(Note: this is an excerpt from a draft section of a forthcoming book on friendship. Feedback appreciated!)
Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement,” is one of my favorite people in the Bible. There is so much to learn from his admirable life.
We first meet him as a new believer in Jerusalem, shortly after Pentecost. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:36-37) Barnabas is from the lineage of priests and may have sojourned from the island of Cyprus to Jerusalem for the Passover holiday. He probably took a 2-day boat trip from Cyprus to Lebanon, then traveled about 250 miles south to Jerusalem. The fact that Barnabas owned a field near Jerusalem indicates his family had some historic wealth. He surrendered the cash value to the apostles to support the new Jesus movement, a high level of commitment. It may be that Barnabas had means enough to support himself and minister full-time. We don’t have any indication that Barnabas was a family man.
Barnabas, like each of us, did not know his future. He could trust in the faithfulness of God to bring him through, but could not have imagined how much God would use him in the earliest days of the Christian movement through the Roman empire. He could not have imagined the friendships that were ahead – Paul, the other apostles, and especially all the Gentiles.
Barnabas was courageous. He risked his tight relationship with his congregation to introduce Saul – who until recently had been zealously murdering Jesus followers – to the apostles: When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26-27) Barnabas recognized Saul’s conversion, preaching skill, and passion.
Barnabas impressed leaders with his godliness, devotion, and ability to teach. He must have been an obvious choice to send to a new group of believers in Antioch, some of whom came from Cyprus where Barnabas was born: Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. (Acts 11:19-22)
This wasn’t a trivial trip – it’s about 400 miles, through rough terrain and less-than-friendly parts of the Roman Empire for a non-citizen. How long would it take you to walk 400 miles to meet people you’ve never met?
We learn something special about Barnabas’ character and insight about the Gospel from what happened at Antioch: When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. (Acts 11:23-24)
Barnabas sees the evidence of God’s grace at work. He focuses people on the Lord, not himself. These are Greek-speaking people, not Jews. Barnabas doesn’t bring a manual from Jerusalem or the apostles about “how to do church like we do.” He’s entirely focused on the essentials, not the precise forms. Barnabas embraces them as brothers and sisters in a common faith. Barnabas is clearly majoring on the majors and not letting minor issues create a division.
It doesn’t take long for Barnabas to realize this congregation needs more than what he can provide. He could easily have set himself up as a ‘super apostle,’ but there’s no hint of this in the story. He decides to get help for the Antioch congregation: the converted Pharisee Saul, highly educated, articulate, able to teach and instruct: Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26) By the way, Tarsus is over 100 miles from Antioch, even further away from any land or peoples Barnabas would have known. It’s not like Barnabas could call ahead and make plans based on a travelogue.
Barnabas and Saul are trusted to take money from Antioch back to Jerusalem to support the church in Judea (Acts 11:30), and return to Antioch. Barnabas is listed as the first of the “prophets and teachers” there (Acts 13:1). Barnabas is listed first, ahead of Paul, when God calls them to go on a missionary journey: While 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.” (Acts 13:2)
They take the young John Mark – who might have been related to Barnabas (see Colossians 4:10) — along as a helper. Barnabas accompanies Paul through thick and thin in difficult evangelism among the Jews and Gentiles in Roman cities like Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia. They establish churches, appoint elders, and encourage everyone. We can only imagine how precious their friendship became.
Paul is usually listed first after this in the book of Acts. Paul takes the prominent role as the effective evangelist. Barnabas is the companion, the encourager and supporter, the second-violin position in the orchestra. There’s no evidence of bitterness that Paul ‘surpassed’ him. This too, speaks to Barnabas’ character.
Barnabas is directly involved in the primary conflict issue in the new Christian churches: Do Gentiles need to become Jewish and follow Jewish laws and customs to be Christians? Barnabas accompanies Paul (see Galatians 2:9-10) on another trek to Jerusalem from Antioch (again, 400 miles!) and meets with the apostles. The answer: No. Barnabas and Paul carry this good news back to Antioch.
Barnabas was not perfect. When James and others joined Peter on a visit to Antioch, Barnabas was among the group of Jewish believers who minimized association with the uncircumcised Greeks. We read about this event in Galatians 2:11-13. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. From this story we learn about the power of friendship to pull people back from error, and maintain a deep relationship.
Paul wanted Barnabas to accompany him on another missionary journey. They disagreed about taking John Mark (who apparently had left them on an earlier trip). Paul instead chose Silas. Did Barnabas quit ministry over this? No. He took John Mark to visit Cyprus (Acts 15:39).
We don’t know much about the later life of Barnabas. He was still alive and laboring in ministry about AD56 when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 9:5-6). Paul mentions that Barnabas is supporting himself. Barnabas and Paul had clearly reconciled by this time, a key indicator of a strong friendship. His concern and help to John Mark paid off – Mark later became a leader of the church in Rome. Tradition holds that Barnabas was stoned by a mob in Syria. By all accounts, Barnabas ministered faithfully and fulfilled his name “Son of Encouragement” right to the end.
Recapping a few elements of Barnabas as a deep friend:
He was passionate about Jesus. Encouragement was so central to his character that people didn’t refer to him by the name given him by his parents. He courageously supported Paul before others recognized Paul’s ability. He was willing to travel extensively – nothing was convenient about travel in those days! – to be with people. He focused on building people up in the Grace of God, not formulas or legal frameworks. He was trustworthy and a leader among other leaders, yet He didn’t put himself first. He cared enough about people to bring them help from others. He never quit.
What can you and I do to be friends like Barnabas?
