Power to Raise the Dead.       Jesus, His disciples, and a great crowd went to the town of Naim. As they got there, they saw several men carrying a bier with a dead man on it, heading for burial. The man was the only son of a widow. Jesus had great compassion on her. “Do not weep,” He said. He approached the bier and said to the corpse, “Young man, I say to you arise.” The man sat up and began speaking. (Lk 7:11-17.)       Scripture tells us Jesus raised three people from the dead. In addition to this widow’s son, he raised Jarius’s daughter (Lk 8:41-42,49-56) and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1-45). In Israel’s history, by God’s power, the Prophet Elijah had raised the son of the widow of Zarephath after he had died (1 Kings 17:17-24), and Elijah’s successor, Elisha, likewise raised from the dead the only son of a couple from Shunem (2 Kings 4:32-35). All these “raisings” in Scripture were only the returning of natural human life after having died....

  St. Barnabas 35. Britain, Cyprus, and Martyrdom. St. Paul likely spent the winter of 57/58 AD in Corinth (cf., 1 Cor 16:5-6), where he wrote his letter to the Romans. Among the many people he greets is the “household,” or “family,” “of Aristobulus” (Ro 16:10). This expression, “household” or “family,” implies that St. Aristobulus may not himself have then been present in Rome, but his extended family was. So where might Aristobulus, the brother-in-law of Barnabas, have been?  There are several reports that both Aristobulus and Barnabas were sent by St. Paul to Britain in order to prepare the way for Paul’s desired missionary work in Britain. Christianity had previously arrived in Britain, purportedly by Joseph of Aramathea. [1] Aristobulus assisted the Apostle St. Andrew in his evangelization, and was also appointed the first Bishop of Britain [2], which may have been in 63 AD [3], although he likely had arrived in 58 AD [4]. St. Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre, writing in 303...

St. Barnabas 33. A Christmas Message.       These past many weeks we have taken this odyssey through the life of St. Barnabas. Now it is Christmas time. Wouldn’t it be lovely if St. Barnabas had left us some writing to inspire us this Christmas? To remind us of what Christmas was all about? Well, he may have.       “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power.” Now here’s the Christmas part: the Son who is God also “partook of the same nature” as all of us children of God. That’s Christmas, God come in the form of our human flesh. Why? “That through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver [us].” Say it again, “He had to be made ...

St. Barnabas 32. In Macedonia and Corinth (Again?)       Last week’s article concluded that about 55-56 AD, St. Barnabas was evangelizing inland in Western Asia (today’s Turkey), probably around Colossae, while St. Mark had remained with St. Paul, who was at the time probably imprisoned at Ephesus, which lies at the Western coast of the Agean Sea. Upon Paul’s release (probably early Spring 57 AD) from the “uproar” at Ephesus ( Ac 20:1 ), he left for Macedonia ( Ac 20:1-2 ). It was from there ( 2 Cor 7:5 ) that Paul and Timothy ( 2 Cor 1:1 ) wrote the second letter to the Church at Corinth in advance of Paul’s coming there.       Now Paul writes that Titus will be coming to Corinth first (so likely carried this second letter to the Church) and, “With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel, and not only that, but he has been appointed by the Churches to travel with us in this gracious work whic...

  St. Barnabas 31. Evangelization in Asia.       Continuing our lengthy biography of St. Barnabas, last week we discussed his and St. Mark’s evangelization on the island of Cyprus (about 50 AD and following). The next reference in Scripture is St. Paul’s reference to Barnabas in 1 Corinthians 9 (written about 54 AD) which, from the context, indicates that the Corinthians (in Greece) must have known Barnabas first-hand, with the reasonable probability that Paul and Barnabas had evangelized together.       It is further interesting that in Philemon24 , Paul includes Mark in a list of “fellow workers” sending greetings (and thus there with Paul), but Barnabas is not included. Also, in Colossians 4:10 Paul writes, “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions–if he comes to you, receive him).” Paul also says these two, and Justus, are the “only men of the circumcision...

St. Barnabas 30. Back to Cyprus.       It is now 50 AD. Imperial Rome is at the height of its political, economic, and military power. [1] According to a tradition of the Eastern Church, St. Matthew finished writing his Gospel in Aramaic this year, having begun six years earlier. [2]       St. Barnabas and St. Mark have left Antioch of Syria for the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus. St. Luke does not mention Barnabas further in the book of Acts, so we look elsewhere.       There exists a work called the Acts of Barnabas  or, more fully, The Travels and the Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Barnabas , which scholars date no earlier than the 5th Century. It purports to be written by St. Mark, who writes in the first person. Some aspects (such as Mark’s own conversion, and the cause of the split between Barnabas and Paul) tend to be inconsistent with Scripture, other aspects (such the timing and manner of Barnabas’ death) is ...

  St. Barnabas 29. Parting of the Ways. God the Holy Spirit, with the Apostles and Elders of the Church, had now clearly spoken that Gentile believers were full members of the Church without circumcision and without the burden of the entire Jewish Law.  We are told “Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also” ( Ac 15:35 ). We know the Church at Antioch of Syria was rich with prophets and teachers ( Ac 13:1 ), and in the roughly nine years since St. Barnabas was first sent to Antioch ( Ac 11:22 ) and Euodious appointed second Bishop of Antioch (after St. Peter), no doubt the Church continued to grow with these “many others” teaching and preaching as well. But the Letter from the Apostles and Elders was not just for the Antiochian Church. It was also for all the Gentile Churches which Barnabas and Paul had previously founded in the couple years prior. So it is no surprise that St. Luke writes, “After some days ...

St. Barnabas 28. How the Jerusalem Council Decree Was Understood.       The “beloved” ( Ac 15:25 ) St. Barnabas and St. Paul left Jerusalem, accompanied by Judas Barsabbas and Silas, and bearing the letter for the Church in Gentile lands from the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem ( Ac 15:22-29 ). Arriving in Antioch of Syria, they gathered the Church, read the letter, and the congregation “rejoiced at the exhortation” ( Ac15:30-31 ).       Recall that the issue was whether the Gentiles who became believers in Jesus the Messiah, the Christ, had to accept the entire Jewish law, including its ceremonial and dietary provisions. This was an enormous question which Barnabas and Paul had dealt with over and over again.       Now the decision of the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem, as written in the letter, was: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” – note the authority: God the Holy Spirit (consistent with the do...

St. Barnabas 27. The Jerusalem Council. It is now April of 49 AD. St. Barnabas, St. Paul, and “some others were appointed” by the church at Antioch “to go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and the Elders” about the question of whether Gentiles who became Christians had to keep the entire Jewish Law ( Ac 15:2 ). You may recall that Barnabas, Paul (then Saul), and Titus had also gone to Jerusalem a few years previous at the time of the famine in Judea. They had discussed their preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles with the Apostles Peter, James, and John, and had received the “right hand of fellowship” to continue evangelization of the Gentiles. ( Ac 11:29-30 ; Gal 2:1-10 .) Precisely because their missionary work was bearing so much fruit, some Jewish Christian sensibilities were aroused to insist that Gentile converts had to keep the entire Jewish Law. We saw last week that Paul and Barnabas strongly countered that assertion ( Ac 15:2 ). So now Barnabas, Paul, and company were ...

  St. Barnabas 26. Dealing with a Difficult Question.       We saw last week that certain Jewish Christians had insisted that Gentile Christians had to follow the ceremonial laws of Judaism for salvation. St. Paul wrote his Letter to the Galatians – that is, to all the believers in the churches that he and St. Barnabas had formed on their recent missionary journey – to re-assert that salvation, “justification,” is solely based on faith in Jesus Christ. The letter was likely written early in 49 AD, perhaps not even a year after their return.       Paul’s passion expressed in this letter is brought out clearly in J. B. Phillip’s 1958 translation:       “O you dear idiots of Galatia, who saw Jesus Christ the Crucified so plainly, who has been casting a spell over you? I shall ask you one simple question: Did you receive the Spirit by trying to keep the Law or by believing the message of the Gospel? Surely you can’t be so...

St. Barnabas 25. Fraternal Correction. St. Barnabas and St. Paul, are now back in Antioch of Syria after their first missionary trip to Cyprus and Galatia (today’s southern Turkey). It is about 48 AD – about 18 years since Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection, 14 years since St. Stephen’s martyrdom, nine years since Barnabas had been sent to Antioch ( Ac 11:22 ), and five years since Barnabas had brought Paul to Antioch. St. Euodious remained Bishop of Antioch (39-61 AD), having been ordained by St. Peter. The book of Acts tells us, “Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren,” the Christians in Antioch, Jew and Gentile, “‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’” Naturally Barnabas and Paul “had no small dissension and debate with them” ( Ac 15:1-2 ). It was an issue they had faced many times before: Must Christian men submit to circumcision? Must all Christians submit to the Jewish ceremonial law and customs? Now betwe...

St. Barnabas 24. Strengthening the Churches.       Last week we learned about St. Paul being stoned by an angry mob at Lystra in Southern Galatia (modern Turkey). St. Luke tells us that Paul was able to get up, come into the city, “and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe” ( Ac 14:20 ). The next day? The day after Paul’s attackers were certain he was dead? Now he’s walking the next day? Either divine intervention or powerful support by Barnabas. Probably both.       Derbe is a town about 60 miles to the southeast. Luke only tells us that Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel in Derbe and made many disciples ( Ac 14:21 ). In other words, they founded a local church there.       Then they returned the same way they had come: from Derbe to Lystra (where Paul was stoned); then to Iconium (where they fled a plot to stone both Barnabas and Paul; and Church tradition also tells us Paul was imprisoned and then ban...

  St. Barnabas 23. Lystra and St. Timothy. We last left St. Barnabas and St. Paul in Lystra ( Ac 14:6 ), preaching the Gospel in the streets. As it turns out, some of the troublemakers from Antioch of Pisidia and Iconium had followed Barnabas and Paul to Lystra, and Acts tells us specifically they were Jewish ( Ac 14:19 ). One would think that preaching about the “living God who made heaven and earth” ( Ac 14:15 ) would be applauded by any good Jew, but apparently they were just out for blood. It may have been that day, or perhaps weeks later, but at some point the people of Lystra and these troublemakers rose up in anger and stoned Paul, then dragged him out of the city, presumably now dead ( Ac 14:19 ). Stonings normally happened outside towns and cities (better to find rocks and dispose of the corpse), so this implies a raging crowd killing Paul right on the spot in the streets and then dumping his body outside of town. Paul includes this event in a litany of woes when a d...