Barnabas: Builder and Missionary

KEY VERSE: “He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” —Acts 11:24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:34-37; 11:19-26; 13:1-3

WE ARE first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36. After Pentecost the apostles and the disciples were assembled together and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they “were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” (Acts 4:31,32) They were so filled with the spirit of unity and purpose that they wanted to completely divest themselves of worldly possessions and use the proceeds for their mutual support in order to serve the Lord without worldly hindrances. “Jones, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, the son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”—Acts 4:36,37

The close association Barnabas had with Paul, that extended over the years, had its beginning about three years after Paul’s conversion when he wanted to meet with the church at Jerusalem. We are not told how Barnabas knew Paul. Some commentators believe that he may have been a fellow student at the feet of Gamaliel. It, nevertheless, was his privilege to introduce Paul to Peter and the Apostle James.—Acts 9:26,27; Gal. 1:18,19

Early in the ministry of Barnabas, a considerable amount of interest in Christianity had been generated in Antioch and the surrounding area. The church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to teach and encourage these new believers.

It was approximately at this time that the church at Antioch received prophets from Jerusalem. One of them, Agabus, prophesied that there would be a great famine which would affect the brethren in Jerusalem. “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul [Paul].”—Acts 11:29,30

This relief work accomplished, Barnabas and Paul went back to Antioch, and from there they soon left on another pilgrim trip directed by the Holy Spirit. They first went to Cyprus where they were instrumental in bringing the truth to the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus. But while presenting the truth to this man, they were opposed by a sorcerer seeking to turn the deputy from the truth. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to the sorcerer, “And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.”—Acts 13:11

From Cyprus they traveled through the interior of Asia Minor, and at times were severely persecuted by mobs. Once when they had cured a lame man in Lystra, they were forced to restrain the crowd from worshiping them as gods. But they preached to them that the power came from God and that this same God who created all things permitted all nations to walk in their own ways, but he still gave witness to them in that he provided rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling hearts with food and gladness. But there came certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the people and they stoned Paul and drew him out of the city supposing him dead. But Paul arose and came into the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe and then to Iconium, and Antioch. “When they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”—Acts 14:27

In Acts, the fifteenth chapter, we have the account of certain Jews coming among the brethren teaching that unless the Gentiles be circumcised after the manner of Moses, they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas engaged them in “no small dissension and disputation.” (Acts 15:2) The brethren then chose Barnabas and Paul to take the matter to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for a decision. The church at Jerusalem supported them to the effect that it was not necessary for the Gentiles to be circumcised or be burdened with the other aspects of the Law except that they should “abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.”—Acts 15:29

After returning from this mission, these two faithful soldiers of the cross parted company thus ending the scriptural record of Barnabas, the son of consolation.

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