Led by His SpiritSample

Things were hard for the early church in Jerusalem. The believers faced intense persecution, and many who had come to Jerusalem from other cities and countries for the Feast of Pentecost found themselves stranded far from home. Those who had the resources made sacrifices—sometimes major sacrifices—so the daily living needs of others could be met. One of these generous people was a man named Joses, better known to us as Barnabas.

The nickname the disciples gave Joses—“Barnabas”—is revealing. The name means “the son of consolation,” and it uses the same word (paraclete) that Jesus used for the Holy Spirit in John 14. Essentially, the disciples were saying that Joses so reflected the work of the Holy Spirit in his life that it became part of his identity. In particular, Barnabas, as he came to be known, was like the Holy Spirit in the way that he brought hope and comfort to others. We see this illustrated again in the way Barnabas interacted with Saul after his conversion on the road to Damascus. When the other believers were afraid to allow Saul into their company, Barnabas championed and encouraged the new Christian and helped place him on the road to an amazing life of ministry and service.

Many people around us feel isolated and discouraged, wondering if anyone cares about their struggles. Just as the Spirit works to provide comfort to us, God calls us to extend His comfort through us to others. Sometimes a word of encouragement or a small act of kindness can make an eternal difference. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He enables us to bring comfort and hope to those around us.