Barnabas, a fellow servant and a friend
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:1-2).
Barnabas had a prominent role faithfully serving the Lord in Jerusalem, Antioch and in the first missionary journeys. The spiritual partnership he formed with Paul was of enormous blessing to the Church of Christ. At the end of Acts 11 they were trusted to take relief for the brethren in Judea (Acts 11:27-30), and, after fulfilling this ministry, they returned with John Mark to Antioch. Interestingly, Scripture records their faithfulness in the spiritual and also the practical care of the people of God before their call by the Holy Spirit: “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13 and 14 are a testimony to harmony in the service of God. Barnabas and Saul, two spiritual and gifted men, blended together so effectively in fulfilling a shared ministry. It can be challenging to share a ministry, and I think it helped that they were friends. We should never underestimate the value of true Christian friendship, and choose our friends wisely. As the unique ministry of Paul as a “chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15) begins to emerge in these chapters, there is no evidence that Barnabas became jealous of his friend Saul, who is later called Paul. The theme of their ministry in Antioch continued into their missionary work, as they encouraged disciples to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43). Together they were led of the Spirit to reach out to the Gentiles with the Gospel (Acts 13:46) and together they suffered persecution (Acts 13:50). In Acts 14, after Paul healed a man crippled from birth at Lystra, Barnabas and Paul were regarded as gods and, horrified by this reaction, they appealed to the people to turn to the living God. But, interestingly, Barnabas was called Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker (Acts 14:12). Barnabas did not heal, nor was he the principal speaker, but his spiritual bearing had an impact on the people. Barnabas’ calm and caring character endeared him to the apostles, the people of God in Jerusalem and Antioch, to his friend Paul and to the people of Lystra. Barnabas and Paul present the harmony of the character and message of the Christian faith.
Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and stirred up persecution, which resulted in the stoning of Paul. But the two friends continued in their ministry of preaching, strengthening, encouraging, fasting and praying, and establishing elders on the return journey to Antioch where they had begun.
This first missionary journey was a witness to the leading, power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the work of God. It teaches us about the different gifts and abilities of God’s servants. We learn to serve God, not in competition with one another, but by valuing and encouraging each other. We are given examples of how to work in harmony, and being enabled to reach out with the Gospel in difficult places, and to strengthen and build up the Lord’s people. How did Barnabas and Paul do all of this? By “staying close to the Lord”. When we are close to the Lord, then we are closest to each other, and everything comes into focus.