第十一章

19 那些因司提反的事遭患難四散的門徒直走到腓尼基和塞浦路斯，並安提阿；他們不向別人講道，只向猶太人講。 20 但內中有塞浦路斯和古利奈人，他們到了安提阿也向希臘人傳講主耶穌（有古卷作：也向說希臘話的猶太人傳講主耶穌）。 21 主與他們同在，信而歸主的人就很多了。 22 這風聲傳到耶路撒冷教會人的耳中，他們就打發巴拿巴出去，走到安提阿為止。 23 他到了那裡，看見神所賜的恩就歡喜，勸勉眾人，立定心志，恆久靠主。 24 這巴拿巴原是個好人，被聖靈充滿，大有信心。於是有許多人歸服了主。 25 他又往大數去找掃羅， 26 找著了，就帶他到安提阿去。他們足有一年的工夫和教會一同聚集，教訓了許多人。門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿起首。

 

默想

1. 巴拿巴似乎在保羅影下是一個無足輕重的配角，他將賣了田地的錢交給使徒做慈善之用（4：37）；又鼓勵耶路撒冷信徒接納曾迫害基督徒的保羅（9：27）；他與保羅一同旅行佈道、教導關顧各處的信徒。這裡，巴拿巴被稱為「是個好人，被聖靈充滿，大有信心」。在使徒行傳中，巴拿巴靜悄悄地出現又消失，卻使我們想到耶穌的話，「你們中間誰願為大，就必作你們的用人」（太20：26）。
2. 回想一下，誰在我生命中留下最深刻的烙印？是誰像巴拿巴一樣，在我最需要時，信任我、支持我、堅固我的心、勸我恆守所信的道？
3. 巴拿巴可被譽為施予者——捨棄自己的金錢、時間、精力、權位，而施予他人。這些對我來說，哪一樣是最難捨棄的？此時此刻，神希望我捨棄什麼？施予什麼？
4. 我如何學效巴拿巴，對他人給予鼓勵、看見他們的潛力，激發他們熱心傳揚基督福音？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 11

¹⁹Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. ²⁰Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  ²²News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When 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. ²⁴He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  ²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Meditation

Barnabas appears as a minor character taking a backseat to Paul.  His name means “son of encouragement.”  He brought the money, having sold a field, to the apostles for charity use (4:37).  Later he encouraged the believers to accept Paul(9:27).  Paul and Barnabas began an itinerary ministry, teaching, caring and evangelizing.  Barnabas is described as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24).  The last time they minister together, they had a fierce disagreement and they separated (Ch 15).  Though Barnabas enters and disappears in Acts quietly, we hear echoes of Jesus: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Matt 20:26).

Who in my life has impacted me most deeply?  Who was like Barnabas that has believed in me, supported me when I sorely needed it? Who, as Barnabas did, “strengthened (my) souls… and encouraged (me) to continue in the faith” (14:22)?

Barnabas could be characterized as a giver – he gave of his money, time, energy, and position.  Which of these types of giving is most difficult for me?  In what way might God be asking me to give right now?

How can I imitate Barnabas as an encourager of others, seeing their potential, and spurring them on in proclaiming the good news of Jesus?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.