Acts 11:22-24

Introduction

The progressive character of the Great Commission:

The Gospel preached to the Jews

The Gospel preached to the Samaritans

The Gospel preached to the Gentiles

But what we have not seen is intentional worship and fellowship.

Son of Consolation

Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”

The first time Barnabas appears in the Book of Acts is Acts 4:36-37 “And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

The word “consolation” means - comfort and exhort.

Based upon Acts 4:36-37 and Acts 11:23, both terms correctly describes Barnabas.

In Acts 4:36-37, he sold a substantial piece of property to comfort hurting saints in Jerusalem,

Acts 11:23, he is exhorting the saints to cleave unto the Lord.

What does not get much focus is “The son of” part of his name.

For example - Matthew 16:17 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Barnabas’ DNA was to comfort and exhort.

When people saw Barnabas, they saw comfort and exhorting.

This is the only time in the Bible where “bar” references character.

Ezra 5:1 “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.”

Daniel 3:25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

The character traits that Barnabas had came from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

Much of Jesus teaching and miracle ministry was exhorting.

Barnabas’ character traits that rose to the surface reminded the Apostles of Jesus.

He was a good man

Romans 5:7 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”

“Righteous” - innocent

“Good” - means intrinsically good, inherently good in quality but with the idea of good which is also profitable, benevolent, useful, benefiting others. Agathos is one whose goodness and works of goodness are transferred to others. Good and doing good is the idea.

The reason he was intrinsically good was the imputation of righteousness.

When Paul develops the doctrine of justification by faith alone, he is saying that when God counts somebody righteous on the basis of faith, it is not because He looks at them and sees that they are inherently righteous. Rather, they have been clothed by the imputation, or transfer, of the righteousness of Christ to that person by faith.

However, he did not just have righteousness, his righteousness was used to benefit others.

He was full of the Holy Ghost

He was influenced by the Holy Spirit.

This means, he was not influenced by traditions.

He was full of faith

RS - He had an unwavering confidence in God to release His power in any situation.

That means he acted upon what God said (ED: IN OTHER WORDS FAITH OBEYS - SEE  the obedience of faith). He did not wait for his feelings. He did not depend upon whether or not he woke up in a blue mood. He did not even need a cup of coffee to get him started in the morning. A man of faith simply believes God and expects him to act.

He was influenced by faith.

“For” - A term of explanation. What is Luke explaining? How was Barnabas interacting with the new Gentile believers? As Robertson says for or because "is the explanation of the conduct of Barnabas. The facts were opposed to the natural prejudices of a Jew like Barnabas, but he rose above such racial narrowness."

Barnabas’ character was the reason he was able to remove some of the traditional prejudices that separated Jews from Gentiles in enjoying what he saw and participating in the very thing he saw.

It was who he was as a person that explains why the Apostles sent him to confirm the works started by the scattering Jewish Christians - Acts 11:22 “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.”

Sees Grace

Acts 11:23 “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

The climax to this entire scene is the invisible grace of God was made visible!

JM - The grace of God may be invisible, but its effects are readily seen.

The word “seen” means he observed what was occuring with the church at Antioch.

The question is what did he see that allowed the invisible to become visible?

A. R. - Adrian Rogers says the best definition of grace that he has ever heard is that God's grace is "both the desire and the ability to do the will of God."

Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

R. S. - Now, how do you see grace? It is an invisible quality. Grace, of course, means the graciousness, the goodness of God poured out into a life. How do you see that? It is interesting that in the original language this word is charis, from which we get the English word, charisma. It is the same word that the Apostle Paul employs in Ephesians 4 where he speaks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 4:7 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

I do not believe Adrian Rodgers or Ray Stedmen were wrong but how would Theophilus understood the phrase: “Seen the grace of God”?

Acts 2:42-47 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Continuance on church activities

Selflessness towards one another

Fellowship

Gladness and singleness of heart

Praising God

Favor with all men

Acts 2 just Jews in Acts 11 it is both Jews and Gentiles.

Seeing the grace of God prompted:

Gladness - to be full of cheer

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

Grace brings gladness.

F F Bruce - Do we, with Barnabas, rejoice “at the spectacle of God’s free favor, unlimited by racial or religious frontiers, embraced and enjoyed by all without distinction”?

Exhorted - To come along side

Encouraged them

Chuck Swindoll - The verb is parakaleo, a multifaceted word that carries the idea of standing alongside someone in order to provide counsel, courage, comfort, hope, and positive perspective. Like an athletic coach, an encourager challenges without condemning, instructs without lecturing, inspires without condescending, and helps another toward excellence. Barnabas, like a coach encouraging and challenging an athlete to reach a particular goal, urged the new believers in Antioch to grow in grace while remaining true to their Savior.

Kent Hughes illustrates - I see this exemplified every time my church has a roller skating party, and the parents put their little ones on skates for the first time. Mom and Dad skate with their child, holding on to his or her hands, sometimes with the child’s feet on the ground and sometimes in the air. But all the time the parents are alongside encouraging....[exhortation] is a wonderful gift, and we are to place it at Christ’s feet and be willing to be worn out in its use.

Purpose of heart - affections

Cleave unto the Lord - Keep the Lord fresh.

Conclusion

Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”