Acts 11:22-24 22The word about them was heard in the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he came and saw the grace of God, he was gladened, and he encouraged them all to remain purposeful of heart to the Lord, 24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
At some point, the “headquarters” church back in Jerusalem heard about the expanding vision happening in Antioch. The church in Jerusalem represented the authority of the apostles, who were the eyewitnesses of all that Jesus said and did. On two previous occasions, the church in Jerusalem was consulted about the expanding mission: when Peter and John went to check on Philip’s mission in Samaria in 8:14 17, and when Peter reported about the conversion of Cornelius in 11:1 18. To their credit, in each situation, the Jerusalem church embraced the new things God was doing. In this situation, somehow, the word got back to Jerusalem about the growth of the church in Antioch, and so Barnabas was chosen to go and check things out.
Choosing Barnabas was strategic because he was from Cyprus, and so he would be able to communicate culturally and linguistically with the leaders in Antioch. He would have been a good bridge between the apostles and the Antiochan church. As his nickname, “Barnabas,” implies, he would also have been a good “encouragement” to the believers (4:36).
Verse 24 adds more insight into Barnabas’ character with three descriptions. Good man implies that he had integrity and could be trusted. He kept his word and lived out the gospel. Full of the Holy Spirit suggests his total commitment to the truths of the gospel and that he had fully submitted himself to Jesus as Lord and Messiah. He was a praying person who listened and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit. He could also speak forth with authority and power because of the Spirit’s presence in him. And then, he was full of faith. Faith is the essential quality of a disciple. Faith trusts in God’s provision and leadership in all things. Barnabas also believed deeply the good news about Jesus and proclaimed the truth of Jesus as the Messiah (for the Jews) and Lord (for the Gentiles). He was the right person to send on this important mission.
Barnabas is a great example of someone who can bring people together with a common vision and encourage them in their mission. His character qualities are essential for good leadership. He went to Antioch with an open mind. When he got there, he saw what God was doing through the believers. He saw the grace of God at work in their lives. The mention of God’s grace (charin) shows the spiritual condition of the Antiochan believers who had become channels of the good news of hope through Jesus. God was moving in this church, and it was obvious to Barnabas when he arrived. He found a church thriving in the Lord’s strength and purpose. He did not need to correct them, but to encourage them even more to be faithful and focused on the Lord Jesus. As a result, the church grew even more. This church is a great example of what dedicated people can become and can do.
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