A Good Man
By Mark McCrary
Introduction
1. In Acts 13, two men prepared for a journey that would not only change them, but would change the world. One was known and respected throughout the church, the other was a new comer with a tainted past. Saul of Tarsus, formerly the persecutor of the early church-- he now stood as one of its most recent converts. However, 2000 years later, the one who was less known is now considered one of the pivotal people in the history of the early church; the one who was well-known then is little more than a footnote in the history of the New Testament.
a. But, what an interesting footnote he is! Barnabas
2. READ Acts 11:34. What a drab description to give someone—a good man. Many would feel that way today.
a. Good just isn’t that interesting, is it?
3. But, in the history of the church, this good man was quite significant.
a. What was so good about him?
was Good Because He Thought of Others, Acts 4:36-37
1. The first time we are introduced to him he is characterized as a giver.
a. Though blessed with incredible growth, the early church had a problem: many of the pilgrims had stayed behind and were in need of care.
b. There arose in the ranks of the church a spirit of generosity, v. 34
c. Barnabas is singled out by name as one with such a spirit. He saw a need in the infant church; he sold a field and gave the proceeds to the church to help those in need
i. Why would he have done that?
1. Perhaps he heard what Christ told the rich young ruler, Matthew 19:21—didn’t want that to happen to him
2. Perhaps just touched by the needs of others
2. How many of us would have sold some of our possessions to help out a Christian we had only just met?
a. This isn’t pocket change. Maybe he was rich, maybe he wasn’t
b. He took his faith seriously. Some Christians don’t like that. Don’t like it when someone shows this really means something to him or her, because it can make everyone else look bad.
i. Some may have called him a show-off
ii. Most Christians probably hope God grades on a curve—as long as no one does great, everyone is all right.
c. What the church needs today are more people who will take their faith seriously like Barnabas!
i. Those who aren’t just hearers of the word, but doers, James. 1:22; James 2:13-14; 1 Jn. 3:14-19
d. Those who don’t wait to be asked, but are looking for ways to help.
i. Those who are willing to break down social barriers and involve themselves in a constructive way in the lives of those in need.
ii. Our society encourages us to draw into ourselves and not involve ourselves in the lives of others; Barnabas encourages us to look to others and make a difference in their lives
3. I’m sure for the recipients of his kindness, he was a good man.
was Good because He Encouraged Others, Acts 4:36
1. Also in this same text we are told the significance of his name.
a. Barnabas was not his given name. It was, for lack of a better term, a nickname—a name given because it represented who and what he was. The son of encouragement. What a name! Wouldn’t it be great if others thought so highly of us they called us something like this?
i. You don’t get a name like that unless you prove it.
1. Mark means "valiant." I didn’t prove it when I was born.
b. This didn’t mean he went around telling people to hang in there. Means, "comfort, console, entreat, counsel."
i. Not only did he comfort people, but he challenged them as well.
1. He certainly challenged them with his example.
ii. His life will be characterized as one that constantly understood that people could become discouraged and downtrodden; mistrusted and rejected.
iii. He pulled for the underdog.
2. What a need we have for Barnabas’s today!
a. Those willing to look toward the weak and give them time, attention and encouragement.
b. As with the previous point, it demands we look outside of our own world and into the world of others
i. Those who have fallen to sin, Gal. 6:1-2
ii. To those in sorrow, Rom. 12:15
iii. Those who could be more in the Lord’s service if given the chance
3. I’m sure for those he encouraged in Christ, he was a good man.
was Good because He Trusted Others, Acts 9:26-27
1. The next time we see Barnabas is in Acts 9:26-27
2. Saul of Tarsus had become a Christian—and a man without a country.
a. He was no doubt rejected by the Jews because of his conversion
b. Distrusted by the church because of his persecutions. They were suspicious, and honestly with good reason.
c. You’ve come to the truth, you want to serve—but no one will give you a chance.
3. But then, Barnabas stepped in.
a. He was willing to put his reputation on the line for this
b. He really believed in forgiving and forgetting, in giving people a chance to show the changing power of the gospel.
c. So successful that they allowed Saul to stay with them (Acts 9:28)!
4. What a lesson for us today!
a. If we are going to impact others as Christians it is going to be with our love for one another and for others, Jn. 15:12
b. There is no place for fighting and cold shoulders in the church, Eph. 4:2
i. "But, what if I don’t like this person?" Tough. You weren’t called to necessarily like them, you were called to love them, seek the best for them
ii. Remember, ultimately you are not responsible for how another believer treats you, but you will always be responsible for how you treat another believer.
c. We see in Barnabas someone really touched by the grace of God. If God gave him a chance, who was he to withhold a chance from someone else?
5. I’m sure to Paul, and those who benefited from Paul’s teachings, he was a good man.
was Good Because He Included Others
1. The reputation of this good man was so powerful that when the gospel was preached in the area of Antioch and the hand of the Lord was manifested, he was the one the church at Jerusalem sent down to teach and help out.
2. What an honor that would have been for anyone to have been entrusted with this blossoming work.
a. What does he do? Naturally, he encourages them.
3. But, apparently, he realized he needed help.
a. It takes a humble man to realize, when he is in the position to really distinguish himself that he needs help.
i. Perhaps the Holy Spirit told him; perhaps he honestly understood his limits-- but he sought help in this great work.
b. Enter Saul of Tarsus.
i. Saul must have made an impression on Barnabas, who appears to have been a good judge of character.
ii. He sought Saul and brought him back to help in the work, and for a year they assembled with the church and taught.
4. Leonard Bernstein once said the hardest instrument to play is the second violin, because no one wants to play second fiddle. Barnabas didn’t seem to mind as long as he could play with the band.
a. Unfortunately, a lot of people like Diotrephes, 3 John 9, like to get the attention. Preachers; teachers; elders; anyone.
b. They don’t want to share the responsibility because they don’t want to share the glory.
c. Not Barnabas. The work was more important than he was.
5. I’m sure those who saw him said he was a good man.
was Good Because He Gave People Another Chance, Acts 15:36-41
1. As Paul and Barnabas began their second missionary journey together, a disagreement arose between them over a disciple named Mark.
a. Mark had deserted the mission once before, 13:13, and although the reason for leaving is not stated, obviously Paul didn’t think it was a good one.
2. But, Barnabas, just as he did with Paul, was willing to go out on a limb and give John Mark another try—perhaps to encourage the young man.
a. Paul was not and they parted company.
b. Both reactions toward Mark were perhaps necessary:
i. Paul’s reaction humiliated him. He needed to learn a lesson on commitment
ii. But, Barnabas’ encouraged him and reminded him of the grace of God.
c. But later, Paul recognized the value of Mark and declared it to Timothy, 2 Tim. 4:11.
i. Wonder if Paul thought of Barnabas years later when he encouraged the church in Corinth when he encouraged the church to receive the one who had returned to the Lord, 2 Cor. 2:7-7
d. Barnabas never wrote an accepted epistle, but he stood up for and defended two men who collectively wrote more than half of the NT.
3. It is hard enough to trust people to begin with, but even harder to trust them after you’ve been hurt by them.
a. Seven times seventy sounds like a wonderful idea—but it is hard to practice!
i. Barnabas reminds us it is not our place to judge the sincerity of those who follow the Lord—even though they have fallen publicly. We fall often privately.
ii. Mark did return
iii. There is probably a brother or sister we know who is so ashamed of having fallen; so unsure of themselves, and in desperate need of someone to say, "Let’s leave the past behind and walk together."
4. I’m sure to Mark, he was a good man.
was a Good Man Because He Stood for the Truth, Acts 13:46; 15
1. It would be easy to look at what scripture says about this man and conclude he wouldn’t be good in a fight.
a. Always concerned about others; where they stood; building them up
2. But, what motivated Barnabas was a love for the Lord—reason he gave, encouraged, stood up for, included and gave people another chance. This same motivation caused him to defend the truth when opposed or error was taught.
a. The opposition of the Jews, Acts 13:46
b. The error of forcing circumcision on Gentile believers, Acts 15
3. The characteristics of compassion and strength are not mutually exclusive of one another—
a. Strong defense of the gospel, Tit. 1:13; Jude 1:3; Gal. 2;11
b. Compassion, 2 Tim. 2:24-26
c. Compassion without strength empty; Strength without compassion is brutal and overbearing
4. I’m certain to those who loved the truth, Barnabas was a good man.
1. Was Barnabas a good man because he sacrificed; he encouraged, he trusted, included others and stood for truth? Or, did he sacrifice, encourage, trust, include others and stand for truth because he was a good man?
2. REREAD Acts 11:24.
a. Barnabas was good because God was working through him, Jesus had changed his life and his heart and the Holy Spirit guided him.
3. A simple description…but how significant.
4. "We’re looking for a few good men."
