In Acts 4:36 we are introduced to another biblical Joseph.
However, the apostles called this man Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, or son of exhortation. We don’t know how this
Jewish Levite came to faith in Jesus, but we do see repeatedly that he lived up
to his name as an encourager.
The first generous act we read of Barnabas is in Acts 4:37,
where he sold a field that belonged to him and
brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. This selfless
act of surrendering money that was rightfully his, to the Lord’s work was and
remains, a sizable act of generosity.
Next, we read of Barnabas in Acts 9:27, where he searched
out and advocated for the new Christian named Saul. Barnabas
took him (Saul) and brought him to
the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who
spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
He was the sort of friend we all need, and we should all aspire to be like.
Barnabas cared nothing of Saul’s past life or bad reputation.
Rather, he was so convinced of the transforming work of Jesus Christ within
Saul, that he assisted him. Undeterred by inconvenience, personal cost, and
possible criticism, Barnabas took Saul and introduced him to the apostles. He
knew the apostles were able to discern the best path forward for Saul, just as
they had done for him.
With a record of being a good
man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith
(Acts 11:24), a few years later the apostles sent Barnabas from
Jerusalem to Antioch to evaluate the Lord’s work amongst the growing Greek church.
Upon arrival, he saw the grace of God, he was
glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast
purpose (Acts 11:23). Content with this, Acts 11:25-26 tells us that
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 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, who was observant and forward-thinking, played a
critical role in relocating Saul, soon to be called Paul. Moving to Antioch, Paul,
assisted by Barnabas, served within the young church as a teacher of Christ for
the next year. In many practical ways, Barnabas discipled Paul, while
theologically, Paul discipled Barnabas. What a great team they made!
In fact, Barnabas, along with John Mark, travelled with Paul
on their first missionary journey. In spite of a disagreement which later
caused John Mark to drop out of the mission, Barnabas remained faithful (Acts
13:13). Serving with Paul, they saw many come to faith in Jesus Christ, both
Jew and Gentile (Acts 13:42-52).
We read of only two disagreeable times in the life of
Barnabas. The first happened sometime later, Barnabas was caught in Peter’s
short lived hypocrisy of segregating from Gentiles at dinner time (Galatians
2:13-14). And it was Paul who corrected Peter, and by extension Barnabas, on
this matter of racial segregation. The second was a disagreement over including
John Mark in their second missionary journey, which caused Barnabas and Paul to
go their separate ways, with Barnabas continuing to disciple John Mark (Acts
15:36-41).
But, in the grace of God, it appears that Paul was later
reconciled to John Mark, and we hope to Barnabas also (Colossians 4:10; 2
Timothy 4:11). May we also be known for our encouragement of others, and for
faithfulness in giving of self for the betterment of others in Christ.
