Saint Barnabas

Saint Barnabas is an important figure in the early history of the Christian Church. He was a follower of Jesus and one of the first missionaries who traveled to different cities to spread the message of Jesus Christ. He is known for his kindness, encouragement, and dedication to helping others. Barnabas is sometimes called the “Son of Encouragement” because he always tried to lift people’s spirits and help them grow in their faith.

Barnabas was born in Cyprus, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. His birth name was Joseph, but the apostles gave him the name Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement,” because of his encouraging spirit. He was from a wealthy family, and he owned land, but he sold his land and gave the money to help those in need. This act of generosity showed that Barnabas cared about others and was willing to give up his own wealth to help people.

Barnabas first became known in the early Christian Church in Jerusalem. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, many people began to believe in Him and follow His teachings. The apostles, who were the closest followers of Jesus, were spreading the message of Jesus in Jerusalem and nearby areas. However, many people were still not sure about Jesus and His teachings, and some even hated the followers of Jesus.

One of the most famous early followers of Jesus was the apostle Paul, who was originally named Saul. Before he became a Christian, Saul was a man who hated Christians. He even arrested and killed those who believed in Jesus. But one day, while Saul was on a journey to the city of Damascus, he had a powerful experience where he saw a bright light and heard the voice of Jesus asking, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” This moment changed Saul’s life forever. He became a follower of Jesus, and his name was changed to Paul.

After Saul’s conversion, he tried to join the Christian community in Jerusalem. However, the Christians were afraid of him because they knew him as the man who had arrested and harmed their fellow believers. They didn’t trust him, and they were scared that he might be pretending to follow Jesus in order to hurt them. It was at this point that Barnabas stepped in. He believed in Paul’s change of heart, and he went to the apostles to tell them that Paul was now a true follower of Jesus. Barnabas encouraged the apostles to trust Paul, and because of him, Paul was accepted into the Christian community.

After this, Barnabas and Paul began to work together to spread the message of Jesus. They traveled to different cities, preaching about Jesus and helping people believe in Him. They faced many challenges, but they continued to share God’s love with everyone they met. Barnabas and Paul went to places like Antioch, Lystra, Derbe, and many others, where they preached and established new Christian communities.

In one city called Antioch, Barnabas and Paul preached for a long time. Many people in Antioch believed in Jesus and became Christians. It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” This was an important moment because it marked the beginning of the spread of Christianity beyond the Jewish people to people from all nations.

Barnabas and Paul faced many difficulties in their travels. Some people did not want to listen to them and even tried to hurt them. Once, when they were preaching in the city of Lystra, the people there were so angry that they threw stones at Paul and left him for dead. But Barnabas stayed with Paul and helped him recover. This showed Barnabas’ loyalty and care for his friend and fellow missionary.

Barnabas also worked closely with other early Christian leaders, such as Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark. Mark was a young man who had traveled with Barnabas and Paul during their first missionary journey. However, during one of their trips, Mark became afraid and left them. Paul was upset with Mark’s decision and did not want to take him on their next journey. This caused a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. As a result, Barnabas decided to continue working with Mark, while Paul took another companion, Silas. This shows that Barnabas was a man who was full of grace and forgiveness, always ready to give second chances to those who needed them.

Later in life, Barnabas continued to work in the Christian mission. He and Mark traveled to other places, spreading the Gospel. Even though Barnabas and Paul had some disagreements, their work together helped to grow the Christian faith in many areas. Barnabas is remembered for his love, encouragement, and support of others in their faith. He always believed in people and helped them to become better followers of Christ.

Saint Barnabas died around the year 61 AD, and he is remembered as one of the great missionaries of the early Church. His life is an example to all of us of how we should encourage others, be generous, and spread God’s love to everyone, no matter how difficult it may seem. Barnabas’ example of kindness, patience, and love continues to inspire Christians around the world today.

Reflection: 

1. Encouragement is a powerful gift. Saint Barnabas is called the “Son of Encouragement” because he always lifted others up and believed in their potential. He helped others, even when no one else believed in them, like when he supported Paul. We can learn from Barnabas to always encourage those around us, especially when they are struggling or feeling down.

2. Second chances are important. Even when others make mistakes or fall short, Barnabas showed us the power of giving second chances. He didn’t hold Mark’s failure against him, and because of Barnabas’ kindness, Mark had another opportunity to serve God. This teaches us that we should forgive and offer second chances to others, just as God does for us.

3. Generosity is a way to serve God. Barnabas sold his land and gave the money to help those in need. His generosity showed that he cared more about helping others than about keeping his own wealth. We can learn from Barnabas to be generous with our time, talents, and resources to serve others and follow God’s example of love.

4. God calls us to work together. Barnabas worked with many different people in spreading the message of Jesus. Despite challenges and disagreements, he continued to work with others, showing that we can achieve great things when we work together for God’s glory. We are all called to work together in the mission of spreading God’s love.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the example of Saint Barnabas. Help us to be like him: encouraging others, giving second chances, and being generous with all that we have. Teach us to forgive and work together for Your glory. May we always serve You with kindness and love, just as Saint Barnabas did. We pray that You will guide us in our lives and help us share Your love with everyone we meet. Amen.