What did Barnabas see?

[JD731]

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

What did Barnabas see?

A Few years ago I asked this question on a thread and no one ever gave an answer. This question raises other questions, one of which is that, given the time frame of this event, at least 10 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Christian era, the church, the fellowship of believers, born again of the Spirit of Christ and thus becoming the sons of God, why hadn't Barnabas ever seen this before?

A follow up question that comes to mind in this historical narrative makes us ponder if this experience of the Jewish Christian Barnabas just after the apostle Peter had opened the door of faith to gentiles and had tarried in their house for two days as brothers was directly referencing this context. Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Another question worthy of an answer.

What was Barnabas looking at that he defined as the "grace of God?"

Any ideas, anyone?

 

[Charlie24]

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

What did Barnabas see?

A Few years ago I asked this question on a thread and no one ever gave an answer. This question raises other questions, one of which is that, given the time frame of this event, at least 10 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Christian era, the church, the fellowship of believers, born again of the Spirit of Christ and thus becoming the sons of God, why hadn't Barnabas ever seen this before?

A follow up question that comes to mind in this historical narrative makes us ponder if this experience of the Jewish Christian Barnabas just after the apostle Peter had opened the door of faith to gentiles and had tarried in their house for two days as brothers was directly referencing this context. Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Another question worthy of an answer.

What was Barnabas looking at that he defined as the "grace of God?"

Any ideas, anyone?

Barnabas seen in Antioch the Grace of God, he seen changed lives and the effects of the Grace of God.

 

[JD731]

Barnabas seen in Antioch the Grace of God, he seen changed lives and the effects of the Grace of God.

Thanks C24. Barnabas saw "the" grace of God. Is there a contextual reason to be more specific of what Barnabas saw?

 

[Charlie24]

Thanks C24. Barnabas saw "the" grace of God. Is there a contextual reason to be more specific of what Barnabas saw?

In Acts 11 the Church at Jerusalem had just discovered that Gentiles could be saved. This was the mystery Paul spoke of that was hidden from man, that God has chosen the Gentiles for salvation. Up to this point the Jews believed only a Jew could be saved.

There were some who went about preaching the Word throughout Syria, but only to the Jews. In the crowd were many Gentiles and they believed the preaching. When word got back to the Church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, to investigate what was happening.

When Barnabas came he seen the effects of the preached Word and the Gentiles believing. He seen the changed lives and exhorted them to follow Christ and be led by the Holy Spirit, he explained to them what it means to believe in Christ, and many people we added to the Lord that day.

 

[MrW]

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

What did Barnabas see?

A Few years ago I asked this question on a thread and no one ever gave an answer. This question raises other questions, one of which is that, given the time frame of this event, at least 10 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the Christian era, the church, the fellowship of believers, born again of the Spirit of Christ and thus becoming the sons of God, why hadn't Barnabas ever seen this before?

A follow up question that comes to mind in this historical narrative makes us ponder if this experience of the Jewish Christian Barnabas just after the apostle Peter had opened the door of faith to gentiles and had tarried in their house for two days as brothers was directly referencing this context. Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Another question worthy of an answer.

What was Barnabas looking at that he defined as the "grace of God?"

Any ideas, anyone?

He saw Jews and Gentiles worshiping God together. In other words, he saw the results in action of God's grace to all mankind.

 

[JD731]

In Acts 11 the Church at Jerusalem had just discovered that Gentiles could be saved. This was the mystery Paul spoke of that was hidden from man, that God has chosen the Gentiles for salvation. Up to this point the Jews believed only a Jew could be saved.

There were some who went about preaching the Word throughout Syria, but only to the Jews. In the crowd were many Gentiles and they believed the preaching. When word got back to the Church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, to investigate what was happening.

When Barnabas came he seen the effects of the preached Word and the Gentiles believing. He seen the changed lives and exhorted them to follow Christ and be led by the Holy Spirit, he explained to them what it means to believe in Christ, and many people we added to the Lord that day.

Amen, C24, I think you are right but it does cause me to ask another question. If the Jews had been getting saved and become Christians since day 1 of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, why wasn't their conversion referred to as "the grace of God?" Another way of framing the same question is why is the grace of God defined in the context of gentiles (non Jews) being brought into the fellowship of the church? I reference this statement of Peter in the Jerusalem council when the apostles met to determine what responsibility the saved gentiles, who had been the object of the first missionary journey efforts of Paul and Barnabas in the region of Asia Minor, had to the Mosaic Law.

Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Paul and Barnabas, upon arriving back at Antioch, had reported this to the sending church, who were mostly Jewish Christians when they had left.

Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Peter had opened the door of faith to gentiles at the home of Cornelius in Acts 10. This is the grace of God. Both Jews and gentiles in the same fellowship together as brothers.

 

[Charlie24]

Amen, C24, I think you are right but it does cause me to ask another question. If the Jews had been getting saved and become Christians since day 1 of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, why wasn't their conversion referred to as "the grace of God?" Another way of framing the same question is why is the grace of God defined in the context of gentiles (non Jews) being brought into the fellowship of the church? I reference this statement of Peter in the Jerusalem council when the apostles met to determine what responsibility the saved gentiles, who had been the object of the first missionary journey efforts of Paul and Barnabas in the region of Asia Minor, had to the Mosaic Law.

Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Paul and Barnabas, upon arriving back at Antioch, had reported this to the sending church, who were mostly Jewish Christians when they had left.

Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Peter had opened the door of faith to gentiles at the home of Cornelius in Acts 10. This is the grace of God. Both Jews and gentiles in the same fellowship together as brothers.

I see it as the Grace of God extended to all of mankind. It was always God's intention for all of humanity to have the opportunity to be saved.

But it was necessary, as Paul said, that salvation first be offered to the Jews.

It was Israel, the Jews, that God chose to take Christ to the world (the Gentiles).

 

[JD731]

I see it as the Grace of God extended to all of mankind. It was always God's intention for all of humanity to have the opportunity to be saved.

But it was necessary, as Paul said, that salvation first be offered to the Jews.

It was Israel, the Jews, that God chose to take Christ to the world (the Gentiles).

Would to God all would understand this. Salvation is of the Jews, Jesus said in John 4 to the Samaritan woman.

Would you accept the fact that God dealt with the Jews under a different principle of divine dealing until they rejected his salvation (the Spirit) nationally in Acts 7 and this gave the opportunity for gentiles to be included in the church of Jesus Christ along with the few Jews who believed the gospel while God gave a national and judicial blindness to the nation? Gentiles will be saved after the church is in heaven and the Jewish nation will likewise be saved, every one of them, as a separate entity and nation at a given period in history?

He dealt with Jews under the principle of promise, aiming to keep his promises to them.
He dealt with the gentiles under the principle of grace, having made no promises to us.

After the rejection by the Jews he dealt with all under the principle of grace.

 

[Charlie24]

Would to God all would understand this. Salvation is of the Jews, Jesus said in John 4 to the Samaritan woman.

This is part of the reason I find fault in Covenant Theology. It does not recognize Israel for who they are to God.

 

[JD731]

Under the OT economy of God the offices that were to be held by Jesus Christ were typified by three men. They were profit, priest, and King. Those who were the types were Moses, Aaron, and David. When Jesus was on the earth he was the perfect prophet. He is at this present time on the throne of his Father making intercession for us, the perfect priest. When he takes the throne of David he will be the perfect King.

I want to present to the audience two of his prophesies in parables that are instructive to my title above, Jesus gave both of these parables during the last days of his life on earth. The fulfillment has been witnessed by every man of this church age whether they will admit it or not. A prophesy is usually from the time it is made known until the time it is fulfilled.

Here is the first parable.

Luke 14:14-24

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my


Luke 13:6-9

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

These parables are prophesies of this age when Jesus Christ had finished his work and it was supper time. Later we find out it is the marriage supper. He sent his heralds out to bid them to come and in Acts 7 they would not come. But he wanted his house to be filled with guests so he began inviting others til his house was full. A house is a family.