Jew and Gentile alike were now hearing the same message, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and many were being saved, God having granted them repentance unto life. Despite initial reluctance, the church was now reaching out “beyond the lost sheep of the House of Israel”.
In this transitional passage of Scripture we are told that Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement”, was sent by the church in Jerusalem to Antioch where “a great number had believed and turned to the Lord”. Being himself encouraged by what he found there, he purposed to go to Tarsus to seek out Saul, having found him, they both then returned to Antioch, where they remained for a whole year teaching the new believers. Scripture tells us that the name Christian was first given here in Antioch.
There is much we can learn from Barnabas. He is a great example to us all. It is evident that he was a humble man, as well as being a good and faithful messenger. He is given a wonderful commendation, in that he is described as “a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and faith”. He was also a man of great discernment and trustworthy. As his name implies he possessed the wonderful gift of encouragement, the precious ability to build hope in others. His life was marked by the evidence of Christian works, and being ‘mission minded' Barnabas was very Mission minded, had the courage of his convictions and was a very willing worker. What an example for you and me to follow!
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