Barnabas About the Man Named Barnabas by the

Barnabas: About the Man • Named Barnabas by the apostles (Acts 4: 36) – Son of encouragement, consolation, exhortation (cf. 11: 23) • Of the tribe of Levi (Acts 4: 36) – Perhaps what brought him to Jerusalem • Of the country of Cyprus (Acts 4: 36) – First place Paul & Barnabas preached (Acts 13: 4 -5) – Barnabas returned there with John Mark (Acts 15: 39) • A landowner (Acts 4: 37) • Apparently no wife or family (cf. 1 Cor. 9: 5 -6) • Called an “apostle” (Acts 14: 14) – Along with Timothy & Silas (1 Thess. 2: 6); Jesus’ brother, James (Gal. 1: 19); Titus & brethren (2 Cor. 8: 23); Epaphroditus (Phil. 2: 25); Andronicus & Junia (Rm. 16: 7)

Barnabas: Lessons for Us to Learn • He was exceedingly generous (Acts 4: 32 -37) – A benevolent act done freely & without coercion – Reflected a proper attitude toward material wealth – The gospel brings out the very best in men & women Ø Roots up pride, selfishness, covetousness Ø Fills the void with brotherly kindness, love & good will – The spirit of generosity must be practiced & taught Ø In families Ø In the church Ø In the eldership

Barnabas: Lessons for Us to Learn • He was exceedingly generous (Acts 4: 32 -37) • He was compassionately gracious (Acts 9: 26 -28) – Saul, the persecutor, returned to Jerusalem three years after his conversion (cf. Gal. 1: 18) – Saul had a well-earned reputation (cf. Acts 7: 58 -8: 3; 9: 1 -2) which caused the disciples to be afraid of him – Saul needed a friend, a brother in Christ to trust him, plus someone who the disciples would trust – Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles & defended him Ø This helped disciples to no longer fear him Saul to be encouraged & get on with his work Barnabas in knowing he had done the right thing create a bond between S&B for future mission work

Barnabas: Lessons for Us to Learn • He was exceedingly generous (Acts 4: 32 -37) • He was compassionately gracious (Acts 9: 26 -28) • He was constantly encouraging (Acts 11: 19 -30) – – – – There were great number of new converts in Antioch New converts need encouragement – who send? Known to church at Jerusalem – he had innate ability He rejoiced at the growth of other Christians He was a good man, having a great influence on others He was reason for Paul’s close relationship with Antioch He was trustworthy

Barnabas: Lessons for Us to Learn • • He He was was exceedingly generous (Acts 4: 32 -37) compassionately gracious (Acts 9: 26 -28) constantly encouraging (Acts 11: 19 -30) willing to work in second place (12: 25 -15: 35) – Barnabas & Saul were set apart for 1 st missionary journey – Up to this point, Barnabas was more public & prominent Ø Barnabas was an active, faithful Christian long before Saul Ø Saul depended on influence of Barnabas to be accepted Ø It was Barnabas sent to Antioch to exhort babes in Christ Ø It was Barnabas who went to find Saul to bring him to Antioch

Barnabas: Lessons for Us to Learn • • He He was was exceedingly generous (Acts 4: 32 -37) compassionately gracious (Acts 9: 26 -28) constantly encouraging (Acts 11: 19 -30) willing to work in second place (12: 25 -15: 35) – Barnabas & Saul were set apart for 1 st missionary journey – Up to this point, Barnabas was more public & prominent – Seems to be turning point in 13: 9 -13 Ø Prior to 13: 9 – “Barnabas and Saul” Ø 13: 9 – Saul called Paul; 13: 10 – first words from Paul as Christian Ø 13: 13 – “Paul and his party” – Barnabas not specified Ø People of Lystra called Paul, Hermes/Mercury – “chief speaker” – Barnabas played a supportive role to Paul like John the Baptizer did to Jesus (John 1: 19 -37; 3: 25 -31)– both came 1 st

Barnabas: Lessons for Us to Learn • • He He was was exceedingly generous (Acts 4: 32 -37) compassionately gracious (Acts 9: 26 -28) constantly encouraging (Acts 11: 19 -30) willing to work in second place (12: 25 -15: 35) • He was influenced by others to sin (Gal. 2: 11 -14) – Barnabas was subject to temptation & peer pressure – Like Peter, he sinned in excluding fellowship from the Gentiles (showing partiality) and was “carried away with their hypocrisy” (Gal. 2: 13). – This was right around the time that Paul & Barnabas split (cf. Galatians 2 & Acts 15). – Paul still refers favorably in him in 1 Corinthians 9: 6 Ø As well as to Mark in Col. 4: 10 & 2 Tim. 4: 11