Son of Encouragement: A Recollection from Seed Basket Devotional

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

Acts 11:24

Looking down on the suffering city below, Barnabas softly wept. This man, known as the “Son of Encouragement” did not feel very encouraging in this suffocating darkness. He had just witnessed the latest horrific abuse of a new believer.

even the darkness will not be dark to you; 

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:12 (NLT)

“Roman Candles.” Barnabas slipped to his knees, partly in weariness and partly in shock over what he had just seen. The wicked emperor had ordered that human torches be lit in the darkened streets.

As Barnabas collected himself, he began to pray. In his grief and horror, Barnabas knew the Prescence of the Lord was holding him together. He could almost sense the touch of the Savior with His arm around his shoulder, The Holy Spirit was alive in Barnabas.

The wicked tyrants, just like the ones who had killed Jesus, could never stamp out God’s plan. The Church would continue to grow in the face of murderous evil and wicked unbelief.

Although the terrorism of the era was real, the narrative above is simply an illustration of the suffering witnessed by the early Church, and Barnabas.

But it was no easy task to walk in the world as a believer. Roman Candles were a real threat, as were facing wild animals in the Roman Colosseum and other sources of terror, used to delight the psychotic hunger of the emperors.

It was at this time that Barnabas (the name, meaning son of comfort, given by the apostles to Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus) sold his farm and put the proceeds at the apostles’ disposal.

Acts 4:36 (NLT)

Barnabas must surely have felt overwhelmed by the violence of his day. But God gave him a heart filled with hope and joy. Because of that Barnabas was known by his gifts of encouragement and generosity. He used his gifts to comfort and motivate the persecuted Church. The result was a growing Church as the Gospel spread.

Barnabas was instrumental in introducing Paul to the original band of disciples. As a matter of fact, it was his encouragement that convinced them to trust that Paul was no longer an enemy to be feared, but a brother to be welcomed and loved. Acts 9:26-27 (NLT)

Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch for a full year, working among the Gentiles. The Church experienced amazing growth under their leadership and the Prescence of the Holy Spirit was evidenced in many ways. It was in Antioch where the first believers were called Christians.

Barnabas backed up his words with deeds. He openly gave property and money to the Church. Barnabas didn’t give of his wealth with an angle. Ambition never pulled him away from his focus. Barnabas knew that his salvation was costly to Jesus. He had done nothing to earn it. Look what Luke tells us about Barnabas in Acts 11:23 When he (Barnabas) arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 

Now, like all believers, Barnabas was still a sinner, saved by the grace of God. Along with the disciple, Peter, we read in Galatians 2:13, that Barnabas was convinced by some Jewish believers to disregard the Gentile converts. They treated them as if they were unclean, by virtue of the old Jewish laws. But Jesus death, burial and resurrection made a way for every person, regardless of religious background, to have access to salvation.

Barnabas did repent of the hypocrisy against the Gentiles. He boldly told his fellow Jewish believers that God’s provision of salvation was for them, too. The number of Gentile believers greatly increased under the evangelism of Barnabas.

Barnabas was also gifted as a teacher and peacemaker. When Paul and John Mark experienced a rift in their relationship, Barnabas spent time working with John Mark, his actual cousin, teaching him and working to share God’s love. Eventually, Paul welcomed him back to work side by side and the Church continued to flourish.

The book of Acts is an inspiring chronicle of how believers endured by the power of the Holy Spirit. These were people on a mission to spread the Good News of God’s love in a hopeless world. Won’t you follow their example?

Colossians 3:12-15 (NKJV)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.