A Son of Encouragement

Recently I looked into the life of Barnabas. I would like to be more like Barnabas. I think I would like to have known Barnabas while he walked on the earth and look forward to meeting him in heaven.

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus. His name was Joseph but he was called Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” (Acts 4:36) This alone tells us that he was a man that encouraged others. He was one who could see the best in others. He would come alongside and help them on the path that God had for them. He did this most notably with Saul/Paul. When we think about the New Testament church we mostly think of Paul. But had it not been for Barnabas, we may not have known much about Paul.

Barnabas was the only one in Jerusalem initially who believed that Saul had a real conversion experience. While others were still cowering in fear of Saul, Barnabas took him under his wing and introduced him to the church leaders in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:27) Later when Barnabas was ministering in the new church in Antioch, he went to Tarsus and found Saul to enlist his help. (Acts 11:25) Barnabas obviously recognized that Saul had the necessary teaching gift for the work needed. From Antioch they were sent out together as missionaries. (Acts 13:1-3) In the early part of their ministry together Barnabas was listed first in references to them, indicating that he probably had a more prominent role. He did not seem to mind eventually taking the “lesser” role in the team. To me this shows humility.

Later Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement about taking John Mark along because of his failure to remain with them on a previous journey. Barnabas chose to work with the young John Mark and let Paul go on with someone else in ministry. (Acts 15:37-40) Again we see the willingness of Barnabas to work with someone that another would not and encourage him in his ministry calling. And again I wonder what may have happened to Mark, had Barnabas not stood with him and had just went on with Paul and left Mark by himself. Would Mark have become the man he did without the support and encouragement of Barnabas? Would Paul have become the man he did without the support and encouragement of Barnabas? It causes me also to wonder if there are people that I have not given a second chance or just wrote off that their lives may have been different had I acted differently toward them.

After the separation from Paul we don’t really hear much more about Barnabas, but I am quite certain there is much more to his life than is recorded here. We will just have to wait to talk to him about it on the other side. I would also assume that we would find more that he encouraged along the way than just Paul and Mark.

We also see from what is recorded in Acts 11:23-24 concerning his initial work at Antioch that “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord.” He seemed to have pastoral heart and successful evangelistic outreach. Also according to Acts 13:1, he was considered amongst the prophets and teachers in Antioch. So he really functioned in several different "offices."
In addition Barnabas was one of the early church members who sold property and gave finance toward the work of the ministry. (Acts 4:37)  We see in this also a generous heart