Barnabas : a useful servant by his discernment

"The news [of many conversions] came to the ears of the assembly that was in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch." Acts 11. 22

His name appears in several accounts of the book of Acts.

"Joseph ... had a field ; he sold it, brought its value and put it at the feet of the apostles "(Acts 4, 36, 37). In front of this particular gift, the apostles call him "Barnabas", that is to say "son of consolation".

"Arriving in Jerusalem, [Paul] sought to join the disciples ; but all feared him, not being able to believe that he was a disciple ; then Barnabas took him with him... and told them [his conversion] "(9:26, 27). Indeed, Paul, converted after harshly persecuting Christians in Jerusalem, wants to join them. We understand their hesitation. Barnabas soothes the fears of the apostles by witnessing his conversion.

The verse quoted refers to a novel situation : in a new church at Antioch in Syria, many Greeks "turned to the Lord" (11:21). They live in assembly with Christians from Jewish Orthodoxy : how many questions of practical life have they got up ! One understands the perplexity of the assembly of Jerusalem formed almost exclusively of Jews and which included the recognized apostles. Barnabas is then in their eyes the brother of trust appropriate to this situation and they send him to Antioch. Arrived there, open to the universality of the Gospel, he rejoices "and he exhorted them all to remain attached to the Lord with all their heart" (11. 23). Barnabas thus shows no jealousy as a Christian of Jewish origin, he is happy that the gospel is also accepted by pagans. If the love of the Lord Jesus unites these Christians of antagonistic origins, what are the theological and practical answers to the questions raised ?

As Barnabas knew that God had entrusted Paul (or Saul) "to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised" (Gal 2: 7), "he went to Tarsus to look for Saul ; after finding him, he led him to Antioch. And for a whole year... they taught a great crowd "(11. 25, 26).

This servant is involved in what is entrusted to him. To better ensure his service, he seeks help from more qualified than him. In this he is an example for us. He enters "the good works that God has prepared in advance" (Eph 2: 10), and to do them, do not look to what is his, but esteem the other superior to himself (Phil 2: 3, 4).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)