Jesus, Prophet of Islam - The Islamic Bulletin

64 Jesus, Prophet ofIslam

Furthennore, Paul was a Roman citizen. He must have learned

the language of Rome. He certainly spoke Greek, which was the

official language of the area in which he was bom. The epistles he

later wrote to the Christian communities in Greece must have been

written in their native tongue. This meant that Paul could travel in

Greece and probably in ltaly without any difficulties over language.

Barnabas, on the other hand, spoke neither of these two lan­

guages. John Mark, who spoke Greek, had accompanied him on

the first missionary journey into Greece to ad as his interpreter. If

Barnabas were to go there by himself, he would not be able to make

himself understood. Thus Paul's refusai to travel with John Mark

may have been aroundaboutway ofensuringthatBarnabaswould

refuse to travel with him. Commenting on their parting in his His­

tory ofChristianity in theApostolic Age, MacGiffert says:

That Barnabas ... whose right to work among the Gen­

tiles had been recognised in Jerusalem ... should have

drawn back and separated himself from them is very

strange.Barnabaswas not in fullsympathywithPaul's

doctrine of the Christian's complete liberty from alilaws

of whatever kind ... The separation of Paul and Barna­

bas is stated by the author of the Acts to be the result of

a disagreement concerning Mark, but the real reason lay

deeper than that '" The man who stood closest to Paul

and was most intimately associated with him during

the early years of his Christian career was Barnabas, who

was a member of the Church in Jerusalem in its primi­

tive days ... His friendship meant much to Paul and

doubtless contributed in no small degree to his credit

and influence with the Christians. Barnabas stood spon­

sor for Paul in the early days when the memory of his

persecuting career was fresh in the mind of the Church.'

The change in Barnabas's attitude towards Paul could only have
come about as a result of his experiences while travelling with Paul.
Any hopes that Paul would change his views and become a true
follower of Jesus must have been dispelled by what happened on
that first missionary journey. Perhaps too Barnabas realised the
futility of trying to spread a guidance, which had only been in­
lended for the Jews, among the Gentiles, and, seeing the folly of
this course of action. left it.

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