City Life Starter

The Word

²⁶ And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 

Acts 9:26-27 (NKJV)

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.

⁹ and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

¹¹ Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:1, 9, 11-13

Reflection

Barnabas and Paul developed a strong bond over the years that they did ministry together. It began, as we see in Acts chapter 9 when Barnabas stood up for Paul upon his conversion. It gave Paul legitimacy in his ministry and missionary work. Together they traveled on Paul’s first of three missionary journeys. God had set aside him and Barnabas for this first trip. (See Acts 13:2)

Fourteen years later, Paul is in Antioch and writing to the church in Galatia. There was a lot of arguments going back and forth between the apostles for how the new gentiles believers should be treated when it comes to observing the Jewish laws, especially in regards to circumcision. It got to the point that Peter was greatly influenced by the circumcision party of Jewish Christians and would separate himself from the gentiles while in Antioch. Barnabas began to be pulled in this same direction and thinking.

Paul, seeing how Barnabas was influenced by Peter and the others, could not stand still. He opposed Peter to his face. Could you picture a firey Paul standing up against the likes of Peter who was one of the three closest apostles to Jesus?? Paul must’ve been very angry. His friend who he had done missionary work for 14 years, someone who stood up for him when nobody else did, and his partner in the ministry to the gentiles, was being led astray by Peter! Paul couldn’t take it, he didn’t want to see his good friend being turned aside from the ministry they had built.

Application

Paul and Barnabas had a strong relationship. Barnabas risked everything to convince Peter of Paul’s conversion and Paul had Barnabas’ back when Peter was leading him astray. They had each other’s back.

Would you stand up for a brother or sister in Christ when it matters? Are you an encourager like Barnabas or a protector like Paul? Ministry cannot be done alone and we need others to encourage us to do the right thing and protect us from walking astray.

Prayer

Thank You Father for being a protector and encourager in my life. You guide me and bring people in my life to help in my personal walk of faith. Help me to be this for others. In Jesus’ name, amen.