Working Together

KEY VERSE: “Barnabas (departed) to Tarsus to seek Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. It came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.” —Acts 11:25,26

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:26-30; 11:19-26, 29, 30

AS THE TRUTH spread abroad, there were many who accepted it, and word reached Jerusalem that there were many interested people in the city of Antioch. This thrilled and excited the hearts of the brethren in Jerusalem, much as it does today when we hear of others becoming interested in the message of truth, such as the recent discovery of a large number of brethren who have long remained unknown to us behind the Iron Curtain.

No doubt there was a great deal of discussion about these new ones in Antioch. The idea came up of sending a representative to bring back an eyewitness report of the situation. The one chosen to go would have to be sound in doc trine, apt to teach, and patient. Since Barnabas had formerly lived among Gentiles at Cyprus, he seemed to them the best choice to send.

The brethren in Antioch were but babes in Christ with a limited knowledge, and so Barnabas was careful not to criticize them, but instead to encourage and assist in their earnest endeavors to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth of God’s plan.

Concerning this we read, “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:23) It is interesting to note the meaning of this word, cleave, which means ‘to glue’ or, ‘to adhere’.

To a man of less noble character such a position of authority could have developed a spirit of pride. But there was no room for such a spirit in the mind of Barnabas. Realizing that Paul had been called for this work, he sought him out, and together they labored at Antioch for a year. The effect of this witness for the truth is attested to by the fact that the. Lord’s people were first called Christians at Antioch.—Acts 11:26

Word now reached the church at Antioch that the brethren at Jerusalem were needy, and their largeness of heart prompted them to send help at the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:30) After their return to Antioch they authorized a pilgrim trip for Barnabas and Saul.—Acts 13,14

Later a second, pilgrim trip was decided upon, and the church at Antioch again selected Paul and Barnabas to represent them. Barnabas desired to take with them as a helper, a young brother named John Mark, who was his nephew. (Acts 12:12,25; Col. 4:10, Diaglott) Paul, however, emphatically disagreed, because Mark had left them in the middle of their previous journey for reasons which Paul thought insufficient.—Acts 13:13

The issue was not resolved, so, as a result Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, while Paul took Silas and set off on the proposed journey to visit various churches. (Acts 15:36-41) Knowing the metal of the character of both Paul and Barnabas we must conclude that each felt justified in the course that he took. We know that Paul was a chosen vessel of God who continued to be blessed and directed by him. But let us take a little closer look at Barnabas. We find that he was a humble servant of the Lord, and we are confident that he continued to be a comfort to the brethren, and worthy of the name Barnabas, which means ‘the son of consolation’.

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