Barnabas - Son of Encouragement

Acts chapter 4 introduces us to a man who had a major impact in early church history. Let's look at the first mention of this man.

Acts 4:36-37
"(32) Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
(33) And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
(34) Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
(35) and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
(36) Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
(37) having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet."

Let's take a look at what we so far know about Barnabas.

1. He was a Jew from the tribe of Levi named Joses.
2. He was from the island of Cyprus.
3. He was obviously living in Jerusalem.
4. He was very well known to the apostles.
5. The apostles had renamed him Barnabas.
6. The fact that the apostles had renamed him gives us an insight into his character.
7. He was obviously a man who had a great love and care for the followers of Jesus Christ.
8. He was a man who set out to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ.
9. He had a generous disposition shown in the selling of his land for the benefit of his fellow believers.
10. He put the needs of others above his own requirements.

When I think about Barnabas I see in my mind's eye a big hearted, generous man with a great love for Christ and his fellow believers. I see a man who did not look at the shortcomings of others, but instead sought to exhort and encourage them on their Christian pathway. If you take your eyes off Christ it is easy to see the shortcomings of fellow believers.

We next meet Barnabas in Acts chapter 9 in relation to the apostle Paul [Saul of Tarsus]. Saul of Tarsus had been persecuting the followers of Jesus Christ, hauling them off to prison and causing many of them to be executed. On his way to the city of Damascus the Lord Jesus appears to him in a brilliant, dazzling light and Saul of Tarsus is suddenly confronted with the truth of the resurrection and glorification of Jesus of Nazareth. This meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ changes him forever. He becomes a follower of Jesus Christ. Saul's preaching and teaching is so powerful that he has to escape for his life from Damascus.

Acts 9:26-30
"(26) And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
(27) But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
(28) So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
(29) And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
(30) When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus."

Here is Barnabas at a crucial time in the apostle Paul's life; stepping in boldly and giving him tremendous encouragement, as he declares to those at Jerusalem Saul's conversion and subsequent powerful preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Barnabas' testimony enabled Saul of Tarsus [later known as the apostle Paul] to join the believers at Jerusalem. However due to plots to kill him Saul has to flee to his home city Tarsus.

After the death of the martyr Stephen many believers were scattered and went to places such as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. These believers began preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews in those places and many became followers of Jesus Christ.

Acts 11:21-24
"(21) And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
(22) Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
(23) When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
(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."

Barnabas is sent out by the apostles at Jerusalem to check out these happenings. He immediately encourages the believers in those places. And we learn some more facts about Barnabas, "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." He was the right person for the times. However, it seems the work load was too much for one man.

Acts 11:25-26
"(25) Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
(26) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."

Later we find Barnabas and Saul sent to Jerusalem with gift funds for the believers in and around Jerusalem; for they were in drought conditions. They brought back with them Barnabas' relative John Mark to Antioch.

In Acts chapter 13 we find out that the Holy Spirit commissions Barnabas and Saul for a special gospel outreach. This later became known as Paul's 1st missionary journey. Barnabas and Saul [later known as Paul] set sail from Antioch in Syria for the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. They arrived in Salamis went through the whole island and set sail again from Paphos in Cyprus to Perga in Pamphylia. From Perga they journeyed overland to Antioch in Pisidia and then to Iconium. From Iconium they journeyed to Lystra and Derbe. From Derbe they retraced their journey back to Pamphylia then down to Perga. From Perga they went to the sea port of Attalia and set sail again for Antioch in Syria; their starting point. Except for the places in Cyprus the cities mentioned would now be part of modern Turkey.

Acts chapters 13 and 14 give us details of their arduous journeys and the hardships they endured in some of those cities. Yet through it all God honoured their labours on His behalf and many souls were added to the kingdom of God.

Barnabas is a striking example of a 'son of encouragement'. For he was, "...a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith..." He was a man prepared to put his faith to the test time and time again; for the benefit of others. We need more Barnabas' today. We need more 'sons of encouragement'.

Jon Peasey
Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com
Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

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