Exploring the Book of Acts: Leadership as ServanthoodSample

Promoting Others

After persecution in Jerusalem scattered the believers (Acts 8:1), some proclaimed the Lord Jesus to Gentiles and not just to Jews. In Antioch, a major and strategic city for the Roman empire, the response of the Gentiles to the good news was tremendous. Soon news of the growing number of believers there led the leaders of the church in Jerusalem to send Barnabas. Barnabas began to minister to the new believers, but quickly decided he needed help. He travelled more than 500 km round trip to recruit Saul to join him. Their partnership laid the foundation for Saul’s understanding of Christian leadership.

Read Acts 11:19-30 and then consider:

1. Why did the leaders in Jerusalem send someone to Antioch? Why did they choose Barnabas?
2. Ten years earlier, Barnabas acted as a sponsor for Saul, the persecutor-turned-evangelist, when he came to Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-27). What were Barnabas’ purposes in recruiting Saul to help with the young church in Antioch?
3. In this passage, what are the various ways Barnabas and Saul partnered together in ministry?
4. What does this passage reveal about how Barnabas viewed himself and his role as a leader?