Barnabas: the Son of Encouragement

A Field Laid Down

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A believer named Joseph sold his field and brought the money to help God's family. The apostles gave him a new name that fit his heart.

His real name. His name was Joses, a form of Joseph (Acts 4:36). The apostles called him Barnabas.

His new name. Barnabas is “translated Son of Encouragement” (4:36). In Bible times, calling someone the son of something could describe what that person was like.

A Levite. Barnabas was “a Levite” (4:36). Levites came from the tribe of Levi. Long ago God chose them to serve at His house instead of giving them a share of the land.

From Cyprus. He was “of the country of Cyprus” (4:36), a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. He was a Jew who grew up far from Jerusalem.

His gift. Barnabas, “having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (4:37). A field was worth a lot. It could feed a family for years.

Why give it? Barnabas trusted Jesus, and he knew Jesus had given everything for him. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

A happy giver. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Grudgingly means unhappily, as if you had to.

Love that acts. “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17).

Others first. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Barnabas looked at other people's needs and acted.

Like Jesus. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Barnabas gave a field. Jesus gave His life.

Real needs. The money went to people who truly needed it (Acts 4:35). Barnabas did not give to look good. He gave so that brothers and sisters in Christ would have enough.

Not to earn. Barnabas did not give to buy God's love. He gave because God had already loved him. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

What to do. Ask God to show you one thing you can give this week: your time, a toy, some money or your help. Give it with a glad heart.

Barnabas had a heart changed by grace. He gave his field to meet the needs of God's family, and his gift shows what kind of man he was.

Joses. Joses is a Greek form of Joseph. The apostles renamed him, much as Jesus renamed Simon as Peter (John 1:42). The new name marked who he had become.

Bar. Bar (say: BAR) is Aramaic for son, as in Simon Bar-Jonah (Matthew 16:17). Son of Encouragement means a man marked by encouragement.

Paraklesis. The Greek word behind encouragement is paraklesis (say: par-AH-klay-sis). It means coming alongside someone to comfort, urge and strengthen.

The Levites and land. In the Law, the Levites received no tribal share of the land; the Lord was their portion (Numbers 18:20). By Barnabas' day some Levites owned property. Barnabas held his loosely and let it go.

A Jew from the diaspora. Diaspora means scattered; it names Jews living outside Israel. Barnabas was one of them, from Cyprus, which later became his first mission field with Saul (Acts 13:4).

At the apostles' feet. Laying the money at their feet placed it under the apostles' care for the needy. Barnabas did not choose who received it or ask for credit.

Grace-shaped giving. Paul grounds giving in the gospel: “though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Cheerful. The word for cheerful in 2 Corinthians 9:7 means glad and willing. God values a glad, willing heart more than the size of a gift.

1 John 3:16-18. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” John then applies the cross to practical help for a brother in need, and ends, “let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Philippians 2:4. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Barnabas' field shows what that verse looks like in real life.

Ransom (Mark 10:45). Jesus came “to give His life a ransom for many.” Barnabas' field was a small reflection of that far greater gift.

Application. Generosity starts with seeing what Jesus gave you. Then look for one real need around you and meet it quietly, the way Barnabas gave his gift without asking for credit.

Coming Alongside

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Barnabas' name fit him for the rest of his life. Again and again in Acts, he is the one who comes alongside people and helps them keep going with Jesus.

Standing up for Saul. Saul had hurt many Christians before Jesus met him. When Saul came to Jerusalem, the believers were afraid of him. Barnabas took Saul to the apostles and told them how Jesus had changed him (Acts 9:26-27).

A fresh start. Barnabas believed that Jesus really changes people. Because he spoke up, Saul was welcomed. Saul became the apostle Paul.

Sent to Antioch. When many people in Antioch believed, the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas. He saw God's grace there, was glad, and encouraged them all to stay true to the Lord (Acts 11:22-23).

A good man. Acts calls Barnabas a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Through him many more people came to the Lord (Acts 11:24).

Finding Saul. Barnabas went to find Saul and brought him to Antioch. They taught there for a whole year, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26).

Sent by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit chose Barnabas and Saul for a special mission, and the church sent them out to tell many places about Jesus (Acts 13:2-3).

John Mark. A helper named John Mark had left them in the middle of a trip. Later Paul did not want to take him again. Barnabas gave Mark another chance (Acts 15:37-39).

Useful. Years later Paul wrote that Mark was useful to him for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).

Where encouragement comes from. Jesus called the Holy Spirit “another Helper” (John 14:16). The Spirit comes alongside every believer, and He made Barnabas an encourager.

Jesus encourages too. Jesus told Peter, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32).

Seeing the good. In Antioch Barnabas looked for what God was doing and was glad about it. Encouragers notice God's grace in other people and tell them so.

Your turn. The Bible tells all of us, “exhort one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). Every Christian can be a Barnabas.

What to do. Think of someone who is new, sad or left out. This week, spend time with them, say a kind word or pray for them.

Barnabas lived up to his name for the rest of his life. Again and again he took a risk on people others had written off.

Saul (Acts 9:26-27). The Jerusalem believers feared Saul, who had persecuted the church. Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told how Saul had seen the Lord and preached boldly in Damascus. Encouraging Saul meant vouching for him at a cost to his own name.

Antioch (Acts 11:22-24). Barnabas arrived, saw the grace of God and was glad. The word for his encouraging there comes from the same family as his nickname. He urged them to stay with the Lord with all their heart.

Full of the Spirit. Acts 11:24 describes him as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, much like Stephen in Acts 6:5. His encouragement was not just a cheerful personality; it was the fruit of the Spirit's work in him.

Christians (11:26). Barnabas fetched Saul from Tarsus, and they taught a whole year. The name Christians, Christ's people, began there.

Letting another lead. The Spirit sent Barnabas and Saul out together (Acts 13:2). As the journey went on, Paul came to lead the mission. Barnabas was glad to let Paul lead.

John Mark (15:36-39). Mark had turned back partway through the first journey (13:13). Paul refused to take him again; Barnabas insisted, and the two parted. God used even this disagreement to send out two mission teams.

Mark restored. Mark was Barnabas' cousin (Colossians 4:10). Later Paul wrote that Mark was useful to him for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Many Christians believe this John Mark later wrote the Gospel of Mark.

The Helper. Jesus called the Spirit “another Helper” (John 14:16), a word from the same root as Barnabas' name. Encouragement is the Spirit's own work, and He shares it through people.

Hebrews 3:13. “Exhort one another daily… lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Encouragement protects; it keeps hearts soft toward God.

Luke 22:32. Jesus encouraged Peter before Peter's denial: “when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” The risen Jesus restores people who fail and sends them to strengthen others.

Application. Who around you has been written off: the new kid, the one who messed up, the one who stopped coming? Ask the Spirit to make you a Barnabas to that person this week.

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