Bible Character Studies: Barnabas. Pt. 5 Defender of the gospel, standing for truth and giving his all for Christ.
Good morning,
A certain lawyer in Luke 10:25-27 is asking Jesus a certain question on what he needs to do to have eternal life. Jesus answers him by saying "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and to love thy neighbour as thyself".
Are we loving the Lord first and foremost in our lives? And do we love our neighbors like we do ourselves? Let's all work on this! The world is full of chaos, hatred, and self......we are in need of a spiritual revival.
Photo is of a Gentile Church at Antioch.
Certain Jews caused trouble and Paul with Barnabas go to Jerusalem for counsel.
Acts 15:-41 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
This is the next narrative where we see more about Barnabas. He and Paul had returned to the church at Antioch to tell them the good report of their missionary journey.
Now some Judaizers came on the scene. These people proved troublesome to the churches as the gospel was spread outward from Jerusalem. They wanted to add works and law keeping to the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
They demanded that new Gentile believers be circumcised or else they could not be saved. This is a grave error because it adds something to the perfect and complete work of Christ on the cross to purchase our redemption and free us from sin.
This caused a lot of trouble in the church at Antioch. The text says there was dissension and disputation. Much strife and insurrection was caused as the Judaizers questioned the gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas.
The leaders of the Antioch church decided that they would send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles in order to make sure they were all in agreement. They did not want any disunity to creep in to the early church.
Acts 15:5-6 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Now, we cannot come down too hard on the people causing the trouble in this case. It seems that they were Pharisees who believed the gospel and were born again, like Paul and Barnabas.
Many sincere Jews had a lot of trouble turning away from the Old Testament laws and ceremonies and learning that salvation was by grace through faith. The Book of Hebrews was written to address their concerns and to point them to complete faith in Christ.
These are the men who brought up the issue of law keeping and circumcision at the Jerusalem council. The apostles met in order to take up this matter.
Peter & James settle the dispute.
Acts 15:7-11 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
The text tells us that there was a lot of back and forth as they disputed about this question. Peter rose up and all the people listened to what he had to say. He reminded them that God made the choice to send the gospel to the Gentiles and He gave them the same Spirit that He poured out at Pentecost.
Peter emphasized that God put no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, meaning that both groups needed to bury their old preconceptions and prejudices about each other. Peter reinforced that salvation was through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
After Peter's strong affirmation of the gospel of grace preached by Paul and Barnabas, the whole assembly became quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul recount what God had been doing among the Gentiles.
Next to speak was James (Acts 15:13-21). He also affirmed that the gospel going to the Gentiles harmonized with what the prophets had said centuries earlier.
He said that they write a letter to the church at Antioch to be communicated to all other Gentile churches. In addition the Jerusalem church would send two trusted men to go back with Paul and Barnabas to verify the council's verdict.
Barnabas & Paul "beloved" by the Jerusalem leaders and men who put their lives at risk for the sake of the gospel.
Acts 15:25-26 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The above text is a part of the letter that they sent to the church at Antioch. Notice that both Paul and Barnabas are called "beloved" by the leaders at Jerusalem. The apostles in Jerusalem recognized the mighty work God was doing through these men and the significant personal dangers that they faced.
In addition, they reminded all the churches that these two men put their lives on the line for the sake of Jesus Christ. It means that they were ready to die for the sake of the gospel and in fact had faced many life threatening situations as they shared the good news.
This chapter ends with Paul and Barnabas going their separate ways. Barnabas wanted to take Mark with him and Paul but Paul did not want to take Mark because he apparently deserted the work when he left them before at Pamphylia.
So, Barnabas took Mark with him and Paul took Silas and they went different directions but with the same mission to revisit the churches and confirm them.
Some people try to blame Paul or Barnabas for their falling out. I think that the text shows us that God's hand was in it. Now, He had two groups of men going out to 2 different regions with the same mission. Making sure the churches were doing well and preaching the gospel to the lost. More gospel work was accomplished when two teams were covering more ground than one team could.
Points to Ponder....
A certain lawyer in Luke 10:25-27 is asking Jesus a certain question on what he needs to do to have eternal life. Jesus answers him by saying "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and to love thy neighbour as thyself".
Are we loving the Lord first and foremost in our lives? And do we love our neighbors like we do ourselves? Let's all work on this! The world is full of chaos, hatred, and self......we are in need of a spiritual revival.
Photo is of a Gentile Church at Antioch.
Certain Jews caused trouble and Paul with Barnabas go to Jerusalem for counsel.
Acts 15:-41 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
This is the next narrative where we see more about Barnabas. He and Paul had returned to the church at Antioch to tell them the good report of their missionary journey.
Now some Judaizers came on the scene. These people proved troublesome to the churches as the gospel was spread outward from Jerusalem. They wanted to add works and law keeping to the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
They demanded that new Gentile believers be circumcised or else they could not be saved. This is a grave error because it adds something to the perfect and complete work of Christ on the cross to purchase our redemption and free us from sin.
This caused a lot of trouble in the church at Antioch. The text says there was dissension and disputation. Much strife and insurrection was caused as the Judaizers questioned the gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas.
The leaders of the Antioch church decided that they would send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles in order to make sure they were all in agreement. They did not want any disunity to creep in to the early church.
Acts 15:5-6 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Now, we cannot come down too hard on the people causing the trouble in this case. It seems that they were Pharisees who believed the gospel and were born again, like Paul and Barnabas.
Many sincere Jews had a lot of trouble turning away from the Old Testament laws and ceremonies and learning that salvation was by grace through faith. The Book of Hebrews was written to address their concerns and to point them to complete faith in Christ.
These are the men who brought up the issue of law keeping and circumcision at the Jerusalem council. The apostles met in order to take up this matter.
Peter & James settle the dispute.
Acts 15:7-11 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
The text tells us that there was a lot of back and forth as they disputed about this question. Peter rose up and all the people listened to what he had to say. He reminded them that God made the choice to send the gospel to the Gentiles and He gave them the same Spirit that He poured out at Pentecost.
Peter emphasized that God put no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, meaning that both groups needed to bury their old preconceptions and prejudices about each other. Peter reinforced that salvation was through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
After Peter's strong affirmation of the gospel of grace preached by Paul and Barnabas, the whole assembly became quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul recount what God had been doing among the Gentiles.
Next to speak was James (Acts 15:13-21). He also affirmed that the gospel going to the Gentiles harmonized with what the prophets had said centuries earlier.
He said that they write a letter to the church at Antioch to be communicated to all other Gentile churches. In addition the Jerusalem church would send two trusted men to go back with Paul and Barnabas to verify the council's verdict.
Barnabas & Paul "beloved" by the Jerusalem leaders and men who put their lives at risk for the sake of the gospel.
Acts 15:25-26 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The above text is a part of the letter that they sent to the church at Antioch. Notice that both Paul and Barnabas are called "beloved" by the leaders at Jerusalem. The apostles in Jerusalem recognized the mighty work God was doing through these men and the significant personal dangers that they faced.
In addition, they reminded all the churches that these two men put their lives on the line for the sake of Jesus Christ. It means that they were ready to die for the sake of the gospel and in fact had faced many life threatening situations as they shared the good news.
This chapter ends with Paul and Barnabas going their separate ways. Barnabas wanted to take Mark with him and Paul but Paul did not want to take Mark because he apparently deserted the work when he left them before at Pamphylia.
So, Barnabas took Mark with him and Paul took Silas and they went different directions but with the same mission to revisit the churches and confirm them.
Some people try to blame Paul or Barnabas for their falling out. I think that the text shows us that God's hand was in it. Now, He had two groups of men going out to 2 different regions with the same mission. Making sure the churches were doing well and preaching the gospel to the lost. More gospel work was accomplished when two teams were covering more ground than one team could.
Points to Ponder....
- Barnabas helped defend the gospel of grace against those who sought to add circumcision and the law to Christ's work on the cross.
- Barnabas went with Paul to Jerusalem to hold a council with the apostles there.
- Barnabas helped Paul present the good things that God was doing for Gentiles.
- Barnabas and Paul were loved by the Jerusalem apostles and they put their lives on the line every day.
Barnabas has shown us many examples of Godly character over the Bible record of his ministry. He had passion, courage, compassion, and a true commitment to following Jesus Christ. He was used of God in many mighty ways and serves as an encouragement for those of us who desire to be used of God. May we seek to ask God to mold us, mature us and use us as He did this wonderful man.
Bob
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