Make sure you have a notebook and pen on hand for writing down your thoughts as you study this lesson.

Objective

In this lesson, we’ll learn from Barnabas’s example that God calls each of us to a ministry of encouragement, whether we lead or follow.

Key Verse

Acts 11:24: For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Introduction

Barnabas is not one of the major characters of the Bible, but God used him in a powerful way in the early church. He reminds us of Jonathan in the Old Testament—both were godly men whom God used to encourage great leaders.

When we first meet Barnabas in the early days of the church, we learn important details about his background that help us understand his character. His birth name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him the nickname Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” He came from the priestly tribe of Levi and was born on the island of Cyprus.

Barnabas appears to have been fairly wealthy, and he demonstrated remarkable generosity by selling his land and giving the money to support the ministry. The apostles renamed him Barnabas because this nickname perfectly captured his character—everywhere he went, he brought encouragement, comfort, and hope to others.

Acts 4:36-37: Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

In this lesson, we’ll focus on two key aspects of Barnabas’s ministry that teach us important lessons about serving God faithfully:

• Barnabas as a leader
• Barnabas as a follower

We’ll discover that whether Barnabas was leading or following, he always strengthened others in their walk with God and their service to Him.

Barnabas as a Leader

It’s clear from the book of Acts that Barnabas was one of the recognized leaders of the early church. He was connected to many important figures in the early Christian movement, including being the cousin of John Mark, the young man who would later write the Gospel of Mark and eventually become a valuable ministry partner to the apostle Paul.

Colossians 4:10: My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

Barnabas led by example when he sold his land and gave the proceeds to support the ministry. His generous act set a powerful example for other believers and demonstrated the kind of sacrificial giving that characterized the early church. But Barnabas’s most significant act of leadership came when he took the bold step of introducing Saul to the church at Jerusalem.

Acts 9:26-27: When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

Think about what courage this required! Saul had been the church’s greatest enemy, responsible for imprisoning and even killing believers. When he claimed to be converted, the disciples were naturally suspicious and afraid. But Barnabas was decisive in his action. He knew exactly what to do. He came alongside Saul when the new convert was alone and rejected. He brought Saul to the apostles personally. He gave him a strong recommendation and spoke for him when Saul couldn’t speak for himself.

Barnabas acted like a mediator, standing in the gap for Saul and representing him the way Christ represents us before the Father. Many years later, Paul would follow Barnabas’s example when he wrote to Philemon about the runaway slave Onesimus, asking his friend to receive the young man as he would receive Paul himself.

Philemon 17-18: So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

The church at Jerusalem trusted Barnabas with an important mission when they sent him to investigate what was happening at the new church in Antioch. (Notebook Moment: Think about the kind of reputation Barnabas must have had for the apostles to trust him with such a significant assignment. What does this teach us about building credibility in ministry?)

Acts 11:19-22: Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he immediately saw and rejoiced in the grace of God at work among the people there. Instead of being critical or suspicious, he encouraged the new believers and urged them to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

Acts 11:23-24: When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a great number of people were added to the Lord.

From this passage, we learn six important things about Barnabas’s character that made him an effective leader:

• He understood the grace of God and could recognize it at work in others’ lives.
• He rejoiced in God’s work instead of being jealous or competitive.
• He understood what it meant to be completely devoted to God.
• He was simply a good man with pure motives.
• He was filled with the Holy Spirit, which gave him divine wisdom and power.
• He was a man of faith who trusted God to work through difficult circumstances.

Barnabas then made another wise leadership decision. He went to Tarsus to find Saul and brought him back to Antioch. For a full year, Barnabas trained Saul in ministry, sharing his knowledge and experience with the man who would become the greatest missionary in church history.

Acts 11:25-26: Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a great number of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Barnabas and Saul also worked together to bring financial relief to the believers in Jerusalem during a time of famine, demonstrating the importance of caring for fellow believers in practical ways.

Acts 11:29-30: The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 12:25: When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

The church at Antioch recognized Barnabas as both a prophet and a teacher. As a prophet, his main purpose was to encourage the church with messages from God. The gift of prophecy is primarily meant to strengthen, encourage, and comfort God’s people.

Acts 13:1: Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

1 Corinthians 14:3: But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

When the Holy Spirit led the church to send out their first missionary team, they chose Barnabas and Saul for this historic journey.

Acts 13:2-4: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

Notice that Barnabas is still mentioned first at this point, indicating that he was probably considered the leader of the missionary team. But this was about to change.

Barnabas as a Follower

During their first missionary journey, something significant happened. Barnabas gracefully transitioned from being the leader to being the follower. It became apparent that God’s hand was upon Paul (Saul’s new name) in a special way, particularly in his bold preaching and miraculous works.

Acts 13:8-10: But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?”

Acts 13:16: Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!”

As the journey continued, Paul became recognized as the main speaker of the two missionaries.

Acts 14:12: Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.

When they returned to Antioch at the end of Paul’s first missionary journey, the order of their names was reversed, clearly indicating that Paul was now the acknowledged leader.

Acts 15:35: But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

It’s important to understand that this change in leadership wasn’t easy, and it led to the most difficult episode in Barnabas’s relationship with Paul. When Paul wanted to embark on a second missionary journey, he and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement about whether to take John Mark with them. Mark had abandoned them during their first journey, and Paul didn’t want to risk having an unreliable partner again. But Barnabas believed in giving Mark a second chance.

Acts 15:36-39: Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

This conflict teaches us something important about Christian relationships. Even godly people will sometimes disagree, and their disagreements can become quite heated.

✏️ Notebook Moment: How do you typically handle disagreements with other believers? What can we learn from this conflict about maintaining relationships even when we strongly disagree?

The key is to handle these conflicts with a spirit of grace and understanding. We should remember that two people can both love God deeply and still see situations differently. When disagreements arise, we must be willing to speak honestly about our concerns while also being ready to listen respectfully to the other person’s perspective. Sometimes, as in the case of Paul and Barnabas, the best solution may be to agree to disagree and pursue ministry in different directions while maintaining respect for each other.

Despite their disagreement, Paul continued to have great respect for Barnabas throughout his ministry. Years later, he spoke highly of Barnabas’s commitment to supporting himself financially rather than being a burden to the churches they served.

1 Corinthians 9:6: Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

At the end of his life, Paul admitted that Mark had matured in ministry and had become useful to him again. This showed that Barnabas had been right to believe in the young man.

2 Timothy 4:11: Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

It’s not easy to step aside and let somebody else lead, especially when you have been the recognized leader for years. Barnabas showed remarkable humility in this transition. He was firm in his convictions when he disagreed with Paul about Mark, but he also recognized that God was using Paul in a special way and was willing to take a secondary role. (Notebook Moment: Can you think of a time when you had to step back and let someone else take leadership in an area where you had been serving? How did you handle that transition?)

Conclusion

The church today desperately needs more people like Barnabas. We need men and women who are willing to be encouragers, whether they’re leading or following.

First, Barnabas was always willing to do whatever he could to serve God’s kingdom. He sold land to support the ministry, he encouraged a fearful brother like Saul, he traveled on difficult missionary journeys, and he invested time in training younger believers. He looked for practical ways to meet needs and strengthen the church.

Second, Barnabas was not afraid to lead when God called him to leadership, and he was not afraid to follow when it was time for others to lead. His main desire was simply to be available to God and useful in His service. He understood that ministry is not about position or recognition, but about faithfulness and effectiveness in building God’s kingdom.

Third, Barnabas was ready to use the spiritual gift that God had given him. He looked for opportunities to encourage and strengthen the church through his prophetic ministry. He understood that spiritual gifts are not given for personal satisfaction, but for the building up of the body of Christ.

As you think about your own life and ministry, ask yourself these important questions: Are you encouraging others in their walk with God? Do you look for opportunities to strengthen fellow believers? Are you willing to take leadership when God calls you to lead, and are you equally willing to follow when others are better equipped to lead?

1 Corinthians 14:1: Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

1 Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

The ministry of encouragement that Barnabas demonstrated is not reserved for special people with unusual gifts. Every believer can and should be an encourager. Look around you this week and ask God to show you someone who needs the kind of support that Barnabas gave to Saul, to Mark, and to the church at Antioch. Then step forward in faith and be God’s instrument of encouragement in that person’s life.

Check Your Understanding

Take this 5-question quiz to check your understanding of this lesson.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! Click on the “Next Lesson” button below when you are ready to continue.