BARNABUS

My first book, Restoring God's Pattern for the Home (Fayetteville, TN: IGH, 2001), is dedicated to my Molly. I refer to her as my "Female Barnabas" (p. 5). What was I thinking when I used that expression? Every serious student of the New Testament should be able to answer my question. Luke introduces Barnabas with these words: "And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet" (Acts 4:3637).

The Greek word translated "consolation" can be rendered encouragement, exhortation and comfort, and is in various passages. In the King James Version, the word is always translated "consolation," "comfort" or "exhortation," except in one passage where it is rendered "entreaty" (2 Cor. 8:4). The word literally means "one who is called alongside to help" (Lanier, p. 23). Paul uses the word six times in 2 Corinthians 1. Please listen to Paul's words of encouragement to the Corinthians. "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ. And whether we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we are comforted, it is for your consolation. And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation" (2 Cor. 1:3-7).

One form of the word is translated "comforter" in reference to the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John quotes Jesus as saying to his apostles: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). The English Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible and other modern versions render the Greek "helper" instead of Comforter. The Apostle John uses the same word of Jesus Christ. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. But if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins, but not for our sins only, but also for the sins of whole world" (1 John 2:1-2).

The word "advocate" in this passage is from the Greek word translated "comforter." Dr. Hugo McCord renders the word "intercessor." Charles Williams translates it "One who pleads our cause." What tremendous encouragement it ought to be to all Christians to know that we have one who pleads our cause before the very throne of God! It ought also to inspire us to tell others the story of Jesus. John alone uses the word "advocate" of Jesus Christ, but Paul stresses the same truth. "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34).

Barnabas exhibited many remarkable qualities. I have already mentioned one of those qualities - generosity. Luke says he sold a piece of property which he owned and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:37). Barnabas was practicing the principle Jesus Christ taught. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). The two greatest chapters on giving in the entire Bible are 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. Paul used the Macedonians as examples for the Corinthian Christians. "This they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God" (2 Cor. 8:5). Paul later told the Corinthians: "He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:6-7). Barnabas had learned these lessons well.

The Christians who were scattered abroad because of the persecution directed against them by the Jews in Jerusalem "traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they came to Antioch, spoke unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was upon them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord" (Acts 11:19-21). "Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord" (Acts 11: 22-23).

It is significant that the leaders of the church in Jerusalem had so much respect for Barnabas they trusted him to go to Antioch. When he arrived in Antioch, he saw the results of the great work the members of the church were doing. There is no doubt his heart was filled with gladness because men and women were obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ. He "exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord." The word translated "exhorted" is a verb form of the word rendered "consolation" or "exhortation." His behavior at Antioch showed why the apostles called him "son of consolation" or "son of exhortation."

Barnabas knew the difficulties those new Christians at Antioch would experience. He "exhorted them with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord." The tense of the verb "exhorted" means Barnabas continued to urge the members to be faithful. The word "cleave" means to remain faithful. Barnabas did not believe in the doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. He knew there was the possibility they can apostatize. So he constantly encouraged them to keep on being faithful.

Luke explains why the leaders of the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch in Pisidia. "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and a great number of people were added to the Lord" (Acts 11:24). I am sure you are aware that the expression, "good man," does not appear very frequently in the Bible. The Old Testament says "Enoch walked with God" (Gen. 5:22); "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6:8); Abraham was "the friend of God" (Jas. 2:23); Job is described as "perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and shunned evil" (Job 1:1); and David was a man after God's own heart. (1 Sam. 13:14).

We might call a person good when the description does not fit that person at all. Human beings do not always understand other people’s motives and behavior. But when the Holy Spirit uses that kind of language, you can know for sure that Barnabas was a good man. Luke says that he was "full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." He affirms that same of Stephen (Acts 6:5). Both Barnabas and Stephen were almost certainly devoted students of the Old Testament scriptures. They were also filled with wisdom. They had total trust in the Lord and in the work God had sent them to do. As a result of the great work Barnabas and others did at Antioch, "a great many people were added to the Lord."

If we are truly concerned about winning lost souls to Christ, we shall make sure they hear the unadulterated gospel of Christ. False doctrine may have an appeal to some people, but for people to be truly converted to Christ, they must believe the true gospel and obey it from the heart. Good examples from faithful members of the body of Christ also contribute to the salvation of ungodly people. That was Paul's reason for telling the Philippians that Christians are to "shine as lights in the world." We must hold "forth the word of life" (Phil. 2:15-16). Only the word of God's grace can save us from our sins and build us up in the most holy faith (Acts 20:32).

Barnabas was wise enough to know he needed support and help in the work he was doing. He left Antioch and traveled to Tarsus "to seek Saul." When he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. And in those days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be a great dearth (or famine) throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea: which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:25-30).

During this period, King Herod violently laid hands on members of the body of Christ. Herod murdered the Apostle James, the brother of the Apostle John. The king saw how it pleased the Jews when he murdered James. He had Peter arrested and thrown into prison. An angel of the Lord released Peter from his bondage. Peter thought he was seeing a vision. But he went to the house of Rhoda where the members of the church were praying for him. Was it in spite of or because of the persecution directed against the church that "the word of God grew and multiplied? Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark" (Acts 12:24-25).

Luke lists Barnabas among the teachers and prophets at Antioch. As these faithful teachers and prophets "ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away" (Acts 13:1-3). They returned to Antioch of Pisidia where the Apostle Paul preached a powerful sermon. Luke has written: "Then Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles" (Acts 13:46). Such preaching often angers the hearers. "The Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:50-52).

Paul and Barnabas were great men of God and great missionaries. We cannot know until eternity the enormous number of men and women who were converted by the preaching of these two men. But they did not always see eye to eye about the men they would use in the work of the Lord. As they planned their next missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. "But Paul thought it was not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus; and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches" (Acts 15:38-41).

Sincere differences among Bible students have arisen over who was right. There is no possibility of making an informed decision. But this we know, whatever conflicts had arisen between them did not keep the two men from loving each other. Paul mentions Barnabas in a favorable light (1 Cor. 9:6). The differences that existed between Paul and Mark were also dissolved. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul makes this request: "Take Mark, and bring him with you: for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Tim. 4: 11).

The church in Antioch of Syria apparently was composed primarily of Gentiles. James, Peter and John gave Paul and Barnabas "the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them who were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. And when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews" (Gal. 2:9-14)?

There is no doubt the Apostle Peter had been a committed Jewish patriot. It took a miracle to convince him he ought to go to the house of Cornelius to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 10:9-18). We know both by experience and by observation how hard it is to change one's attitude and behavior. Although Peter was unquestionably devoted to the cause of Christ, he sometimes returned to his old ways of thinking and behaving. He did right in eating with his Gentile brothers and sisters at Antioch. But when some of his Jewish countrymen came to Antioch and saw him eating with Gentiles, Peter "withdrew and separated himself, fearing them who were of the circumcision" (Gal. 2: 12). Even an apostle was influenced by peer pressure or what he perceived to be peer pressure.

Paul accuses Peter of dissembling. The word "dissemble" literally means to act the hypocrite. In fact, the Greek word translated "dissemble" comes into English in our word "hypocrite." Tragically, the hypocritical behavior of Peter and the other Jews carried Barnabas away with their dissimulation. Paul knew the great damage such behavior does to the cause of Christ. He comments: "But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, If you, being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews" (Gal. 2:14)?

Several observations on this passage are in order. Christians must be extremely careful about their influence. There is not the slightest doubt that Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. That is how the Holy Spirit describes him (Acts 11:24). And yet this good man acted the hypocrite because others were doing so. It takes great courage - which Barnabas did not have on this occasion - to take a stand against the crowd. He had been preaching to Gentiles and yet he did not think, as he should have, about his conduct toward the Gentiles.

Paul said that Peter was not walking "uprightly according to the truth of the gospel." Is Paul teaching that truth actually exists and that we can know it? How could there be the slightest doubt about it? And yet, there are multiplied thousands of theologians and preachers who deny man's ability to know truth, even if it actually exists. There is one thing for sure: No Bible writer ever made such a foolish blunder. In his first epistle, the Apostle John uses the word "know" over and over. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3). The same apostle wrote: "We know that whosoever is born of God does not sin.... And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in sin. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding" (1 John 5: 18-20). The word "know" means we have come to know and we still know; we have sure knowledge. If human beings are incapable of knowing the truth of the gospel, Paul was out of order in condemning the Apostle Peter's behavior. Barnabas knew he was behaving badly.

I need to summarize briefly what I have stressed about Barnabas. We know "he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." We know he exhorted his brothers and sisters in Christ to cleave to the Lord. We also know he was an energetic worker in the Lord's vineyard. Even though he and Paul had a disagreement over whether to take John Mark on their missionary journey, they did not become enemies. Both men continued their work for the Lord. Barnabas in a moment of weakness acted the hypocrite, but there is no doubt he repented of that error.

When we examine the life of this good man, we can understand why the apostles called him "son of consolation" or "son of exhortation." You can also understand why I called my Molly "my female Barnabas." What a difference she made in my life!

Winford Claiborne

The International Gospel Hour

P.O. Box 118

Fayetteville, TN 37334