Barnabas

“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a
great number of people were brought to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

This is speaking of Barnabas. The preceding verse tells us
that “he was glad and encouraged them all.” In chapter four, we find that
his name means son of encouragement. We also find that he “sold a
field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
When he was with Paul, he was not the chief speaker (Acts 14:12), although in
Acts 14:1, we see, “There they spoke so effectively that a great number
of Jews and Gentiles believed.”

Barnabas was good, full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith,
glad, encouraging, generous, and unashamed to speak the gospel. The result was
that great numbers were brought to the Lord. If we are not seeing great numbers
turning to the Lord, it may be that we are lacking the other characteristics
which were in Barnabas’ life.

Written October 1990.

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