., 1906, p. 91 for
a fresh instance), viz. Bar-Nebo, lacks intrinsic fitness for a Jew and a
Levite, and of course does not accord with the statement in Acts itself.
Hence it still seems best to assume some unknown Aramaic form equivalent to
[Greek: paraklesis], and then to take the latter in the sense of comfort or
encouragement. This rendering, rather than "exhortation" in the sense of
eloquence, best suits the usage of Acts, which suggests such comfort as is
given by encouraging rather than rousing words (ix. 31, xi. 23, xiii. 15,
xv. 31 f.; cf. Luke ii. 25, vi. 24). All we hear of Barnabas points to
goodness of heart ("a good man," xi. 24) as his distinctive quality, giving
fineness of perception (ix. 27, xi. 25 f.) and large insight into
essentials (xi. 23 f.). It was probably the practically helpful and
encouraging form that his gift as a "prophet" took (Acts xiii. i, [v.03
p.0408] with 1 Cor. xiv. 3). It is perhaps significant that his first
appearance is of the generously helpful kind described in Acts iv. 36 f.
Yet we must beware of regarding Barnabas as merely a fine character; he
plays too prominent a part in the New Testament for any such limitation.
Thus, he next appears as braving the suspicions which dogged the
ex-persecutor Saul (Paul)--possibly an old acquaintance in Hellenist
circles at Jerusalem (cf. vi. 9, ix. 29)--and introducing him to the older
apostles (ix. 27). More suggestive still of high repute as a man of insight
and authority is his mission from the Jerusalem Church to inspect and judge
of the new departure in the Gospel at Antioch, in Acts xi. 22. This means
very much, though his modesty led him to call in the aid of his friend Saul
to cope with the new and expanding situation (25 f.). After their brief
joint visit to Judaea and Jerusalem (xi. 30, xii. 25) we next get a glimpse
of Barnabas as still chief among the spiritual leaders of the Antiochene
Church, and as called by the Spirit, along with Saul, to initiate the wider
mission of the Gospel, outside Syria even, in regions beyond (xiii. 2, 4).
He led the way to his native Cyprus; but in the crucial struggle with the
magician Bar-Jesus, in the presence of the governor of the island (xiii. 7
ff.), Saul seems to have come so decisively to the front, that henceforth,
for the author of Acts he takes the lead, and Barnabas appears as his
colleague (see xiii. 13, "Paul and his company," and note the turning back
of Mark, the kinsman of Barnabas)