Elder Goh Kee Tai

 

Barnabas, co-labourer of Paul

Barnabas which means one who consoles, encourages and exhorts, 'The son of consolation' (Act 4:36) was the surname of Joses given by the apostles. However, the name Barnabas has a Hebrew origin which means "son of a prophet." He originated from a priestly family, the Levite, and came to Jerusalem from Cyprus. He was described as ' a good man, and full of Holy Ghost and of faith' (Act 11:24). Luke regarded him as an apostle (Act 14:14). But his apostleship must not be equated with that of the Apostle Paul's. Barnabas was called an apostle together with Paul in Acts 14: 14 because they were apostles i.e. ones sent by the church in Antioch. The meaning of the word "apostle" is "one who has been sent." Paul and Barnabas were the first missionaries sent by a local church. The Apostles were sent directly by the resurrected Christ. There is no record of Barnabas being sent by the resurrected Christ. However, this does not mean that Barnabas was not familiar with the teachings of Christ. His manifold contributions to the growth of the first apostolic church in Jerusalem and the first Gentile church in Antioch-Syria as well as in founding a chain of Gentile churches in Cyprus and Asia Minor as a co-labourer of Paul in their first missionary journey were immense.

 

His contributions to the Jerusalem church

Barnabas could be among the 120 disciples who assembled at the upper room of a house in Jerusalem waiting expectantly for the baptism with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Act 1:5, 15). When the Jerusalem church was born with 3,000 converted following Peter's preaching on this momentous day (Act 2:41) and another 5,000 added to the church through Peter's second sermon after healing a paralytic at the temple gate (Act 4:4), the physical, social and spiritual needs of the rapidly growing congregation were tremendous. Barnabas was among those believers who voluntarily sold their lands, houses, possessions and goods and handed the proceeds to the apostles (Act 2:45; 4:37). This act of love and concern for the needy had undoubtedly contributed to the close bonding and unity of believers as they had 'all things common' and were of 'one heart and of one soul ' (Act 2:44;4:32).

 

Barnabas would have witnessed the problems, trials and tribulations of the infant church. The persecution of Peter and John and their fearless defence of the gospel before the Sanhedrin Council (Act 4:20; 5:29), the martydom of Stephen and James (Act 7: 59,60; 12:2), the miraclous deliverance of Peter from being martyred by Herod Agrippa I (Act 12:7), and Peter's defence before the church leaders in extending the gospel to the Gentiles in the conversion of Cornelius, his kinsmen and close friends (Act 11:18), were instructive to Barnabas.

 

His contributions to the Gentile church at Antioch-Syria

The first Gentile church in Antioch-Syria was founded through the evangelism of some Jewish Christians who were scattered abroad to Cyprus and Cyrene following the martydom of Stephen. When the mother church at Jerusalem heard of this new missionary outreach, Barnabas was assigned by the leaders to make a field trip there and report on the situation (Act 11:19,22). Upon arrival, he witnessed the good hand of the Lord and His grace among the believers (Act 11:23). Through his powerful teaching and preaching ministry, more were converted, edified, built up in the most holy faith and walked in the fear of God and in the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit (Act 11:24). Realizing that more co-labourers were needed for this flourishing church and God-given vision of potential evangelism elsewhere, Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Paul and invited him to Antioch-Syria. They co-laboured in peace and unity in ministering to the brethren for one whole year in this church together with visiting prophets from the mother church from time to time to the blessings of many Christians (Act 11:26,27). With the imminent famine in Judeae, they collected relief fund cheerfully given by this Gentile church and personally handed it over to the elders in Jerusalem (Act 11:29,30).

 

His first missionary journey

Barnabas and Paul were called by the Holy Spirit for the first missionary journey to witness to the Gentiles in the Roman Empire: 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them' (Act 13:2). After the laying of hands and blessing by the leaders of the church at Antioch-Syria, they sailed to Cyprus to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ accompanied by John Mark from Jerusalem (Act 12:25). They then proceeded to Antioch-Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe of Asia Minor where they established a chain of Gentile churches.

 

Despite their call to the Gentiles, their priority had always been the Jews. They would first preach to the Jews and the Gentile proselytes in the synagogues that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and not the keeping of the Mosaic laws. Their endeavours to bring the gospel to both the Jews and Gentiles were strongly opposed by the unbelieving Jews.

 

At Paphos, Cyprus, a Jewish sorcerer by the name Elymas who attempted to prevent them from preaching to the governor, Sergius Paulus, was miraculously inflicted with a transient blindness by Paul (Act 13:11). At Antioch-Pisidia, the unbelieving Jews were envious that many Gentiles were converted. These agents of Satan fiercely opposed, contradicted and blasphemed the gospel and stirred up troubles for Paul and Barnabas until they were expelled from this city. Both missionaries remained courageous and stedfast and sharply rebuked and warned the unbelieving Jews for rejecting the gospel: 'It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles'(Act 13:46). They shook off the dust of their feet against their persecutors and left for Iconium where the Lord was with them and blessed them with sign-miracles to authenticate the gospel boldly preached in the midst of strong prejudices and opposition (Act 14:3).

 

On learning of a plot to stone them, they fled to Lystra where they preached to the superstitious Gentiles to turn from their idols to the One true living God, the Creator of heaven and earth and the Giver of good things in life. Following the miraculous healing of a paralytic, they were mistaken by the people as two of their gods visiting the earth; Barnabas as Jupiter and Paul as Mercury. On hearing that the priests of Jupiter were coming to offer sacrifices to them, they were extremely upset and furious and immediately stopped the people from such an abominable act (Act 14:14,18). The evil and malicious unbelieving Jews from Antioch-Pisidia and Iconium were determined to destroy the gospel ministry; they pursued both missionaries to Lystra and instigated the people to stone Paul, the leader, who almost died, but Barnabas was spared (Act14:19).

On their return journey to Antioch-Syria, they revisited the churches of the cities where they had been ill-treated and persecuted in order to confirm and strengthen the faith of new converts and to ordain leaders to sustain the work there (Act 14:23).

The missionary trip was a great success as the Lord had 'opened the door of faith' to the Gentiles through Paul and Barnabas (Act 14:27).

 

His contribution in the Jerusalem council

After their return from the missionary journey to Antioch-Syria, a serious controvesy in the Gentile church occurred. Some Jewish believers who were previously from the sect of the Pharisees, insisted that the Gentile believers should keep the law of Moses and be circumcised (Act 15:1). Both Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed and sharply debated with them. Unless resolved quickly, this would inevitably lead to schism and destruction of this church. The church leaders appointed both missionaries to seek advice from the mother church at Jerusalem. At the Jerusalem Council which was convened to discuss this doctrinal issue, they actively participated in the deliberations and testified the wonderful works of salvation among the Gentiles in their missionary journey in accordance to God's plan and purpose (Act 15:12). This doctrinal controversy was unanimously resolved (Act 15:19,20). There was much rejoicing in this Gentile church and it continued to grow from strength to strength.

 

His relationship with Paul

Barnabas, well known to the apostles in Jerusalem, was the one who testified and convinced the apostles as well as the brethren in Jerusalem of the sincere and genuine conversion of Paul by the resurrected Christ (Act 9:26,27). Saul, before his conversion was notorious for being the most cruel and brutal persecutor who 'made havoc of the church' (Act 8:3) and continued to be feared and rejected by the believers even after his radical transformation to the most zealous courageous defender of the Christian faith (Act 9:26).

 

In the early phase of their co-labour, Barnabas was the leader. As the events developed up to their departure for Cyprus in their first missionary journey, Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles, recorded that it was Paul who was the key figure by consistently naming Paul first before Barnabas (Act 13:43; 46, 50; 15:2,35).However, at the Jerusalem Council, Barnabas' name usually appeared first before Paul (Act 15:12, 25). Both worked with one accord, with one heart and one mind in peace and unity to promote the gospel of Christ with no evidence of Barnabas being envious of Paul taking the lead. The possible reason why Barnabas' name was mentioned first at the Jerusalem council was that Barnabas was more well known to them and had a longer time of service in their midst than Paul who was a persecutor of the church during Barnabas' early ministry in the church. Therefore, Barnabas' testimony probably carried more weight and acceptance .

 

Nevertheless, Barnabas had a couple of issues in his ministry. The first occurred when Peter came to Antioch-Syria and was having a meal-fellowship with other church leaders, including uncircumcised Gentile Christians. When Peter saw some Jewish Christians from Jerusalem , he was afraid; he withdrew and separated himself from the Gentile believers. Barnabas was stumbled by Peter's behaviour. Paul rebuked Peter publicly for his hypocrisy by not consistently practicing the gospel of grace (Gal 2:13).

 

The second difference was personal, not doctrinal, regarding John Mark. Before embarking on the second missionary journey to confirm and strengthen the faith of the infant churches which they had founded, Paul sharply disagreed with the insistence of Barnabas in bringing John Mark who left them and returned to Jerusalem when they arrived at Perga in the first missionary journey (Act 13:13).The argument was so heated that they had to part company with Barnabas taking John Mark to Cyprus and Paul accompanied by Silas to Tarsus (Act 15:39,40).

 

God permitted this disagreement so that the missionary work could be further expanded through two missionary teams, instead of one. Barnabas and Paul complemented and enhanced each other's ministry in the advancement of God's Kingdom and in strengthening the faith of new converts. Although their partnership was temporary severed, their friendship continued. Paul had high regard for Barnabas (1 Cor 9:6).

 

Conclusion

Barnabas was a God-fearing, God-loving, trustworthy and spirit-filled church leader and missionary, reputed for his generosity, kindness, cheerfulness, warm-heartedness, encouragement, honesty and integrity. He was zealous of good works and highly respected by fellow believers. Through his own personal testimony, charity and labour of love, he promoted Christian unity in both the mother church at Jerusalem and the Gentile church at Antioch-Syria. He put his complete trust in the Lord and gave his life for His service. He knew God's word well and applied it wisely and diligently in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities . Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he was waxed bold and ever ready to preach the gospel of salvation despite strong opposition, extreme difficulties and hardship. Like Paul, he was prepared to endure persecution, imprisonment and even death.

 

Although Barnabas was extremely charitable in disposing of his land to support the needy when the Jerusalem church was founded, he supported himself by working for a living and did not insist on his right to depend on the churches which he and Paul had established (1Cor 9:6).

 

We have no record of Barnabas's ministry in his second missionary journey with John Mark; it must have been equally fruitful, like that of the first with Paul, with many added into God's Kingdom and the believers built up and strengthened in the most holy faith.

 

Barnabas was a good mentor, understanding, patient and forgiving. He did not give up John Mark who had failed to complete the first missionary journey. Mark was subsequently found to be exemplary and profitable as a fellow labourer and restored to the favour and confidence of Paul (Col 4:10; Philem 24; 2 Tim 4:11).

 

May we emulate Barnabas' Christ-like virtues, knowledge of the Scriptures and zeal in witnessing for the Lord without fear of men, but only to glorify the name of our Saviour who loves us and gave His life for us. Amen.