Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 (NRSV)
Read Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. Verse 20But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. Verse 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. Verse 22News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Verse 23When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; Verse 24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Verse 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, Verse 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians."
Verse 27At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Verse 28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. Verse 29The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; Verse 30this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Chapter 13Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. Verse 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Verse 3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Devotion
Today we remember Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement.” We first meet him in Acts 4:36-37. His given name was Joseph, but was nicknamed Barnabas because of his great generosity. “He sold a field ... then brought the money” to the apostles for the common treasury to assist the poor in Jerusalem.
Barnabas was highly regarded, being a Levite, and would be trusted by the church in Jerusalem. They sent him to Antioch to give leadership to the fledgling congregation. Antioch was a leading city of the Roman Empire together with Rome and Alexandria. Its estimated population may have been as high as 300,000.
The greatest thing that Barnabas did was to go to Tarsus and bring Paul to be a coworker with him. “It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.” It was meant to be a derogatory term, referring to a Jewish messianic sect.
I’d like to have known Barnabas. He was a believer with a generous heart. Together with Paul, he launched the greatest adventure the world has ever known. We are all debtors to him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the ministry of Barnabas. Amen.