Acts 4:36-37;  11:19-30; 13:1-51; 14:8-20;  15:36-41, Numbers 35:1-5

There were many leaders in the early church, but few were as humble and influential as
Barnabas. His name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him the name "Barnabas"
(BAR nuh bus) which means Son of Encouragement. It was an appropriate name
because he was an encouragement to all who knew him.

There were thousands of Jews in Jerusalem who were converted  on the day of
Pentecost and the days following. They had not come prepared for an extended stay
in the city, and yet many of them stayed on to hear the apostles' preaching. Their
money was used up, and they became poor and in need.

Some people who had property, sold it and gave the money to the apostles so they
could feed the multitude of needy people. One of those who sold a field  was Barnabas
from the island of Cyprus.

He was a Levite. According to the distribution of land when the Israelites entered
Canaan, the Levites were given cities and pastureland around the cities for their cattle.
The pastures extended 3,000 feet (over half a mile) in all four directions from each
Levite city. Barnabas sold a field he owned and brought the proceeds to the apostles.

Peter, since the Lord had given him the "keys" to the kingdom, was the one who first
preached to the Gentiles. Yet it was Paul, whom the Lord chose to be his special
preacher to the Gentile nation. When he was a new convert, Paul went to Jerusalem
and tried to contact the believers  there, but they were afraid of him.

What if he was just pretending to be a believer in Christ? What if he was really just trying
to find them and arrest them?

Barnabas saw what was happening. He himself had the trust and respect of the believers,
and he thought Paul was sincere. If he introduced Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem,
the others would accept him. That's what he did. Barnabas told them how Paul
had been converted and how he was now preaching about Jesus.

The church accepted him, and he was able to stay in Jerusalem. Then evil men began
to try to kill Paul and the brothers sent him to Tarsus.

Later Barnabas would go to Tarsus looking for Paul again. He found him and brought
him to the city of Antioch and the two of them preached in the city for a whole year.

The Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to Cyprus to preach. There they met a false prophet
named Bar-Jesus or Elymas (EE luh mus). He was an attendant to the proconsul, the
government official. He opposed their preaching, and Paul called him a child of the devil
and told him that he was going to be blind for a while.

Immediately he became blind and started looking for someone to lead him around.
The proconsul was amazed and believed the teachings of Paul and Barnabas.

The Holy Spirit directed the work of Paul and Barnabas , and they traveled to many
cities preaching the good news about Jesus.

In the city of Lystra (LIS truh) Paul worked a miracle in which a lame man was able
to walk again. The heathen people of that city thought they were gods and prepared
to offer sacrifices to them, but Paul and Barnabas rushed out shouting that they too,
were human and were trying to get them to worship the true God.

Barnabas was not one of the twelve apostles, but in this instance he is called an apostle,
because he was sent by the Holy Spirit on a special mission.

John Mark, his cousin, traveled with Barnabas and Paul to some of the cities, but he
deserted them in one city and failed to continue the journey with them. This incident
would later cause a problem because Barnabas wanted to again take John Mark with
them, but Paul refused to take him.

There was sharp disagreement over the matter. Paul was reluctant to take a chance on
John Mark, but Barnabas, always ready to encourage, wanted to give his relative a
second chance.

They settled it by parting ways. Barnabas took John Mark with him to the island of Cyprus,
and Paul took another preacher, Silas (SIGH lus) with him through Syria. They agreed
on this compromise and God's work continued.

There is an indication that Paul and Barnabas worked together again, and in his letter
to the Colossians which was written from prison, Paul mentions the fact that John Mark
is with him, and he tells them that if John Mark comes to the church, they are to welcome
him.

Barnabas was truly the Son of Encouragement who always looked for the best in people,
and his faith in them was rewarded.

                                                    Memory Verse
 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
                                                                                            Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)