1 QUOTE

“In conversion you are not attached primarily to an order, nor to an institution, nor a movement, nor a set of beliefs, nor a code of action - you are attached primarily to a Person.”

- E. Stanley Jones

1 NOTE

There are many reasons why I love the Apostle Barnabas. In the coming weeks, I will introduce seven ways the son of encouragement encourages my life in ministry. My data source is Luke’s masterpiece The Acts of the Apostles. We will kick things off by considering Barnabas’ conversion.

Barnabas was from a devout family. He was a Levitical priest, raised in the strongest, and strictest, application of the Hebrew faith. Luke informs us that Barnabas’ sister Mary lived in a downtown Jerusalem apartment (Acts 12:12). The home was big enough to hold 120 people for a prayer meeting. Her son John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, was Peter’s scribe. Mark went on to write the first gospel. Because Luke calls the upper room property Mary’s home, scholars believe that Mary’s husband died early. They believe Barnabas owned the home. In the patriarchal Jewish  culture, women were not allowed to own property. Around the dinner table in this home Jesus introduced holy communion. 50 days later, in this same home, God fulfilled Jesus’ promise that the disciples would be filled with power and become his witnesses (Acts 1:8).

During the Pentecost festival, the Holy Spirit filled the house through a sonic boom that brought the whole city to the residence. Every disciple was given a tongue of fire. Every person spoke in a heavenly tongue. Everyone in the crowd experienced a supernatural interpretation device. (Google translate has nothing on the Holy Spirit)! Barnabas was in that living room. He owned that living room. And he owned the experience of his own tongue of fire and reversal of the Babel curse (Genesis 11:7). Barnanbas was among the multitude that was cut to the heart as Peter preached his first sermon. This is how the church began. Isn’t it amazing that the church of Jesus began in Barnabas’ living room?

1 QUESTION

What details do you remember that lead to you being cut to the heart and commitment to Jesus?

Until Next Tuesday,

John