“When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul.” (Acts 9:26-27, NLT)
“So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. ... John Mark went with them as their assistant.” (Acts 13:4-5, NLT)
“After some time Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.’ Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated.” (Acts 15:36-39, NLT)
There are many friendships in Scripture we can learn from. One such pair is Barnabas and Paul.
After Paul encountered Jesus and began preaching the Gospel, he traveled to Jerusalem to meet the apostles there. They were afraid to let Paul in, unconvinced that he was a sincere follower of Jesus. But Barnabas wasn’t.
Barnabas took Paul in when no one else would. He believed Paul and took him to the apostles. Serving as a bridge between Paul and the other disciples, he brought them together.
Paul was so bold in his faith that he was nearly murdered in Jerusalem. When the apostles heard about it, they sent Paul away to his home, Tarsus. Barnabas later retrieved him, and the two spent a full year in Antioch, teaching together, preaching together, serving together. They became a dynamic team. (See Acts 11:25-26, 12:25, and 14:1.)
Paul and Barnabas were commissioned together by the Holy Spirit to preach to the Gentiles. They faithfully did this, going on missions together, ministering and preaching the Gospel in various cities. They healed the sick, cast out demons, and suffered for the cause of Christ.
Everywhere that these two set foot, God moved in power. It was absolutely evident that He was the One leading and guiding them.
Not only were these men co-laborers, they were friends. They experienced intimate moments of pain and joy together.
When Paul was stoned and left for dead, Barnabas was there (see Acts 14:19-20).
When a city’s worth of people showed up to hear Paul preach the Gospel, Barnabas was there (see Acts 13:44-46). They witnessed highs and lows in each others’ lives.
Even with so much history and experience with each other, their friendship wasn't perfect. At one point, Paul and Barnabas disputed so fiercely that they had to part ways.
The dispute was about John Mark (Barnabas’ cousin), who had journeyed with them before but had abandoned them (see Acts 13:13-14). Paul didn’t want to risk taking him along again, but Barnabas believed in John Mark and wanted to bring him. Unable to come to an amicable consensus, they separated.
It sounds like a tragic ending to an amazing friendship, doesn’t it? While it is unsettling that they parted, I believe that Paul and Barnabas were one day reunited (or at least, found resolution). Here’s why:
“Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.” (Colossians 4:10, NLT)
Later in Paul’s life, he not only tolerated John Mark, but he welcomed him into his ministry. And if Paul was restored to a loving relationship with John Mark, then there is hope that he and Barnabas were also restored.
There are several pull-aways from this relationship that inspire me:
• You can be deep friends with someone you work or minister with. Serving the Lord together provides an opportunity for close relationships, and it doesn’t have to be ‘weird’ that you and your friend serve as partners in God’s work.
• Friendships can be for a season or for a lifetime.
• Friendships aren’t easy or perfect. But if conflict is handled in a healthy way, your relationship can grow even stronger.
• Just because you’ve had to part ways or pull away from a friend doesn’t mean you won’t come back together in the future.
• Restoration is available in Jesus, no matter how broken the relationship was.
• God loves to use comrades in collaboration for His kingdom. He enjoys it when we work together for His Name.
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