The introduction
of Barnabas onto the New Testament stage is dramatic and spectacular.
He is introduced in the midst of a trying time for the fledgling
church. What is most notable about Barnabas’s introduction
at this point is his actions which caused him to be mentioned.
He had sold all his property, which was probably of great value,
and gave it to the work of the early Church (Acts 4:34-36). So
touched by this and other actions of devotion from Joseph, the
first apostles nick-named him Barnabas, which literally means
the Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36).
Certain
Bible personalities are very dramatic in their unannouncedness.
They appear without any introduction. They burst upon us.
Barnabas beams unexpectedly upon the Church like a flood
of sunlight. And he was an incarnation of sunshine.
This
apostolic renaming seems an accurate description of Joseph’s
ministry flavour. He was an encourager. He saw potential in people
whom others had written off. The chief example of this is Saul
of Tarsus. It was because of Barnabas that Saul was accepted
into the early church-
But Barnabas
took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them
how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him,
and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:27 (NRS)
This
relationship later developed into a partnership. The next we
hear of Barnabas is that the Jerusalem church sent him to Antioch
to encourage them (Acts 11:22-23). After Barnabas had settled
in Antioch, in what appears to be the senior pastor’s role,
he left for Tarsus to find Saul (Acts 11:25). They both returned
to Antioch and Saul assumed the role of an elder in this church,
possibly teaching in a home based Bible class for one year (Acts
11:26).
Barnabas
and Saul then went to Jerusalem as a goodwill measure to present
them with financial support from the Antiochan church (Acts 11:30).
When in Jerusalem, Barnabas enlisted the services of John Mark
for the Antioch church as well (Acts 12:25). After settling back
in Antioch, Barnabas and Saul were commissioned by the local
elders to commence missionary work as a result of the Holy Spirit
speaking (Acts 13:1-2). Thus the missionary team of Barnabas
and Saul began. They were to be assisted by John Mark (Acts 13:5).
After
a successful missionary tour, in which John Mark had abandoned
his post, they returned to Antioch (Acts 14:26). As a consequence
of their evangelising Gentiles, certain Jewish Christians ignorantly
zealous for the Law of Moses still to be binding upon Christians,
stirred up dissension. This led to a council meeting in Jerusalem
to decide the issue of Gentile’s salvation (Acts 15). From
this point, Barnabas begins to fade into the distance of the
New Testament text. It is here that Paul rises to be the chief
spokesman at the Council meeting.
Following
this successful Council meeting, Paul and Barnabas planned their
follow-up missionary tour (Acts 15:36). Barnabas desired to take
John Mark with them again (Acts 15:37). Paul vehemently objected
(Acts 15:38). So sharp was the disagreement between Paul and
Barnabas that they dissolved their partnership (Acts 15:39).
Barnabas then went with John Mark back to his home town in Cyprus
(Acts 15:39). He is not mentioned in the text of Acts from this
point.
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(c) 2000, Andrew
Corbett, Legana Tasmania
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