Barnabas In The Book Of Acts

The book of Acts is known as 'the birth of the church'. Acts recounts the story of

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Past and presents scholars supported this theory. “ For there is extant with an Epistle of the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas- a man sufficiently accredited by God, as being one whom Paul has stationed next to himself in the interrupted observance when Paul was not there” (Tertullian 20). Likewise, Gregory of Elvira was a supporter of Barnabas writing Hebrews. Bishop of Brescia says that the book of Hebrews was written from Barnabas. The suggestion that scholars assume that Barnabas the author of Hebrews is, “he was a Levite of Cyprus” (Allen 2010, 41). Because Barnabas was a Levite he had a big interest in the Old Testament and their sacrificial technique. Also, Barnabas was an affiliate with the group called the Pauline circle. In that circle involved Timothy and the author of Hebrew. It is said that the author of Hebrew known to have a relationship with Timothy. Barnabas knew Timothy because he was in the area that Paul and Barnabas evangelized. “The Hellenistic perspective in Hebrews suggests to some scholars that Barnabas was the author. When the Antiochene Hellenists were evangelized, the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to coordinate this new thrust” (Allen 2010, 41). Barnabas was known as a man who exhorts others, and the author of Hebrews is called a “word of exhortation” (Hebrew 13:22). The last evidence that shows that Barnabas might be the author of Hebrew is that the tone of Hebrew as a kind of Pauline tone and

The book of Acts was written by Luke and was written "no later than the 60's” (Elwell and Yarbrough). Luke wrote Acts after he finished his Gospel. There are two very important key themes within this book. One is the beginning of the Church/the beginning of the Christian movement and the power of the Holy Spirit within the followers of Christ. In the beginning of Acts we see that Jesus is preparing his people for when He returns to heaven. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem...” Jesus is leaving the Holy Spirit with His people so they will be witnesses to those around them

In reading Howard I. Marshall, “Acts”, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. He implied, the most significant for studying and interpreting the book of Acts is how a reader gets out of what he is reading and how he approaches it (Marshall, 17). He states that, “an average reader studies the books of Acts as a history book of the early church” (Marshall, 17). Readers should use critical thinking to seek a deeper revelation. For example: recognizing the authorship to the Gospel of Luke. And seek for what the author’s purpose of writing Luke-Acts (Marshall, 19). Accurate information gives better understanding. In fact, if a reader did not know the culture or customs of the first-century Christian writers of the early church. They would not know the first-century Christian writers were only known to write Letters and Gospels, and not large history literature, as the author did in the book of Acts (Marshall, 18). Who was the author addressing with his literature (Marshall, 18)? With these considerations, it is most significant to have accurate information to be able to study and interpret the true of the book of Acts.

Traveling from the church in Antioch to Jerusalem, Barnabas, Paul and Mark set out to spread the Gospel. "Both Acts 15 and Galatians 2:1-10 detail a meeting in Jerusalem. Although they are not identical, the overwhelming similarities suggest that both passages are indeed descriptions of the same event."

Paul, formerly known as Saul, is first introduced in Acts 7-8 as a persecutor of Christians, and one compliant during Stephen’s stoning. In Acts 9, Saul has an encounter with the risen Christ that changes his life forever. Throughout Paul’s ministry, whether preaching to Jews or Gentiles, he will always proclaim the resurrection. Paul is extremely important to the book of Acts as he picks up Peter’s ministry and continues to take the gospel further and further into the Gentile world. While Luke is recording Paul’s ministry in the book of Acts, Paul is also writing letters (also known as the Pauline epistles) which now make up a majority of the New Testament. It is in these letters that Paul goes into detail defending his apostleship, but Luke will also defend him by describing him as a man filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:9), an apostle (Acts 14:14), and showing the parallels between the miracles both he and Peter performed.

Saint Andrew is known as the first apostle chosen by Jesus. Although, Saint Andrew was the first one chosen, his brother, Peter is known as the apostle whom Jesus gave “the keys to his kingdom” and the one who had utmost authority over the rest of the apostles. Before Jesus chose Saint Andrew, Saint Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist. He first

WOOSTER — In the New Testament book Acts, two apostles of Jesus put forth a question to religious leaders of the day, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!”

Another argument for the validity of Acts is that “Luke was inseparable from Paul” (NCE p186 Irenaeus). Many times throughout Acts the author, presumably Luke, says “we”, referring to the fact that he was with Paul throughout the book (the “we” passages in Acts include Acts 16:10-17, 20:5-15, 21:1-18, and 27:1-28:16). Surely if the author was there, it is a reliable view, yet different perspective, of what occurred in Paul’s life. Other important and reliable sources from the Bible are Paul’s epistles. Many say that theses undisputed letters present a seemingly completely different person of Paul than Acts presents, but I am willing to argue that this is simply due to differing perspectives. Two people viewing or living the same thing will almost always result in somewhat different stories. I do not think that there are any contradictions between the two that are big enough to invalidate either of the sources. The final sources I will use are the opinions of both ancient and modern critics, as well as ancient sources.

There are three main themes in the Book of Acts, and they can be divided by the beginning, middle, and the end of Acts. In the beginning, of Acts we see the power of the baptism Holy Spirit. Peter, who denied Jesus three times, was baptized in the Holy Spirit and then spoke to a multitude of people. Three thousand people received salvation from one sermon that Peter preached. The middle of Acts focuses on individuals in the early church like Stephen, Cornelius, Peter, and

Paul and Barnabas had their fair share of opportunities to dispute their faith and Acts 15 is no different. They were not in a strange position when a situations arose with men from Judea. In this chapter Luke gives us the account of a conflict that was settled by the council at Jerusalem. It is hard to tell if the men from Judea were being legalistic or if they were sincerely trying to obey the word of God but was taught incorrectly until now. But either way there was a conflict that needed resolved, a solution that was presented and who better to be in this debate then the apostle Paul himself.

Paul’s first missionary journey led him and his companions into the southern portion of Galatia. They were able to stand before those in the synagogues and proclaim the good news to the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles (Acts 13-14). Initially the journey was productive as many Jewish and Gentile adherents wanted to hear further from Paul and his companions. Luke shares that as Paul and Barnabas went throughout the cities, jealous and sacrilegious Jews stirred up hostility by speaking against the words of Paul (Acts 13:44). D.A Carson and Douglas Moo shares, “the preachers turned to the Gentiles and made converts from among them.” However, the Jews quickly moved to eject Paul and his companions from the region; therefore, they progressed to other areas.

The book of Acts describes how Paul was ministering in Antioch with Barnabas, when he was directed by the Holy Spirit to be released from his Church duties. The Holy Spirit had another assignment for Paul, and that was to go and take the Gospel more widely. Some believe that this notion came from the Holy Spirit through fasting and prayer. Paul began his first missionary in the town of Antioch. Throughout Paul’s first missionary journey he was accompanied by Barnabas and Barnabas cousin John Mark.

James was another son of Mary, meaning he was Jesus’ half-brother. In all James is the brother of Joseph, Simon, Judas, and their sisters. There was a moment in James’ life where he was not a believer and he did not understand Jesus and His ministry. James stays in Jerusalem and he begins to grow in status in the church. James is in Jerusalem when Saul was newly converted, he meets with him along with Peter. Years later, it was James who hears about the unbelievable way in which Peter escapes prison. He is also an elder of the church, also known as a “pillar” (New International Version, Gal.2.9). James wrote the epistle of James, that was written approximately between 50-60 A.D. He describes himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus