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was an appropriate person for the task, for he was A Surrendered Man. (Acts 4:36,37) “ And Joses, who by the apostles was sur- named Barnabas (which is being interpret, ed, the son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it a t the apostles' feet.” A Courageous Man. When the disci ples were afraid of Saul, he championed his cause, (9:26,27) “ And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to- the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not th at he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and th at he had spoken unto him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” A Devoted Man. He fasted and prayed (13:1,2) “ As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them .” A Wise Man. When he saw the con ditions in Antioch, he went for Paul and brought him there. An Humble Man. Having the first place, he surrendered it to Paul and be came his helper. He was not a perfect man, for he fell into contentions (15:37-40) “ And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them , who departed from them in Pam- phylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them th at they departed asunder one from the other; and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, be ing recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.” He was also guilty of dissembling. (Gal. 2:13) “ And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insbmuch th at Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." Barnabas saw that a great work of grace had been going on and was glad. It takes grace for a worker to see the hand of the Lord in another’s work. Paul says: “Whether in pretense or in truth Christ is preached, and I do there in rejoice.” (Phil. 1:18) 3. ASSOCIATING SAUL IN THE WORK, vs. 24-26; 12:25. “We brought him unto Antioch.” It is remarkable how God used humble
manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to w ait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, “even Jesus, which delivered us from the w rath to come.” They lacked seminary training in the art of preaching, but they had spiritual power in telling out the truths of the Gospel and many believed. The deep need of all the cities of the world is for men who know the risen Lordr^-in whosd souls there burns the “woe is me if I preach not the Gospel”, and who in simplicity of faith and single ness of heart, bear to burdened hearts the tidings of love. The plausible phil osophies of men bring no relief to the captives of sin, no comfort to the dis tressed heart, no hope to the dying. Men want to know that atonement has been made for sin; that its penalty has been paid; that there is possible a life of victory over habits and passions and a heavenly haven awaiting them after the stormy scenes of this earthly life. Barnabas exhorted them to loyalty to Christ. I (/Ruth 1:16-18) *‘And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I w ill go; and where thou lodgest I w ill lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest I w ill die, and there w ill I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also if aught but death part thee and me.” (2 Sam. 15:21) And Ittal answered the king and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king llveth, surely In what place my lord the king shall be, whether In death or life, even' there w ill also th y servant be.” Paul expresses it in Phil. 1:13. “ So th at my bonds in Christ are m ani fest In all the palace and In other places*” (Eph. 4:1) “ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you th at ye walk worthy of the voca tion wherewith ye are called.” He loved to think and speak of him self as the bond-slave of Jesus Christ. 2. ARRIVAL OF BARNABAS, vs, 22,23. “Who, when he came, . . . ex horted them.” The Jewish church in Jerusalem soon had th£ news of the revival at Antioch and Barnabas was authorized to look into the unauthorized proceedings there. He
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