Jump Start # 176 

Acts 9:27 “But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.”

  Our passage today is about two men—one who changed and the other who believed in him and gave him a chance. This is about Saul, later known as the apostle Paul. He was an aggressive persecutor of the early Christians. He was holding the coats as his comrades were throwing stones at Stephen, a couple of chapters before. He had arrested Christians, both men and women and imprisoned them. He was a real threat in Jerusalem. Now he was off to Damascus to do the same. But God had other plans. Ananias was brought to Saul. The gospel was preached. A change of heart took place. Faith in Christ sprang up. There was a baptism. This threat upon the church now became a voice for Christ. Instead of gathering up Christians to persecute, he was gathering up Jews to preach.

  Eventually, Saul had to return to Jerusalem. That was the hub of the Jewish religion. That is where the Temple was located. It was in Jerusalem that Stephen was killed. Our passage finds Saul back there. He tried to associate with the disciples there. They were afraid. They didn’t believe him. It is hard for us to imagine. It’s hard to grasp being so afraid of one person who was a threat to our faith and worship. A person who may have been responsible for killing your parents or children. And on a Sunday there he is among us. He claims he has changed. The nerve of such a person! Who would want to sit beside him? Who would want to hug him? Suspicions and accusations fill the air.

  Then Barnabas arrives. Everyone loves Barnabas. His name is actually Joseph, but the apostles called him the encourager, or Barnabas. He was the generous giver in Acts 4. He had been sent by the church to preach. Outside of the apostles, Barnabas was an early favorite of the disciples. Barnabas knows the story of Saul. He knows he has changed. He believes in him. Barnabas comes to bat for Saul. The church accepts, because of the confidence they have in Barnabas.

  There are good lessons for us here. First, people do change. Bad can quit and become good. Sadly, good can quit and become bad. Don’t type cast a person. Give them a chance. Let them speak for themselves and see where they are. A dishonest person can become honest. A liar can become truthful. A faithless person can embrace faith.

  We need to stick up for folks who are trying to do right. This is what Barnabas did. Now, sometimes we find people defending family and friends, simply because they are family and friends. The people they defend are not honest or good. The defenders lose credibility with others because they defend corrupt people. We are not saying that here. We are talking about defending folks who have honestly changed for Jesus. They are repentant. They are sorry. They strive to be righteous and holy. They deserve a chance, just as each of us did at one time.

  Barnabas believed. He didn’t go along with what others were saying. This is what friendship will do. But more than that this is what fellowship and discipleship will do.

Roger