"...and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  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."  Acts 11:22-23

About St. Barnabas

     So just exactly who is this “St. Barnabas?”  We’d like to know a little something of who the “namesake” is of our new Anglican Church.

     Barnabas, originally known as “Joseph,” was a Jew, a Levite, who was converted to Christianity shortly after Pentecost.  According to tradition, he immediately sold his property and devoted the proceeds to the Church.   Other apostles renamed him “Barnabas,” meaning “son of encouragement, or consolation.”  Apparently, he was a fairly successful preacher, which earned him respect among the other apostles. 

    Paul & Barnabas developed a close association.  In fact, it was Barnabas who stood up for Paul before the apostles in Jerusalem, after Paul’s conversion experience.  If you recall, not everyone wanted to believe this former persecutor of the “followers of the Way” had truly had a change of heart. 

    Barnabas & Paul shared a burden of God’s call on their hearts to take the message of the Gospel to the Gentiles.  And, as we know, God used these men in a powerful way to further the Kingdom, beyond the Jews. 

     The work of Barnabas & Paul among the Gentiles was threatened when Church leaders came from Jerusalem, indicating that circumcision was necessary for salvation, even for the Gentiles – as well as the keeping of all the Mosaic Law.  Barnabas & Paul traveled to Jerusalem, meeting with the leaders there at what we know as the “Council of Jerusalem.”  They convinced the leaders of the Church there against enforcing these regulations on the Gentile converts, and the decision was rendered in their favor, as well as a hearty commendation for their work. 

    With the exception of Paul and the original 12 apostles, Barnabas appears to have been the most highly regarded of the first generation of Church leaders.

    The evangelist Luke refers to him as “a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of Faith.” (Acts 11:24) 

And we can be proud to have St. Barnabas as the patron & namesake of this new station of the Body of Christ!