He was a deserter; a failure. And the cause of a sharp disagreement between two Christian workers, one of them his uncle. So sharp in fact that they no longer worked together, despite years of supportive service (Acts 15:36ff).
Later on, the one who had objected to his continued presence on the team, speaks of him in very warm terms. Paul says that he has proved himself to be a valuable colleague in gospel work; "he is helpful to me in my ministry" (2 Tim 4:11).
So how did the change come about? How was this fallible young man recovered? Who was it that mentored him into being a faithful gospel servant?
Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. (Acts 15:39)
Presumably, the one who didn’t give up on him.
