Tag Archives: Barnabas

ACTS THE SEQUEL…ENTER JOHN MARK – 25

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“When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Luke added, at this point in his story, by the way, the name of a young man who would play an important role in breaking up the partnership of Paul and Barnabas as the story unfolds. Who was John Mark?

If we go back a chapter, the prayer meeting that resulted in Peter’s rescue took place in the home of John Mark’s mother, Mary. It seems that this family played an important role in the early church. 

John Mark, in Mark’s gospel, may have been the unnamed young man who fled naked when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

So, John Mark has a history in the story of the early church…first, a coward, 

“A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭51‬-‭52‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…then a quitter and splitter… 

“Some time 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.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭36‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…but, finally, in Paul’s own words, helpful…

“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What had happened to John Mark that transformed his life? According to Paul, he was changed from a quitter to “helpful”. A second chance? A “Barnabas” in his life? 

How much the church needs the “Barnabas” kind of people who see the potential when others see only failure…who recognise the face of Jesus in the faces of mere humans. 

John Mark’s story is echoed in the lives of many believers down the centuries. Without the “Barnabas’s” who saw light when others saw only darkness…who saw potential when others saw failure…how many of God’s precious children might have been lost to His kingdom. The church still needs those who stand by the weak ones, propping them up until they can stand. Thank God for grace that still  reaches out to pick those up who fall by the wayside. 

To be continued 

GLIMPSES OF PAUL – 3

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SAUL BECOMES PAUL

Why was Saul’s name changed to Paul? What did his name change have to do with his identity and calling?

“The answer is that Saul’s name was also Paul. The custom of dual names was common in those days. Acts 13:9 describes the apostle as “Saul, who was also called Paul.” From that verse on, Saul is always referred to in Scripture as “Paul.”

Paul was a Jew, born in the Roman city of Tarsus. He was proud of his Jewish heritage, as he describes in Philippians 3:5: “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of the law, a Pharisee.” So zealous and devout was he that persecuting Christians was the natural way for him to show his devotion. He chose to use his Hebrew name, Saul, until sometime after he began to believe in and preach Christ. After that time, as “the apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13), he used his Roman name, Paul. It would make sense for Paul to use his Roman name as he traveled farther and farther into the Gentile world.

It is interesting that Paul began using his Roman name on Cyprus when the Roman proconsul on that island was converted (Acts 13:12). This was during Paul’s first missionary journey and involved a high-ranking, idolatrous Gentile coming to faith in Christ. The fact that the proconsul’s name was Sergius Paulus has led some to think that Saul took the name Paulus/Paul as a reminder of this event, but the apostle’s name being the same as the proconsul’s is most likely a coincidence.

Using his Roman name was fitting for the man who proclaimed that he would become “all things to all people,” a Jew to the Jews in order to win the Jews, weak to the weak in order to win the weak, etc., all for the sake of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19–23). Adopting his Roman name would allow Paul to approach the Gentiles to whom he was sent, and speak to them in their own language, becoming as one of them and setting them at ease. It is also possible that Paul gave up the use of his Hebrew name, Saul, with its regal connotation and chose to use his Roman name, Paul, meaning “little” or “small,” because he desired to became smaller in order to present Christ as greater (cf. John 3:30).

Unlike the changing of Simon’s name to Peter (Matthew 16:18–19), which Jesus did for a specific purpose, there is no reference in the Bible to Jesus’ changing Saul’s name to Paul.”
(https://www.gotquestions.org
When and why was Saul’s name changed to Paul?)

Sometimes, zeal without knowledge does more harm than good. Saul’s unruly passion needing taming by the Holy Spirit. Time in the church in the company of mature leaders would give Saul the example he needed to hone him into the great apostle he became.

From Acts 10, Luke’s record changes direction for a while, shining the light on the doings of the early Church and Peter until persecution drove Peter into the wider field of evangelism outside of Jerusalem.

Saul’s enthusiastic attack on the unbelief of his fellow Jews and their antagonism drove him underground. God’s ways are not our ways. If Saul/Paul was to become God’s man for the moment, he had to have theological training…according to the dictates of twentieth century practice.

So, where did he go, and who would train him in the message he was to deliver to the nations? The Holy Spirit left nothing to chance. In Paul’s own words…

Galatians 1:15-16, 11-12, 17 NIV
[15] “But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased [16] to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being….
[11] Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. [12] I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
[17] Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.”

Bible School in Arabia! The Holy Spirit his personal tutor! What a combination! What could be more powerful and effective than a training like that?

Phase two of Saul’s preparation took years but it was divinely supervised and thorough. Not many believers have a theological training as intense as his. In the solitude of the desert, Saul had three years to reflect on his knowledge of the Tanach and to match the many Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament with the life and ministry of Jesus. It all made sense to him at last. His passion for the truth became white hot and never left him to the day of his death.

Luke’s record in Acts isn’t chronologically clear. However, we pick up Paul’s story from his home in Tarsus. Under the Holy Spirit’s supervision, enter Barnabas again. This time, Barnabas was on a rescue mission. The gospel message had taken root outside Jerusalem. Syrian Antioch became the centre of the Gentile Church. It was humming with spiritual life. The new believers needed help to anchor them in the truth of the Scriptures. Who was qualified to do the teaching?

Let  Luke tell the story.

Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26 NLT
[19] “Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. [20] However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. [21] The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. [22] When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [23] When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. [24] Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. [25] Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. [26] When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)”

It was here, in Syrian Antioch that Saul finally received his marching orders. Who better than Barnabas, the one man who recognised his worth, to accompany him?

Acts of the Apostles 13:1-3 NLT
[1]”Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. [2] One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” [3] So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”

God’s calling was specific, “Go to the Gentiles.” Saul had done his best to share the good news with his own countrymen but their reaction was clear. “No, thank you,”  they snarled and tried to silence him permanently.

So, to the Gentiles they went, under the personal supervision of the Holy Spirit, to shine the light of truth into the hearts of the citizens of the pagan world. It was an impossible commission but for one thing, the power of the gospel which they would discover and prove as they went.

Romans 1:16 NLT
[16] “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.”

Phase three was about to begin….

THE BOOK OF ACTS – QUITTER CUM HELPFUL

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QUITTER CUM HELPFUL

“A few days after this, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let’s go back and visit all our friends in each of the towns where we preached the Word of God. Let’s see how they’re doing.’

“Barnabas wanted to take John along, the John nicknamed Mark. But Paul wouldn’t have him; he wasn’t about to take along a quitter who, as soon as the going got tough, had jumped ship on them in Pamphylia. Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and, offered up by their friends to the grace of the Master, went to Syria and Cilicia to build up muscle and sinew in those congregations.” Acts 15:36-41 (The Message).

What a dismal end to a partnership that had produced so much fruit! What happened to their original call from the Holy Spirit when they were sent out from Antioch many years before? It seems that they were willing to sacrifice the unity they had worked so hard to protect in the church, over a personal issue. This was not about a doctrine, in which case they had made the right decision. This was over a young guy who could not take the pace.

Let’s have a look at the character of Barnabas, which was, incidentally, his nickname and meant “son of encouragement”. Quite significant! He appears early in the book of Acts, doing what his name meant, encouraging people. Had Paul forgotten that it was Barnabas who had faith in him when the church in Jerusalem was afraid to welcome him? They didn’t want a vicious persecutor to infiltrate their ranks. Barnabas was willing to vouch for him (Acts 9:27), introducing him to the leaders in Jerusalem.

It was Barnabas who fetched Paul from Tarsus to teach the new believers in Antioch when the church exploded among the Gentiles in Syria. Barnabas gave way to Paul when it came to preaching and teaching on their first missionary journey. His was a “Jonathan” ministry, the support and encourager Paul needed during the rigorous trials he had to endure.

What if Barnabas had rejected John Mark as Paul was doing? Paul’s letters reveal that it was he who had to eat humble pie regarding Mark. Had Barnabas not been true to his name and nature, Paul would never have been able to write: “Aristarchus, who is in jail here with me, sends greeting, also Mark, cousin of Barnabas, (you have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him).” Colossians 4:10 (NIV).

What a change of heart — and it gets even more personal. During Paul’s final imprisonment in Rome he wrote these words to Timothy: “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11 (NIV). Because of Barnabas, Mark, the quitter, became Mark the helpful.

Without Barnabas’ faith in him, would Mark have ever been the author of the second gospel? According to tradition, Mark also spent time with Peter, either recording his memoirs or listening to his preaching which he used as the basis for his gospel. How much poorer the church might have been had Barnabas not tenaciously stuck to his belief in Mark in spite of Mark’s failure.

There are many lessons in this incident. What stands out for me is that Mark’ failure did not permanently disqualify him from fulfilling his calling. Perhaps parting company with Paul was the best thing that could have happened. Although Luke records nothing of the details of Barnabas and Mark’s journey around the churches, we know the outcome of the time they spend together. Barnabas, the mentor and encourager, put Mark back on his feet and helped him to become Mark, the helpful!

In the end one can conclude that Barnabas’ ministry to Mark was just as valuable as Paul’s ministry to the people of Asia Minor and Europe. How much poorer the church throughout the generations would be without the Gospel of Mark and how much poorer Paul might have been without him.

THE BOOK OF ACTS – QUITTER

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QUITTER

“From Paphos Paul and company put out to sea, sailing on to Perga in Pamphylia. That’s where John called it quits and went back to Jerusalem. From Perga the rest of them travelled on to Antioch in Pisidia.” Acts 13:13-14a (The Message)

John Mark threw in the towel after the first leg of the journey. Why? Luke gives no details about the first missionary campaign in Cyprus except for the incident with the governor and the magician. Was Sergius Paulus the only convert in Cyprus? What else happened there? Did they have a hard time with the Jews?

Whatever the circumstances in Cyprus, John Mark was uncomfortable and chose to go back home. What effect did this have on Paul and Barnabas? We can glean from things that happened later on, that both of them reacted true to character.

Barnabas was closer to John Mark than Paul, both in relationship and in attitude. His name meant “encourager” and he consistently lived up to his name. When the church in Jerusalem initially refused to receive Saul after his conversion, Barnabas stood by him and vouched for him. When the church at Antioch needed teachers to instruct new Gentile believers, he fetched Saul from his home town where had been sent for safety from the Jerusalem Jews who were plotting to kill him.

Barnabas was a hands-on man, always ready to give someone the benefit of the doubt. No doubt he was the one who included John Mark in the first missionary team, probably as a trainee-helper.

Paul, on the other hand, was more rigid. He did not want a quitter on the team.  He and Barnabas had a fall-out when Barnabas wanted to give John Mark a second chance (Acts 15:36-41), so serious that the partnership broke up and each went his own way.

And what of John Mark? He was also on a journey. This episode was only a hiccup along the way. Perhaps it was Barnabas’ faith in him in spite of his failure that gave him the break he needed. Even Paul had to admit that Mark was an asset to him later on when he was in prison (Colossian 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11).

Not only did John Mark redeem himself in Paul’s eyes but his name has been immortalised as the author of the second gospel. Tradition tells us that he was Peter’s companion for a time, either recording his sermons or making use of his memoirs as the foundation of his gospel written especially for Roman readers.

John’s story should be an encouragement to us; to those who have quit, there is always the second chance; and to those who know quitters, the opportunity to put someone back on the road to fulfil his or her potential. Perhaps, had Paul known what lay in the future, he would not have been so hard on Mark. Did he also have a lesson to learn from Barnabas?

It grieves me to find websites, supposedly Christian that specialise in stripping Christian leaders in the name of Jesus. Even the most well-known, godly and transparent men come under fire from these so-called exposures. What if these same people dedicated themselves to encourage and lift up the weak, putting them back on the way to becoming another “John Mark”?

There is enough dirt being publicised on the web to take gullible people into ruin and destruction without so-called “Christians” doing the devil’s work and adding unnecessary pain to God’s people. What if the church heeded the Apostle Paul’s words: “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand for the Lord is able to make him stand,” Romans 14:4 (NIV).

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.” Romans 14:19 (NIV).

THE BOOK OF ACTS – SAUL’S SIDE-KICK

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SAUL’S SIDE-KICK

“Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” Acts 11:25-26 (The Message).

Luke shines the light on the two main characters of his story, Peter and Saul. Up to this point, Peter was in the limelight, with Saul making brief appearances as a kind of introduction. Peter’s function and influence were in and around Jerusalem and in widening circles around Israel. He was the natural leader of the new movement, together with James and John until James’ untimely death at the hands of Herod.

Saul appeared briefly in Jerusalem before and after his conversion but he was essentially an out-of-Jerusalem Jew. His hometown was Tarsus in Asia Minor to which he was smartly returned when his fiery preaching stirred up trouble in Judea. He disappeared off the scene for a while until Barnabas, realising his worth as a teacher, fetched him from Tarsus and brought him to Antioch to ground the new non-Jewish believes in the Scriptures.

What a Bible School that must have been! As a rabbi, Saul was well-versed in the Scriptures and, with the Holy Spirit as his teacher; he was able to anchor the new converts in the accurate understanding of the Messianic prophecies and of Jesus as their fulfilment.

Saul himself was being enlightened as he taught, honing his understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus as the Messiah, qualifying him to be a skilful exponent of the good news. All these factors were preparing him for what lay ahead, pioneer missionary, author of many of the writings which would later be gathered together into the sacred volume of the Book, and martyr for Jesus.

Although Barnabas was initially the leader, his major role was to be Saul’s side-kick in the missionary enterprise. Without the support of Barnabas, Saul might never have been recognised as the significant and prominent figure he was to become in the history of the early church.

God has room for every kind of person and every gift in the growth of His kingdom on earth. No one is greater than anyone else regardless of whether he is in the limelight or not. We all fit together in an amazing mosaic of divine purpose. Our reward lies, not in the visibility of what we are doing, but in the effectiveness of our obedience to our calling. Had Barnabas not been who he was and done what he did, Saul might never have been in the right place at the right time to become who he was to the church.

Like Jonathan in the Old Testament, who was willing to play second fiddle to David, knowing that David would take his place as king of Israel, God needs people who are not bent on making a name for themselves but are there to stand by and support another chosen by God for leadership. These are the truly great people of the kingdom without whom God’s purposes will not be fulfilled. What an important role they play!

It takes wisdom and humility to promote and support someone else. Your name may never appear in the history books but it will be written on the palm of God’s hand.

“Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15; 58 (NIV).