Baranbas: The Man Who Encouraged Others - Acts 4, 9, 11 and 13 - May 24, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Barnabas: The Man Who Encouraged Others – May 24, 2009

This is lesson four in our series of study entitled “Profiles in Character.”

Our scripture is Acts 4:36-37; 9:26-28; 11:19-26; 13: 14-15, 42-43.

All of us need to be encouraged from time to time.

Our study focuses on taking a chance on others. Barnabas was an encourager. Do we encourage others? Do others encourage us? Encouragement can come in many different forms.

Let’s read Acts 4: 36-37:

36 Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, whom the apostles named Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement, 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

It is interesting that Barnabas was a nickname given to Joseph, a Levite who had been born in Cyprus. Joseph was a Jew of the Diaspora. This means that his ancestors had been dispersed from Jerusalem during the time period between the Old Testament and the New Testament. This dispersion is known as the Diaspora. Joseph/Barnabas moved back to Jerusalem and was converted to CHRIST.

We also learn from Colossians 4:10 that Barnabas was John Mark’s cousin -
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, as does Mark, Barnabas’ cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).


We also can conclude that Barnabas was not married based upon 1 Corinthians 9:5-6 - 5 Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and • Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I (Paul) who have no right to refrain from working? We conclude by the absence of Barnabas from the list of those married, he was not married.

Joseph/Barnabas earned the nickname “Barnabas” from the apostles, which means “Son of Encouragement.”

We can encourage others with words, resources or action. We see in our scripture that Barnabas sold a piece of property and gave the money to the apostles to use as needed. He had already earned the name Barnabas but this was an example of how he had likely earned his nickname. Meeting the needs of others or an organization through monetary or sweat equity is an encouragement.

Let’s read Acts 9:26-28:

26 When he (Saul/Paul) arrived in Jerusalem,[5] Gl 1:18 he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how, on the road, Saul[6] Lit he had seen the Lord, and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 Saul[7] Lit he was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Saul of Tarsus was on his way to do harm to Christians in Damascus when he encountered JESUS. Saul later called Paul preached the gospel of CHRIST in Damascus. When he came to Jerusalem, the Christians in Jerusalem were afraid of him because of his past with the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was located in Jerusalem. They thought he may have been trying to spy on them and later do them harm. Paul had a past that followed him for the first few years after his conversion to CHRIST.

Many of us have baggage that carry over from our lives before CHRIST. We need Barnabas type people who are willing to take us into their care and mentor us. Having someone we can trust is of great value as we journey with our LORD.

Barnabas took the Apostle Paul under his wing and introduced him to the other Apostles. This gave Paul the opportunity to prove himself and we know the rest of the story. WOW and what a story!!!

There is always a risk when reaching out to others. When we do reach out to others who have a checkered past, we do not have to check our brains at the door. As a friend of mine told me, when we were discussing Christians with a past history of abusing children, he told me, “You can pray together but keep one eye open when you pray.”

Let’s read Acts 11:19-26:

19 Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists,[6] Other mss read Greeks [7] In this context, a non-Jewish person who spoke Gk proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 Then the report about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel[8] Other mss omit to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart— 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith—and large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he[9] Other mss read Barnabas went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

In this scripture Doctor Luke takes us back to the time before Paul’s conversion to CHRIST. Paul/Saul was carrying out the orders of the Sanhedrin to thwart a movement of people following JESUS known as the “Way”. We learn later that Christians were first called Christians at Antioch. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. Young Saul/Paul guarded the garments of those who stoned Stephen.

Acts 7:58-60:

58 They threw him (Stephen) out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And saying this, he fell • asleep.[24] He died; see Jn 11:11; 1 Co 11:30; 1 Th 4:13–15

In Acts 22:20, Paul is giving his testimony and confirmed that he had guarded the garments of those who stoned Stephen:

20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving,[4] Other mss add of his murder and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.’

As a result of the stoning of Stephen, the followers of JESUS were scattered to other areas. In fact, this was a good thing. The gospel was spread to other countries. The followers of CHRIST spread the message of salvation through CHRIST to fellow Jews in those areas.

Antioch was in Syria and it was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. Antioch was not a sea coast city but it was located on the Orontes River, which connected to the Mediterranean Sea. It was about 16.5 miles from the Sea. It was a cosmopolitan city with many ethnic groups living there.

It is estimated that some eight (8) to nine (9) years had passed since the stoning of Stephen. Some believers came from Cyprus and Cyrene to Antioch. They preached the gospel of CHRIST to the Jews. Some of the converts presented the message of CHRIST to the Hellenists or non-Jews who spoke Greek. They were receptive to the gospel and the gospel spread like a wild fire. This news came back to Jerusalem and the Christian leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to check it out.

Sometime before Barnabas left to go to Antioch, some Hellenists Jews attempted to kill Saul/Paul. When fellow believers discovered this attempt they sent Saul/Paul off to his home town of Tarsus. So Barnabas was aware of this. This will play a role later in our study.

Acts 9:28-30: (Saul/Paul was sent home to protect him.)

28 Saul[7] Lit he was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[8] Lit Hellenists; that is, Gk-speaking Jews but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Barnabas went to Antioch and saw the hand of the LORD at work. He saw grace. How do you see grace? In a changed life. He saw GOD changing the hearts of men and most likely women. We are all sinners saved by grace. We all deserve to die for our sins but through the grace of GOD, HE saves all who believe that HIS ONLY SON JESUS died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead.

Verses 23-24 give us a good overview of the character of Barnabas. When he saw the working of the LORD in the hearts of men, he was glad. He encouraged them all to remain true to the LORD. He was a good man and he was full of the HOLY SPIRIT and firm in his faith in CHRIST. As a result of Barnabas being genuine, large numbers were added to the faith. He practiced what he preached.

Another revelation of the character of Barnabas was in the fact that when he saw that things were going so well, he realized he needed help. He did not want to try to build a following for himself. But he knew a fellow believer who could minister in this place along with him. So he went to Tarsus to find Saul/Paul.

The hand of the LORD is awesome. Saul/Paul was sent to Tarsus for his protection. He was likely in Tarsus about two (2) years before Barnabas came looking for him. Tarsus was about 123 miles by land from Antioch. Tarsus was on the Cydnus River about 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. There seemed to be a trade route from Antioch through Tarsus but there could also been a ship that could have carried Barnabas to Tarsus. Either way Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul/Paul.

He found Saul/Paul and brought him back to Antioch and they ministered together for a year. We learn that it was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians.
If you do further study, look at the word order that Doctor Luke used when referring to Barnabas and Saul. There is a shift in leadership. In the beginning Luke refers to Barnabas/Saul. After Saul has proved himself and become more involved in the ministry, Luke used Paul/Barnabas. This also reveals the character of Barnabas. He was not out to pin a rose on himself, he wanted to do the will of the LORD. Barnabas wanted to get the job done of reaching others for CHRIST.

Let’s read Acts 13:14-15, 42-43:

14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent [word]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”

42 As they[16] Paul and Barnabas were leaving, they[17] Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles [18] The people begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath. 43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout • proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.

“They” refers to Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas were commissioned by the church in Antioch in Syria to go on a missionary journey. One of the cities they visited was Antioch in Pisidia. They traveled from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia which was a distance of about 100 miles. It is estimated that they could travel on foot about 15 miles per day, so it took about a week.

Their method of operation was to visit a synagogue on the Sabbath. The usual custom was to ask those visiting to comment on the scripture which had been read.

They were asked if they had a word of encouragement. That was like saying “sic’em” to a dog. Paul got up and preached. His message is recorded in Acts 13:16-41.
Those present, Jews and Gentiles, followed Paul and Barnabas out of the synagogue and begged them to come back on the next Sabbath.

They did and Acts 13:44-49 revealed the results:

44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord.[19] Other mss read of God 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas boldly said: “It was necessary that God’s message be spoken to you first. But since you reject it, and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles! 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends[20] Lit the end of the earth.”[21] Isaiah 49:6 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region.

Many received salvation because Barnabas took a chance and introduced Paul to the Apostles. This helped launch Paul’s spiritual journey. Paul earned the respect of the Apostles. Barnabas was the great encourager not only for Paul but as a way of life. Do we encourage others?