Son of Encouragement; Acts 11

May the mumbling commence!

What a great man of the Lord Barnabas was!  It was no mistake that Barnabas was named by the apostles the way he was.  His given name was Joseph, a Levite (Acts 4:36).  Barnabas means “son of encouragement.”  Simon had his name changed to Peter when he came to follow Jesus.  Levi had his name changed to Matthew when he came to follow Jesus.  Joseph had his name changed to Barnabas when he came to follow Jesus.  Saul had his name changed to Paul when he came to follow Jesus.

Sometimes, I wonder what my new name might have been when I came to follow Jesus.  I wonder what my life in Jesus best shows to those around m, because Barnabas’ new name identified the gifts that Joseph brought to his Christian family.  We see it in the first reference to him in Acts 4.  He sold one of his fields and donated the money to the apostles.  Barnabas also spoke up for the unpopular and mistrusted Saul/Paul when he came to the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 9).  He also became Paul’s traveling companion on mission trips until an unfortunate parting of ways – a parting of ways that was at least partly caused by Barnabas’ encouraging nature in relation to John Mark.

In Acts chapter eleven (part of today’s passage), the apostles learned of a growing Gentile congregation in Antioch.  So they sent Barnabas, the encourager.  Read from chapter eleven:

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.  The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 

News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  (Verses 19-24)

Barnabas was glad about the Gentile converts.  He encouraged them and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  (I also note that some of the people preaching to the Greeks came from Cyrene.  I can’t help wonder if one of those people was Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus to carry his cross to Golgotha.  At the very least, the community that Mark wrote his gospel for knew Simon, who is named as the father of Alexander and Rufus.  Were some of these Gentile converts made in Antioch or their descendants a part of the community that Mark wrote to?  Most scholars date Mark as the earliest of the gospels.)

As the Scripture that follows this passage tells us, Barnabas went to get Saul/Paul.  And Antioch became the first joint mission venture of Barnabas and Saul.  Barnabas was the one who helped to lay the groundwork in Antioch and many other places for Paul.  I do not think that it is a coincidence that the people of Antioch were the first to be known as Christians (Verse 26).   

What a great man of the Lord Barnabas was!  What a great and obedient child of God!  I only hope that I might be as successful as Barnabas at living out the life that my Lord Jesus has called me to.  If I can be as successful as Barnabas, I will be quite content. 

And Barnabas knew when to take center stage, and he also knew when to fade into the background – Barnabas and Saul eventually became Saul and Barnabas then Paul and Barnabas then Paul and Silas.  As Acts goes along, Barnabas receded into the background – much like John the Baptist in the gospels.  Fading into the background does not make these men of faith any less.  They knew that they were and are a part of something much larger.  I hope all Christians get this message loud and clear.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out