The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, (Acts 11:22-25 ESV)
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
Barnabas was sent by the apostle-led church in Jerusalem to investigate a report of an outbreak of faith among the Gentiles in Antioch—a journey of some 300 miles. Antioch was a large, multi-ethnic city. The apostles clearly held Barnabas in high regard; they trusted him both to assess the situation accurately and to respond wisely. That trust says a lot about their confidence in both his abilities and his judgment.
When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he “saw the grace of God.” Have you ever wondered what he actually saw? Something about those new converts convinced him they were genuinely saved. Paul recognized the grace of giving at work in the Philippian church (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). He also said the Jerusalem apostles “perceived the grace” God had given him (Galatians 2:9). When God’s grace truly touches lives, the change is perceptible.
My first trip out of the United States was with a medical mission team to Haiti. Part of my job was to preach in the churches. It was quite an experience for a poor kid from Oklahoma. People begged in the streets and called out to us in Haitian Creole. We traveled by cattle truck and then a leaky wooden boat. The first church was in a tiny village—dirt floors and a single light bulb powered by a diesel generator that rumbled in the background for the whole community. It was definitely not Tulsa.
Church began at sundown with two hours of energetic worship. The only instruments were dancing feet, clapping hands, and one kid with a washtub and a stick. I could see the grace of God, even though I understood not a word. I preached on the Holy Spirit, and several people received the Spirit baptism. The joy on their beautiful faces reflected the grace of God—I could see it! One lady asked me to pray that God would “heal my broken heart—I have had four children and they all died.” Choking back my own tears, I prayed for her until she stopped weeping and began praising God. I could see the grace of God.
When Barnabas saw whatever he saw, he was glad. He encouraged this new congregation not to grow discouraged, but to remain steady in following Jesus. He did this because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. As an apostolic representative, he could have tried to take control and build a church of the Barnabites. Instead, he did the opposite. He didn’t see an opportunity for himself—he saw an opportunity to encourage others.
His next step speaks volumes. He knew these people needed solid instruction—and lots of it. Recognizing his own inadequacy to do it alone, he went looking for help. His first choice was an ex-Pharisee he had met in Jerusalem. In fact, Barnabas had introduced Saul of Tarsus to the apostles after the broader Christian community rejected him (Acts 9:26-27). Barnabas recognized the grace that rested on Saul, and now he saw a place to put that grace to work. His character and humility enabled him to make decisions that glorified God, elevated others, and expanded the Kingdom.
Antioch soon became a vibrant outpost of Christianity. It was the first place the disciples were called Christians. Though the local community may have intended the name as a slur, it still showed they recognized the grace resting on this group. These people were different!
Barnabas and Saul taught the church at Antioch for a full year. After hearing a prophecy about a coming famine, the Antioch believers organized relief for Judea and entrusted Barnabas and Saul with delivering it to Jerusalem. The mission church was now supporting the mother church. Quite a result!
The church at Antioch had grown into a thriving spiritual community with strong leaders and a vision for the world. When Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit spoke. Just as Barnabas had seen the grace of God on the Antioch believers, they now recognized the grace resting on him and his protégé, Saul. They fasted, prayed, and laid hands on this new apostolic pair and sent them out. The mission church had become the mission sender.
Somebody Said: “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” — Ronald Reagan
Here’s the Point: Make it a point to watch for the grace of God on the people around you. It may show up in any number of ways, but if you listen to the Spirit within you, you will see it. Don’t you want to grow up to be like Barnabas—a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith? Get over yourself, recognize the grace of God on others, and help them fulfill their calling. You just might change the world.
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