Barnabas, The Encourager
The man who vouched for people.
On being the one who believes in someone first.
The big idea
Half the New Testament exists because one man was willing to vouch for someone nobody trusted.
Opening scripture
“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas — which means son of encouragement.”
What does “Barnabas, The Encourager” walk through?
Son Of Encouragement
Acts 4:36 · KJV
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
In plain English
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas — which means son of encouragement.
A Nickname That Stuck
The apostles renamed him. Whatever he was actually like, the thing people noticed enough to name him for was that he built others up.
He Took Him
Acts 9:27 · KJV
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
In plain English
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and explained how Saul had seen the Lord and had preached boldly in Jesus' name.
He Vouched For A Persecutor
Everyone else was terrified of Saul, and reasonably so. Barnabas took him to the apostles and argued his case. Without that, there is no Paul as we know him.
“Someone believed in the person you admire before there was any evidence. That job is still open.”
Encourage One Another
Hebrews 10:25 · KJV
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
In plain English
Don't give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. Encourage one another, all the more as the day approaches.
Iron Sharpens Iron
Proverbs 27:17 · KJV
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
In plain English
Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.
Pray
God, make me the person who says the encouraging thing first. Amen.
Write it down
Who could you vouch for or encourage this week?
Be the one who believes
Say it to them, not about them.
Which passages does this journey use?
4 passages, drawn from Acts 4:36, Acts 9:27, Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 27:17. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 7 minutes for the whole thing, or 8 short sittings.
- Acts 4:36
- Acts 9:27
- Hebrews 10:25
- Proverbs 27:17
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in People of the Early Church
All People of the Early Church →Peter, After The Fire
Restoration that matched the wound.
Paul In Prison
Contentment inside limits you did not choose.
John, Who Stayed Close
Abiding, from the one who wrote the word.
Thomas, Who Asked
The doubt that got a personal answer.
Philip And The Nudge
Obedience to something small.
Stephen, Under Pressure
A face nobody expected.