daily java

Daily Java:

Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. 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. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) (Acts 11:19-26)

For several years Saul had sat in Tarsus, his hometown. His life was in ruins. He had become a Christian and left his old job – that of police arm of the Sanhedrin Council in Jerusalem – behind. He had left an angry and baffled family and circle of friends and colleagues. He had lost everything and gained Jesus and his grace.

But meanwhile he was poison to the Jerusalem church. They were afraid of him. So he was hated by the Jews as a renegade turncoat and traitor and he was feared by the church as a possible plant to trick them. He had no where to go.

He tried preaching in the temple but, again, he was unwelcome. Finally, the church sent him back home to Tarsus. They didn’t know what to do with him, so they put him on ice, figuratively speaking.

For several years he studied and prayed and God showed him this better way. All of the things he already knew from the Scriptures were put into perspective for him so that he could become a more useful preacher and apostle.

Finally came the day when he was needed. Barnabas went to the new church at Antioch where there were a lot of Gentile converts to the faith who knew nothing of the Scriptures. They needed teaching. Barnabas had been sent by the apostles and prophets in Jerusalem to do what he could.

When he saw all that was happening he was so glad. But he also recognized the need for someone that really knew what he was doing to come and teach. That someone was Saul, who would soon become the apostle Paul.

Barnabas (whose name meant son of consolation, named so by his ability to do what was good) brought Saul back to Antioch to help him teach. For a full year, they taught the new converts what God wanted them to do.

The one who was useless because of his change of life became not only useful, but became vital and changed the face of Christianity.