LOOK FOR THE GRACE
Acts 11:20-24 NKJV
20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 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.
It's a good thing they sent Barnabas. The early church was coming to grips with the idea that salvation was available to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. This fact came as a shock to the Jewish believers. For centuries, the relationship they had with God was reserved only for them. Even those who converted to Judaism were not viewed in the same light. And now Gentiles were receiving the Word of God.
When the news came to the church leaders in Jerusalem that Gentiles were coming to Christ, they sent Barnabus to Antioch. Antioch was a significant city at the intersection of several important roads. The city was 300 miles north of Jerusalem, so it took some time for Barnabus to get there and see what was going on.
Before Barnabus arrived, God was moving in this city. The hand of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, was working with those believers who were proclaiming Christ, and many believed and turned to the Lord. Still a shock to the Jewish mindset, they sent Barnabus, and it's a good thing they did.
When Barnabus arrived, he saw the grace of God. He could see God was doing some great things in the city among the Gentiles. And the next three words were important. "He was glad." As a respected leader from Jerusalem, Barnabus could have limited this move of God. He could have dug in his heels and held to his Jewish beliefs. Instead, he was rejoicing that people were coming to Christ regardless of their background. So, instead of pouring cold water on the grace of God, Barnabus poured gasoline. He encouraged the new believers to purpose in their hearts to continue with the Lord. He was encouraging them to make a quality decision to stay with the Lord. Barnabus did not try to get them to adopt Jewish traditions but to stay with the person of Jesus.
Verse 24 gives us a bit more insight into Barnabus. He was a good man—a man of compassion and quality character. The church had nicknamed him the Son of Encouragement because of his positive nature. And Barnabus was full. He was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. The scriptures speak of people being full of bitterness or hate. Some people are full of the world and its ways. But Barnabus was filled with the leadership and influence of the Holy Spirit and full of faith in God. Barnabus was a God-ordained choice to go to Antioch. And while this quality man was there, many people were added to the Lord.
He was the man who helped get the apostle Paul started. Barnabus believed in Paul when no one in the church thought he was a sincere convert. Barnabus brought Paul to Antioch to teach the new believers. Barnabus was on the first missionary journey with Paul. And Barnabus was the one who gave John Mark a second chance when Paul rejected him for the second missionary journey.
APPLICATION
Barnabus was a good man, and may his tribe continue to increase. May we see more men and women like Barnabus rise and look for the grace of God instead of dividing over religious traditions and doctrines. There is still way too much division in the big "C" Church. We need good people full of the Holy Spirit and faith. That kind of person made a difference years ago and still can make a difference today.