Barnabas Pt 2 Series

This is the last mention we have of Barnabas in Acts, because the story follows Paul from this point on. But it is significant.

What is going on here? John Mark hadn’t lasted on the first journey – he had “deserted” them early in that trip. We don’t know more than that, but we do see that Paul is still upset about it, and refuses to take Mark along. Verse 39 says, “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus”.

I believe it is the exact same theme we saw many years earlier, when Barnabas was the only one willing to take a risk on Paul. Now Barnabas wants to take a risk on another person – he wants to give another man another chance – and he believes so strongly in giving Mark another chance that he parts ways with a man he had brought into ministry, mentored, journeyed with, been persecuted with, celebrated with, and shared life with. They part company, because Barnabas wants to once again take a chance on someone.

There is lots of evidence that Mark was younger than Barnabas and Paul, and so I believe there is one more part to this confrontation: Barnabas wants to pass some leadership and training along to a new generation of leaders. Now, I’m speculating here, but remember that most of the early Christians believed that Jesus was going to return within their lifetime – I can’t help but wonder if Barnabas saw things a little longer term, and perhaps was on the cutting edge and thinking into the future a little further, and was willing to invest himself, once again, in training up another young and potentially powerful leader and servant of the church.

The Last Part Of The Story:

The last part of the story of Barnabas actually doesn’t even mention him. It is many years later, probably at least 10, and Paul is writing to Timothy. It is near the end of Paul’s life, and he is very personal in this letter. And sandwiched in at the end, among a bunch of greetings and personal instructions, is a little verse right near the end of 2 Timothy (in chapter 4:9-13): “9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.”

Did you catch it? “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” I think this is the last part of the story of Barnabas – he has successfully mentored Mark, Mark has proved himself even in Paul’s eyes, and as a result of Barnabas’ believing in Mark, Paul and Mark are reconciled and once again working together for the Kingdom of God.

How Does This All Apply To Our Lives?

Although we have had to dig around, and piece the story together, I love this story of Barnabas. Luke’s summary in Acts 11:25 seems a very fitting description: “24 (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”