Q2. Cross-Cultural

[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. (Acts 11:22-26) What qualifications did Barnabas have that made him an ideal missionary to the new Gentile believers in Antioch? What qualifications did Saul of Tarsus have that caused Barnabas to seek him out and enlist him to help in Antioch? Why do you think it took so long for Saul to get into active ministry in Antioch?

[Krissi]

Barnabas was cultured, multi-lingual, well-travelled and a Jew. Saul had all of Barnabas' abilities as well as a similar social background, but had more experience in church planting, organizational management, negotiating difficulties among believers and between believers and outsiders, and dealing with theological apostacy and schism.

So many of the apostles were simple men. Their ordinariness is emphasized in my church: it is often said that the apostles were "men like you" --  God calls the simple to do His will. Yet Paul and Barnabas' callings reveal that God also chooses sophisticated and educated individuals when the need for such arises. Gospel work is not limited to any social, educational and cultural class.

Even upper class, well-educated and sophisticated people can be used by God!

I'm not certain why it took so long for Paul to help Barnabas. Paul must have been aware, through the grapevine, of the explosive growth in the number of Christians in Antioch -- as you wrote, the distance between Paul and Barnabas was a mere 150 miles. Certainly believers trekked between these locales. Just as Barnabas knew about Paul ... Paul must have heard about Barnabas.

My hunch for why it took so long is simple -- Paul was a busy, overwhelmed man. It took a personal visit from Barnabas to pry Paul from these duties.

Can you imagine the depth and flow of conversation between these two learned, cultivated and well-traveled believers? What a joy it must have been for them to work together, if only for a year. Two faith-filled men of like mind who didn't have to mince their words or explain themselves to each other. It must have been a relief for both of them, a time of ease and fellowship.

[AdventIlliniRx]

Barnabas is a Levite, so he has the heritage of Ministry.  Also he is a native to the land, so he is a leader in the community.  Also he has a heart for ministry. Barnabas was a prophet. Barnabas original name was Joses.  The Apostles nicknamed him Barnabas which is translated son of encouragement (Acts 4:36).  in aramaic, his name means "son of prophecy".  ...Barnabas was one of the leaders in the early Jerusalem church and was later a missionary to the Gentiles. His name was Joses, but the apostles called him Barnabas, which is an Aramaic name meaning “Son of Prophecy,” and which Luke translates “Son of Consolation” or “Son of Encouragement.” He was a Levite from the island of Cyprus, but is first seen in Jerusalem (4:36). He was generous with his possessions (4:37), showed a kind spirit toward others (9:27), and was godly in his character (11:24). When the Jews in the Jerusalem church heard of the Gentile conversions at Antioch, they chose Barnabas to go to them. For a year he stayed and accomplished a great work among them. Then, when God called Paul to begin his missionary work, He also called Barnabas (13:2). They severed their relationship before Paul’s second missionary journey over the issue of John Mark’s reliability, since Mark had abandoned them on their first journey (15:36–41). Barnabas does not appear again in the narrative of Acts. He is identified by Tertullian as the author of Hebrews. Clement of Alexandria reports that Barbabas was one of the Seventy (Luke 10:1) and was the author of a so-called Epistle of Barnabas. But all of these reports are probably incorrect. (First Reference, Acts 4:36; Primary Reference, Acts 13.)

[AdventIlliniRx]

Christianity faced the challenges of the  jews, the roman government (which was becoming more tyrannical and secular)....The Apostle Paul spent the majority of his time and did all the Disciples in defending themselves from persecution by the government and by the jews

[Katy]

Q2.Barnabas whose name was Joseph was a Levite, and a native of Cyprus. He was therefore able to speak Greek and was very familiar with Greek culture. This enabled him to understand and get on with the founder evangelists in Antioch. He was also a generous man aware of the needy and willing to help them. He was a devout man full of the Holy Spirit. He spent some time in Antioch as a missionary sent by the Jerusalem church. Many came to put their trust in Jesus. He needed help, so set off to Tarsus in search of Paul. Barnabas had helped Paul before by bringing him to Brothers in Jerusalem, who were afraid of Paul because of his reputation as a persecuter of Christians. Barnabas knew how Paul had come to faith and how zealous he now was for the Lord. He also knew where Paul was and maybe the Lord had prompted him to seek help from Paul. Paul had just spent ten years living quietly studying and speaking to people about Jesus so he was probably looking forward to a specific work to do for the Lord. Paul also may have been told by God that He had a new assignment for him, we are not told.

[Maleshoane]

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, He went to seek Paul because He heard that Paul preached bodly at Damascus in the name of Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, though they tried to kill him, I think it took so long for Paul to get in active ministry in Antioch because they had to be part of the people, explain daily what the gospel of Christ meant.

[kreilly]

Barnabas was Jewish so he had all of the knowledge of the Scriptures but he was from Cyprus so he was familiar with Gentile culture.  Saul was from Tarsus so he, too, was familiar with Gentile culture but was trained in the Hebrew scriptures as a Pharisee.  Almost immediately upon his conversion, he was going into the synagogues and proving that Jesus was the Christ.  It may have taken Saul/Paul awhile to get started in ministry because he had a reputation as an enemy of Christians to overcome. 

[haar]

Q2. (Acts 11:22-26) What qualifications did Barnabas have that made him an ideal missionary to the new Gentile believers in Antioch?

He was full of the Holy Spirit and faith; called son of encouragement, as a Cypriot, he could relate well with his countrymen the Evangelist who had started the Gentile Church at Antioch etc.

What qualifications did Saul of Tarsus have that caused Barnabas to seek him out and enlist him to help in Antioch?

Trained as a Rabbi, Saul understood Greek culture and could speak it very well and could interact well and help in building the new church at Antioch.

Why do you think it took so long for Saul to get into active ministry in Antioch?

Probably just waiting for God’s time.

[hanks]

Q2. (Acts 11:22-26) What qualifications did Barnabas have that made him an ideal missionary to the new Gentile believers in Antioch? What qualifications did Saul of Tarsus have that caused Barnabas to seek him out and enlist him to help in Antioch? Why do you think it took so long for Saul to get into active ministry in Antioch? 
Cypriots had started the church in Antioch, and Barnabas being a Cypriot, comfortable with the language and culture in Antioch, a learned and prominent member of the church in Jerusalem, a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, was the ideal man to help Paul in his missionary. Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire and while Barnabas was working among the Gentiles a large number were brought to the Lord. Barnabas needed help; he goes to Tarsus looking for Saul, who he knows has all the necessary qualifications to help him in Antioch. It was Barnabas who had introduced the disciples to Saul who were initially not willing to accept him, doubting his sincerity. Barnabas had befriended Saul and told them about his conversion and his fearless testimony for Christ at Damascus. They soon realised that Saul was genuine when they saw him preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem. From Saul’s conversion in 33 AD to him being brought from Tarsus to Antioch in 45 AD, this period of 12 years was the time God needed to prepare Saul for his ministry to the Gentiles. He needed time to grow in the knowledge of Christ, to develop a dynamic and intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus. 
 

[Old Jerry]

Barnabas was an ideal missionary to the new Gentile believers in Antioch because he was generous, spoke the langue, and was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. Saul of Tarsus was also a Greek speaking person and has been trained as a Pharisee and had been teaching the gentiles in Tarsus. I think that the Lord had been training him while he was in Antioch.

[Irmela]

Q2. (Acts 11:22-26)

What qualifications did Barnabas have that made him an ideal missionary to the new Gentile believers in Antioch?

What qualifications did Saul of Tarsus have that caused Barnabas to seek him out and enlist him to help in Antioch?

Why do you think it took so long for Saul to get into active ministry in Antioch?

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.  He was from Cyprus.  The new believers in Antioch had been given the Good News of the Kingdom by fellow-Cypreans.  This then made him an ideal candidate to help with the work there.  

Saul was a Pharisee, well learned in the Scriptures.  Also he was a Rabbi.  Saul was well-versed in the Greek language  and knew the Greek culture as he had lived among the Greeks. He was a Roman citizen.  These put lots of things in his favour.  

Saul  first had to be "forgotten" as he had originally been part of the persecution mob.  His life had to bear fruit and thus prove that he had really turned away from the enemy camp .  Barnabas had befriended him before and introduced him to the Jerusalem leaders.  He had to flee when his life was in danger.  That was when he went into obscurity for a long period and very likely shared the Gospel there. 

Submission is a heavy tool to pick up and use.  It is a very effective tool, but not readily used.