Today is the Festival of St. Barnabas, Apostle. Few churches will have a service–covid-19 or not. Barnabas seems to be rather neglected among Lutherans. I can only find six Lutheran churches named after Barnabas as opposed to the dozens named after Paul. It’s too bad because for a time Barnabas was much better known in the early Christian church than Paul. It was Barnabas who introduced Paul to the other apostles (Acts 9:27).

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus, one of many Jews who lived outside of Palestine. His actual name was Joseph. Barnabas may have been a nickname meaning “son of encouragement.”

Barnabas and Paul worked together in some missionary activities, but then went their separate ways. Acts says the conflict was about whether to take John Mark with them on the journey. Paul hints that Barnabas sided with Peter about refraining from eating with gentiles on one occasion. Barnabas went on to Cyprus, and that’s the last we hear of him. Legend says he was martyred on Cyprus.

I never quite know what to make of these accounts of early Christians. We get a few glimpses into their lives and then they vanish.. Yet these early Christians and man, many more about whom we know nothing played roles that influenced generations to follow. No Barnabas, then maybe no Paul. No Paul and maybe all of us would never come to faith in Christ. Who knows how many people we might touch if we shared the Good News of Jesus with someone.

Read Acts 4:36-37 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne