City Life Starter

Written by Bebe Thomas

The Word

Acts 9:19–31 (Summary)

Barnabas: A Courageous and Christ‑Formed Advocate

After Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, everything changes. The man who once “ravaged the church” and dragged believers from their homes now immediately begins proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. His transformation is so radical, so sudden, that it defies human logic. Only the power of Christ could turn a persecutor into a preacher overnight.

Yet this transformation was difficult for the early disciples to believe. These were men and women who had walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and seen His resurrected body—and still, they struggled to trust that Saul’s conversion was real. Their fear was understandable. Saul had been a murderer of those who followed “the Way.” He was trained within the structure of the Jewish synagogue, educated under the best teachers, and deeply embedded in the religious system that opposed Christ. He believed he knew the truth. He believed he was defending God.

But then Saul met the true High Priest—and everything he thought he knew collapsed under the weight of divine revelation.

This is the very pattern Paul later describes in 1 Corinthians 1:27:

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” God overturns human expectations.

He delights in doing what seems impossible so that His wisdom and strength are unmistakable.

Barnabas: The Advocate God Used

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, the disciples were terrified. They could not reconcile the man they remembered with the man standing before them. And into that tension steps Barnabas.

Barnabas—whose name means “son of encouragement”—was known for his generosity, his integrity, and his Spirit‑filled discernment. He was the kind of man who saw what God was doing even when others could not. Acts tells us that Barnabas “took hold of him” (epilabomenos auton egagen) and brought Saul to the apostles. Scholars note that this phrase carries a forceful tenderness—Barnabas didn’t simply introduce Saul; he took him under his wing. He advocated for him. He stood in the gap. He used his credibility to soften the hearts of the disciples so they could understand the miracle of Saul’s conversion.

Barnabas became the bridge between Saul’s past and his future. Through Christ, he helped the disciples see what God had done—transforming a persecutor into a preacher, an enemy into a brother, a murderer into a missionary.

Reflection

Saul’s story reminds us that God’s power is not limited by human history, reputation, or failure. He can rewrite a life in a single moment. But sometimes, for that transformation to be recognized, God uses advocates—people like Barnabas who step forward with courage, discernment, and grace.

Throughout my own life, God has given me Barnabases; people who walked into rooms ahead of me or beside me. People who spoke on my behalf, believed in my potential, and advocated for me when I could not, or did not know how to advocate for myself. In my marriage, in my church community, and in my work as a lawyer, I have been held up by people who saw something in me that I could not yet see in myself.

And because I have been blessed with advocates, I try to be one. I try to use the skills God has given me to speak for others, to stand with them, to help open doors the way others have opened doors for me. We should all seek to be Barnabas—people who encourage, who discern, who advocate, and who help others step into the calling God has placed on their lives.

Application

Acts 9:19–31 teaches us that transformation is real, but recognition often requires community. Saul needed Barnabas. The disciples needed Barnabas. And we need Barnabases too.

Ask yourself:

• Who has advocated for me in seasons of transition or uncertainty?
• Where might God be calling me to advocate for someone else?
• Do I trust that God can radically transform even the most unlikely person?
• Am I willing to step into the gap the way Barnabas did?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the advocates You have placed in my life—those who have encouraged me, spoken for me, and walked with me. Give me the courage and discernment of Barnabas. Help me see Your work in others, even when it seems impossible. Make me an encourager, a bridge‑builder, and a gracious advocate. And remind me always that Your power can transform any life, overturn any expectation, and bring glory to Your name. Amen.