Born to devout Jewish families far from Jerusalem before leaving their Gentile-dominated hometowns for the City of David, Barnabas and Saul had a lot in common (cf. Acts 4:36, 22:3). Maybe their paths would have crossed at the Temple – Barnabas fulfilling his Levitical duties while Saul followed his teacher Gamaliel around. Even if they had, they would have diverged when it came to Jesus: Barnabas was an early follower of The Way while Saul was determined to persecute it to the death (cf. Acts 4:36, 22:4). Until the risen Lord appeared to Saul. Then Barnabas was the only disciple willing to risk listening to Saul’s incredible story of blinding light, baptism, bold preaching, and a divine appointment to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. Apparently what he heard – and subsequently declared to the apostles – stayed with him (cf. Acts 9:27).
When fulfilling his own appointment by the Jerusalem church years later to help the predominantly Gentile disciples in Antioch, Barnabas knew exactly who he needed to have by his side: Saul. After Barnabas showed up in Tarsus looking for him, they went to Antioch together. The rest is history. “For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26). The partnership of these two Jewish men leading a community of mostly Gentile disciples of Jesus changed the world.
The styles of these two friends meshed incredibly well. Both were hard workers who were completely focused on the mission (cf. 1 Cor. 9:5-7). Strong team builders, Barnabas and Saul had expanded and diversified Antioch’s leadership with the prophets and teachers Simeon, Lucius, and Manean (cf. Acts 13:1). This freed the pair to go on a 1,500 mile missionary journey, during which the equally capable Barnabas had no problem letting Saul lead: when God gets the glory, credit does not matter (cf. Acts 14:12). By the time they returned to Antioch nearly two years later, they had planted churches of Jews and Gentiles learning The Way together from committed local elders everywhere they went (cf. Acts 14:23). Both men’s skill as talent scouts – Saul mentoring the likes of Silas, Titus, Luke, and Timothy throughout his ministry while Barnabas influenced Mark and Saul himself – undoubtedly helped.
This should not have been possible. Two strong personalities shouldn’t work so well together, nor should locally-led churches of Jews and Gentiles be able to survive. Yet, this is The Way – and if we will follow it together, we will experience impossible things, too.
Join us as we learn from the real people in Jerusalem, Antioch, and Ephesus how to truly follow “The Way, the Truth, and the Life” of Jesus Christ together!