Scripture
25Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers[1] were first called Christians.)
27During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters[2] in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.
Translation notes (2)
- 11:26 Greek disciples; also in 11:29.
- 11:29 Greek the brothers.
Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people.
The friendship between Saul and Barnabas is beautiful to read and learn about. When I think about what stands out the most, it's the common bond they shared. They both loved Jesus and had a passion for spreading his message. This bond carried them through miles and miles of ministry together.
Acts 11 gives us a glimpse into the friendship of Saul, later called Paul, and Barnabas. After God captured Saul's heart and Saul changed from being a persecutor of Christians to a Christ-follower, these two became ministry partners. After Barnabas saw how God was capturing the hearts of Gentiles in Antioch, he went to look for Saul (verse 25). When he found Saul, Barnabas "brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people" (verse 26). Paul and Barnabas had a friendship deeply rooted in a shared ministry. Jesus had changed their lives, and they made it their mission to spread His message worldwide. Their friendship was strong because they shared a passion and mission: to make Christ known around them. This foundation forged a strong friendship that pointed others to Christ. Because they both desired to spread the hope of Christ, their friendship was strong.
Our friendships with those who share a deep bond and passion for making Christ known are some of our strongest relationships. Having these friends with whom we share a similar mission and bond is critical because we all need people to walk through life with who make us stronger followers of Christ. Praise God for the gift of these friendships that have deep roots in Christ and His calling in our lives.
Moving toward action
Do you have friends with whom you share a deep bond of the love of Jesus? If not, do you want to have this group of friends? Take steps this week to join a small group online by visiting https://www.sagebrush.church/groups/.
Going Deeper
Acts 11:25-30
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