A Good Man

Acts 11:22-26 News of (God’s work in Antioch) reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
 
WOULD God describe you as a “good person”? This is how the Spirit-inspired text describes Barnabas. But does this conflict with Jesus’ teaching in Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.”
   Jesus’ point in his teaching was to direct us to the commands about our relationship with one another. Mark 10:19 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” Our good God has graciously established the law to reveal the right way, the good way, of living in harmony with each other. Because Barnabas is full of the Spirit, he diligently strived to obey God’s good commands.
   That’s why the church leaders sent Barnabas to Antioch. The apostles, who are the personal witnesses of Jesus’ good ministry, trusted Barnabas to correctly represent them in Antioch. Barnabas possessed the character to relate with all people. He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord.
   Barnabas was also good because he was full of faith. Barnabas knew he needed to help expand God’s work in Antioch. So he went to nearby Tarsus to get Saul. Barnabas had been instrumental in helping Saul gain the apostles’ confidence (Acts 9:27). Together the two of them could teach great numbers of people. Barnabas loved the Lord, and the text indicates he genuinely loved God’s people. We note this is where “Christian” began to describe Jesus’ followers. Is it because Barnabas and the others were good at representing the Christ to the Jews and Gentiles?
   To be good is to pursue God with wisdom and faithfulness. Jesus said in Matthew 12:35a “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him.” Know God’s commands. Then release the good into the world. Let your words and ways reflect God’s good commands. Barnabas wasn’t perfect, and none of us are. But we can help people know God is good as we strive in faith to live in the Spirit’s power.
 
Remember Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law… 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.