Br. Luke Ditewig

Saint Barnabas the Apostle

Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3

Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus named Joseph. He was living in Jerusalem when he joined the follower of Jesus. The apostles give him the name Barnabas which means son of encouragement. He sold a field of his and gave the money to the apostles to help provide for the community. Barnabas encouraged and provided for the poor financially, possibly sacrificially, as well as how he led relationally.

After Saul saw Jesus on the Damascus road, Barnabas introduced him to the apostles in Jerusalem, vouching and affirming he was now a believer and bold preacher.[i] When many believed the good news of Jesus in Antioch, the apostles sent Barnabas “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

Barnabas went to find Saul and brought him to Antioch where they taught together. As Ray Bakke wrote, consider what it took for Saul to heal and change. Barnabas recruited and mentored Saul to lead with him. Having been a notorious persecutor of believers, Saul needed further embodied forgiveness, safety, and encouragement to rebuild as a new kind of leader. Barnabas risked embracing Saul to enable this kind of healing and formation.[ii]

The Holy Spirit kept sending Barnabas and Saul out to share good news with others, the first missionary journeys. They took others to help them including Mark. On one such journey, Mark withdrew and left them. Later when Barnabas and Saul were setting out for a new journey, Saul refused to include Mark. Barnabas and Saul split over this. Barnabas took Mark and Saul took Silas.[iii]

Was Saul just hot-headed about Mark’s previous failure? I keep learning with conflict there is truth on both sides. A big challenge is in the face of true faults, what is a loving response? For Barnabas it was to include Mark, his cousin, even as the expense of parting ways with Saul then known as Paul. Barnabas risked embodying grace, trusting that Mark would learn, grow, and further become.[iv]

Who has risked being there for you? Who trusted you could get through, heal, and further become? Who has embodied grace for you? Who is this for you now?

Mark did grow and mature including in the sight of Paul. At the end of his letter to the Colossians, Paul gives greetings from fellow gospel workers including “Mark cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions – if he comes to you, welcome him.”[v] He is traditionally understood to be the writer of the gospel that bears his name, and he went on a later missionary journey to Alexandria, Egypt. Millions of Egyptian Christians continue to give thanks for Mark.[vi]

For many of us teachers, preachers, and caregivers, formation is part of our vocation. We also need to receive. Paul and Mark needed mediated healing and encouragement. Barnabas was at and on their side. The generativity of being an elder, mentor, companion, or friend on the way has deep impact. Give thanks for those who encourage you, like St. Barnabas whom we remember today.

[i] Acts 9:26-28

[ii] Ray Bakke (1997). A Theology as Big as the City. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, p. 149.

[iii] Acts 15:36-40

[iv] Bakke 1997, p. 150.

[v] Colossians 4:10, in Bakke 1997, p. 151.

[vi] Bakke 1997, p. 151.