed by the government:
Acts 28:25
25 They disagreed
among themselves and began to leave after Paul
had made this final statement: "The holy spirit
spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said
through Isaiah the prophet:
26 Go to this people and say,
You will be
ever hearing but never understanding.
Paul's life ended in 69CE. He
was beheaded in Rome during a time of great
upheaval; one year before the Temple was destroyed
and the Jews were driven from Jerusalem.
The Split
Paul was a divider, not a uniter, and
the followers of "the Way" divided into two groups;
those "Jewish" followers known as Nazarenes or
Ebionites, and the "Greek" followers who, years