Barnabas

A Levite man from Cyprus
Generous in spirit
Selling his possessions
For others who deserved it

Interested ones came to worship
On Pentecost thirty-three
The brothers who provided
Generous as could be

His given name was Joseph
Called Barnabas by friends
Son of Comfort was its meaning
On him you could depend

Barnabas gave not only funds
But also of his time
So much we can learn from him
For his example’s prime

There was a man named Saul
From the city of Tarsus
He had persecuted Christians
Causing quite a fuss

Suddenly one day he learned
That he was doing wrong
Jesus came to him and said
“To me you now belong”

Saul was sent to preach in lands
Yes both far and wide
The brothers would not listen
Afraid that they would die

Barnabas stepped in to help
Coming to Saul’s aid
Introducing him to them
A new friend had been made

In the year forty-five CE
Barnabas was sent
To check growth in Syria
Of course he gladly went

There were numerous believers
Many Who spoke Greek
Barnabas rejoiced because
He really loved to preach

The harvest work in Antioch
Was so very great
Barnabas would need some help
More workers this would take

He set off to go find Saul
One hundred twenty miles away
A year they spent together
Teaching along the way

The two of them were summoned
By the Holy Spirit
An assignment they’d received
With God to support it

Barnabas could be called
Apostle to the nations
By God he’d been “sent forth”
To help start congregations

These men now assigned
To go to Jerusalem
Brothers in Antioch sent
Relief supplies with them

A terrible famine would
Be Coming on the land
This prophetic message
Delivered by Agabus’ hand

In this relief ministry
They would now partake
The welfare of their brothers
They would not forsake

Upon returning to Antioch
They took along with them
John Mark as a helper
Who was Barnabas’ cousin

So many grand adventures
Yes…both good and bad
It was quite a time
That these faithful men had

Preaching and teaching
To all of the nations
Relying on Jehovah
Exercising patience

They once were mistaken for
Embodying false gods
They were left for dead
After being beaten by the mobs

Barnabas would prove to be
A faithful friend of Paul
Until one day an argument
Threatened to end it all

These two men could not agree
On whether to take Mark
Continuing on their way
At this time they chose to part

Barnabas took John Mark
Traveling on to Cyprus
Paul, to the District of Cilicia
Taking with him Silas

Though Barnabas went his own way
He had Jehovah’s support
For in Paul’s letters we later see
He gives him a good report

May we all strive to imitate
Barnabas’ example
Be zealous for the truth
In love for others ample