We are not told why John decides to leave the mission.1 Commentators have proposed lots of different reasons. Was he eager to spend more time in Cyprus? Was he homesick, disappointed by the leading position taken by Paul or the obvious focus on a Gentile audience?2 Whatever the reason, he would join Barnabas again on a later mission (Acts 15:39) and also spend time helping Paul (see 2 Timothy 4:11; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24), despite Paul’s initial reservations (Acts 15:38).
13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,