The Ministry of Barnabas
TRANSLATION
(19) Those who had been scattered because of the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. (20) But some of them, those who came from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. (21) The Lord’s blessing was with them, and a great number of believers turned to the Lord. (22) News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
(23) When he came and saw what the grace of God had accomplished, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast hearts, (24) for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And many were added to the Lord. (25) He then 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 together with the church and taught a great number of people. The disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch.
(27) At that time prophets from Jerusalem came to Antioch. (28) One of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the earth. This took place in the days of Claudius. (29) The disciples decided to send financial assistance as each was able to the brothers who lived in Judea. (30) This they did, sending the gift to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
OBSERVATIONS
It is normal for parents to provide financial support for their children while they are still dependents. It is more notable when grown children in turn provide financial support for needy parents. This is precisely what happened when the church at Antioch sent financial relief to the church in Judea to supply their needs during the famine that the prophet, Agabus, had foretold. Repetitions in this segment included the place names “Cyprus” twice (vss. 19 & 20), “Antioch” six times (in vss. 19, 20, 22, 26, & 27), and “Jerusalem” twice (vss. 22 & 27). “The Lord” is found five times, once with “Jesus” (in vss. 20, 21, 23, & 24), and “Spirit” is found twice, once accompanied by “Holy” (vss. 24 & 28). “Barnabas” occurred three times (vss. 22, 25, & 30) while “Saul” occurred twice (vss. 25 & 30). “Send/sending” is also found twice (vss. 29 & 30).
OUTLINE
I. The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to learn what was happening there. (19-24)
II. Barnabas went to find Saul in Tarsus and brought him to Antioch to join him in ministry. (25 & 26)
III. The church in Antioch sent relief to the church in Judea to help them endure the famine. (27-30)
IDEA STATEMENT
By commissioning Barnabas to visit the church in Antioch, the Jerusalem church encouraged those believers, brought Saul back into active ministry, and provided for their own needs during the famine.
APPLICATION
Several passages in the Book of Acts describe the life of Barnabas including the account of his generosity in turning over to the early church the proceeds of the sale of a field of ground that he owned. This cannot have been a small sum. In fact, it was such generosity that sustained the Jerusalem church during the early months of its existence (Acts 4:34-37).
In this passage, we find that Barnabas had been entrusted with yet another responsibility. He was commissioned by the leadership in Jerusalem to make the journey up the eastern coast of the Mediterranean to Antioch, a trip of over 400 miles, to find out what had been happening with the believers in this important cultural and economic center. Word had reached Jerusalem that God was doing a mighty work among the Gentiles, and they wanted a full accounting. After coming to Antioch and encouraging the believers there, Barnabas then traveled to Tarsus where Saul had been living and persuaded him to partner with him in ministry back in Antioch. By reaching out to this almost forgotten convert, this mature disciple, whose actual name was Joseph, demonstrated why he had been given the nickname, Barnabas, a name which meant “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). In this way, Barnabas encouraged Saul, who had been out of the limelight for several years, to take on a strategic role in the expansion of the early church.