“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement)…” – Acts 4:36

It was not a common practice in the Early Church for people’s names to be changed when they became Christians. Barnabas was a unique case.

A levite from Cyprus, his original name was Joses. But the apostles renamed him Barnabas because they saw something special in his character.

He was so good at encouraging others that they baptized him ‘son of encouragement.’

In a world where anxiety, fear, depression, stress, apprehension and uncertainty, are pulling at people in every direction, the need for ministry of encouragement has never been more critical.  

Barnabas saw the good in all people. In Acts 11:24, we get a glimpse of his character traits. It says; “he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”

A ‘good man’ is one who, instead of working ill to a neighbor, acts beneficially towards him. Barnabas was inspired by the Spirit to have faith in people.

This was most noticeable in the way he dealt with Saul or Paul. Following his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul, who previously persecuted the Church, came to join the believers in Jerusalem.

However, no one could trust him; instead, everyone feared to associate with him.

The apostles were suspicious of him, and rightly so. Enter the ‘son of encouragement.’

Acts 9:27 says that Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles and vouched for him. He trusted Paul and defended him as a true believer who had a momentous future in the ministry.

Shortly afterwards, persecution arose and Paul was forced to flee to Tarsus, his home city. Nothing was heard of him for years.

Enter the ‘son of encouragement’ once again. The Holy Spirit reminded Barnabas of Paul. Where was he? What was he up to? Was he fine and still standing?

The Bible says in Acts 11:25-26 that Barnabas set off for Tarsus in Celicia to look for him.

He did find him and brought him to Antioch to mentor him. 

What if Barnabas had not looked out for the apostle Paul?

Indeed, even when Paul’s star started shining brighter than that of Barnabas, the ‘son of encouragement’ didn’t mind. He continued serving faithfully.

Are you an encourager? Are you keen on empowering people?

Can we take a chance on people?

Do we look beyond the present to see future potential in people and encourage them to exploit it?

Barnabas had the ministry of being a promoter of other people’s ministries. He was a mentor, a lifter of people, an intercessor.

It seems as though he never wanted to miss an opportunity to encourage and add value to others.

Later, Barnabas and Paul were commissioned by the Antioch Church for the first missionary journey. 

They were accompanied by John Mark. However, Mark’s premature departure from the mission field did not impress Paul (see Acts 15:37–39). He therefore refused to go with him again on the second missionary journey.

How would the ‘son of encouragement’ handle that delicate situation?

True to his name, Barnabas thought he would still take a chance on Mark.

While Paul opted to go with Silas, Barnabas took Mark under his wing as his mentor.

A few years later, Mark had become so good that Paul complimented him as a “fellow worker” (Col. 4:10 – 11), so much that he wrote; “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11)

Are you an encourager? Are you keen on empowering people?

Can we take a chance on people? Do we look beyond the present to see future potential in people and encourage them to exploit it?

There are enough agents of discouragement in our world today; God is calling us to be ‘sons/daughters of encouragement.’

 Prayer:

Almighty God, make me a faithful ‘son of encouragement.’ For the glory of Your Name, Amen!