New Testament · New Testament

Barnabas

“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”Acts 11:24

Biography

Barnabas ('son of encouragement') was a Levite from Cyprus who became one of the most important figures in the expansion of early Christianity. He sold a field and gave the money to the apostles. When Paul returned to Jerusalem after his conversion and the believers were afraid of him, Barnabas vouched for him. He was sent to Antioch to oversee the new Gentile church and brought Paul to partner with him there. They were sent together on the first missionary journey. He later gave John Mark a second chance after Paul refused to take him, and they traveled together to Cyprus.

Spiritual Lesson

Barnabas is the patron of second chances. He vouched for Paul when no one else would, gave Mark another chance when Paul refused, and encouraged Gentile believers when the Jerusalem church was uncertain about them. 'Son of encouragement' was not a title given for words — it was given for specific costly acts: risking his reputation on Paul, standing beside Mark, giving what he had. The church grows not only through the preaching of the bold but through the advocacy of those who will vouch for the overlooked.

Walking Together

Lesson 19 · Why We Need the ChurchWhen everyone else was afraid of Saul, Barnabas took him in and brought him to the church — one limb's welcome rewrote another man's whole life.Lesson 66 · The Long WalkBarnabas, 'son of encouragement': where everyone else gave up on Saul and on Mark, he stayed — a companion who counted in years.Lesson 89 · Money and the House of GodThe \"son of encouragement\" who sold a field and laid the money at the apostles' feet - among the first witnesses that giving becomes a blessing to the whole body.Lesson 93 · Bumps Along the Coworking RoadThe son of encouragement - the man who vouched for a young man in the middle of an argument, and had once vouched for the newly converted Saul.Lesson 105 · Planning an OutreachThe first name on the Antioch list — the son of encouragement, sent out by a praying church.Lesson 107 · The Wisdom of Short-Term MissionsThe partner on the first mission team — the model of being sent together, suffering together, and reporting back together.Lesson 111 · Willing to Be Walked WithThe apostles called him \"son of encouragement\" — that is exactly the name a man who will vouch for you should have.
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