Acts 9:26-27

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

The name Barnabas means son of exhortation or son of consolation.

Barnabas was an encourager. He was a true friend. To the apostle Paul and to many others.

He was also an advocate.

Have you ever been on a school playground being bullied or being ostracized by a group of mean girls and a friend comes running to stand beside you?

Have you ever been in some kind of trouble and someone comes to stand with you and help you take the punishment or take it for you?

Have you ever been accused of something and somebody comes and says I’ve got your back?

If you have, then you know Barnabas.

Barnabas, the encourager, the person when he or she is around that makes you feel like everything is going to be ok after all.

In Acts chapter 9, Saul (the apostle Paul), who had been going around rounding up Christians and putting them into prison and even approving of their executions, had his “Damascus Road” experience, where the Lord Jesus came to him in a bright light and said, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

I believe Saul was born again on that Damascus road and thus began his conversion and his  ministry.

But, when he went to Jerusalem to see the disciples there and join them, they were afraid of him. They knew this was the same Saul who had wanted to kill them.

They didn’t believe that he was really a disciple. Maybe he’s just faking it to get on the inside and do some real damage. I can sympathize with the disciples at Jerusalem. If somebody had been trying to kill me and my Christian friends just because they were Christians, I would be suspicious that his now professed faith was real, too.

But, not Barnabas. Good ole Barnabas. Barnabas, son of consolation, son of exhortation.

Barnabas, the encourager.

Barnabas took Saul (Paul) to the disciples and he was an advocate for him. He told them how the Lord had come to Saul on the Damascus road, and how after that Saul had boldly preached in the name of Jesus.

Barnabas was defending Saul in front of the disciples. He was telling them that Saul is a friend now, no longer the enemy.

Isn’t that what Jesus does for us? He goes and gets us and takes us to the Father and says – this my brother, I died for him, he was your enemy at one time, a sinner, unholy, blasphemous, unrighteous, but now he’s a friend. I gave him my righteousness in exchange for his sins. The Holy Ghost now dwells in him. He is now fit for good works.

1 John 2:1-2  — My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.”

May God Bless You.