Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 6.djvu/121

Rh of their whole body, to congratulate them upon the success of the gospel among them, as matter of rejoicing both to preachers and hearers, and with both they rejoiced. He must go as far as Antioch. It was a great way, but, far as it was, he was willing to undertake the journey for a public service. It is probable that Barnabas had a particular genius for work of this kind, was active and conversable, and loved to be in motion, delighted in doing good abroad as much as others in doing good at home, was as much of Zebulun's spirit, who rejoiced in his going out, as others are of Issachar's, who rejoiced in his tent; and his talent lying this way, he was fittest to be employed in this work. God gives various gifts for various services.

(3.) Barnabas was wonderfully pleased to find that the gospel got ground, and that some of his countrymen, men of Cyprus, (of which country he was, ch. 4. 36.) were instrumental in it; (v. 23.) When he came, and had seen the grace of God, the tokens of God's good-will to the people of Antioch, and the evidences of his good work among them, he was glad. He took time to make his observations, and both in their public worship, in their common conversations, and in their families, he saw the grace of God among them; where the grace of God is, it will be seen, as the tree is known by its fruits: and where it is seen, it ought to be owned; what we see which is good in any, we must call God's grace in them, and give that grace the glory of it; and we ought ourselves to take the comfort of it, and make it the matter of our rejoicing. We must be glad to see the grace of God in others, and the more when we see it there where we did not expect it.

(4.) He did what he could to fix them; to confirm them in the faith, who were converted to the faith. He exhorted them—. It is the same word with that by which the name of Barnabas is interpreted, (ch. 4. 36.) —a son of exhortation; his talent lay that way, and he traded with it; let him, that exhorteth, attend to exhortation, Rom. 12. 8. Or, being a son of consolation, (for so we render the word,) he comforted, or encouraged them with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. The more he rejoiced in the beginning of the good work among them, the more earnest he was with them to proceed according to these good beginnings. Those we have comfort in we should exhort. Barnabas was glad for what he saw of the grace of God among them, and therefore was the more earnest with them to persevere. [1.] To cleave to the Lord. Note, Those that have turned to the Lord, are concerned to cleave unto the Lord, not to fall off from following him, not to flag and tire in following him. To cleave to the Lord Jesus, is to live a life of dependence upon him, and devotedness to him; not only to hold him fast, but to hold fast by him, to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [2.] To cleave to him with purpose of heart, with an intelligent, firm, and deliberate resolution, founded upon good grounds, and fixed upon that foundation, Ps. 108. 1. It is to bind our souls with a bond to be the Lord's, and to say as Ruth, Entreat me not to leave him, or to return from following after him.

(5.) Herein he gave a proof of his good character; (v. 24.) He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith, and approved himself so upon this occasion. [1.] He shewed himself to be a man of a very sweet, affable, courteous disposition, that had himself, and could teach others, the art of obliging. He was not only a righteous man, but a good man, a good-tempered man. Ministers that are so, recommend themselves and their doctrine very much to the good opinion of those that are without. He was a good man, that is, a charitable man; so he had approved himself, when he sold an estate, and gave the money to the poor, ch. 4. 37. [2.] By this it appeared that he was richly endued with the gifts and graces of the Spirit. The goodness of his natural disposition would not have qualified him for this service, if he had not been full of the Holy Ghost, and so full of power, by the Spirit of the Lord. [3.] He was full of faith, full of the christian faith himself, and therefore desirous to propagate it among others; full of the grace of faith, and full of the fruits of that faith that works by love. He was sound in the faith, and therefore pressed them to be so.

(6.) He was instrumental to do good, by bringing in those that were without, as well as by building up those that were within; much people were added to the Lord, and thereby added to the church, many were turned to the Lord before, yet more are to be turned; it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

2. Barnabas went to fetch Saul, to join with him in the work of the gospel at Antioch. The last news we heard of him, was, that when his life was sought at Jerusalem, he was sent away to Tarsus, the city where he was born, and, it should seem, he continued there ever since, doing good, no doubt. But now Barnabas takes a journey on purpose to Tarsus, to see what was become of him, to tell him what a door of opportunity was opened at Antioch, and to desire him to come and spend some time with him there, v. 25, 26. And here also it appears, that Barnabas was a good sort of a man, in two things:

(1.) That he would take so much pains to bring an active useful man out of obscurity; it was he that introduced Saul to the disciples at Jerusalem, when they were shy of him; and it was he that brought him out of the corner into which he was driven, into a more public station. It is a very good work to fetch a candle from under a bushel, and to set it in a candlestick.

(2.) That he would bring in Saul at Antioch, who, being a chief speaker, (ch. 14. 12.) and, probably, a more popular preacher, would be likely to eclipse him there, by outshining him; but Barnabas is very willing to be so when it is for the public service. If God by his grace enables us to do what good we can, according to the ability we have, we ought to rejoice if others that have also larger capacities, have larger opportunities, and do more good than we can do. Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch, though it might be the lessening of himself, to teach us to seek the things of Christ more than our own things.

Now here we are further told,

[1.] What service was now done to the church at Antioch. Paul and Barnabas continued there a whole year, presiding in their religious assemblies, and preaching the gospel, v. 26. Observe, First, The church frequently assembled. The religious assemblies of christians are appointed by Christ for his honour, and the comfort and benefit of his disciples. God's people of old frequently came together, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; places of meeting are now multiplied, but they must come together, though it be with difficulty and peril. Secondly, Ministers were the masters of those assemblies, and held those courts in Christ's name, to which all that hold by, from, and under, him, owe suit and service. Thirdly, Teaching the people is one part of the work of ministers, when they preside in religious assemblies. They are not only to be the people's mouth to God in prayer and praise, but God's mouth to the people in opening the scriptures, and teaching out of them the good knowledge of the Lord. Fourthly, It is a great encouragement to ministers, when they have opportunity of teaching much people, of casting the net of the gospel where there is a large shoal of fish, in hopes that the more may be inclosed. Fifthly, Preaching is not only for