Thoughts to Ponder from Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3

Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 (ESV)

²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. ²² The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, ²⁴ for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.²⁵ So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

“He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit of faith” (Acts 11:24).

Those who love mystery novels know that overlooked, but ever-present, details can be the key to solving the crime. Barnabas is one of those often overlooked details. Much of the time when we read about Paul’s adventures in Acts, Barnabas is right there with him. But since Paul is so famous, Barnabas remains in the background. So when we look more closely at Barnabas, we may be surprised at how important a figure he was – and at how wonderfully he lived out the gospel.

Without Barnabas, Paul may have remained an overzealous convert in faraway Tarsus. It was Barnabas who first convinced the apostles to accept Paul after his conversion. It was Barnabas who brought Paul to Antioch, enlisting his help and placing him in his first leadership role. The two traveled together, evangelizing, establishing churches, braving persecutions, and working out what it meant to be a disciple in the pagan world outside Jerusalem.

Barnabas was a generous soul. He gave much of his wealth to help the poor in the Jerusalem church, and he gave John Mark a second chance when Paul was ready to reject him (Acts 4:36-37; 15:36-41). His gift of gentle persuasion also helped Jews and Gentiles overcome centuries of animosity as they forged a new church in Antioch (11:19-26).

Luke tells us that Barnabas’ real name was Joseph, but that the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). It’s possible he earned this title because he had a talent for saying just the right thing at the right time. It’s also possible that he earned the name because of his godly character. Dedicated, just, generous, and steadfast – anyone who demonstrated these virtues must have been very welcome among the first believers as they worked to build the early church.

In a world that is often hostile or indifferent to the gospel, those who manifest a strong Christian character – even the “hidden” ones like Barnabas – can play a vital role in evangelizing and in encouraging other believers. May we all follow Barnabas’ example and take up the call to become sons and daughters of encouragement.

Holy Spirit, help me to be open to your guidance and encouragement. By your grace, may I become a source of encouragement for those around me. Amen.

From The Word Among Us, June 11th, 2009.