1. The apostle Paul’s first missionary journey is recorded in Acts 13.
2. The church at Antioch sent their two best members to the mission field – Saul (Paul) and Barnabas (Acts 13:1—5).

1. THEY WERE WORKING IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH
2. THEY WERE CALLED IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH
3. THEY WERE SENT BY THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH

I. THEY WERE WORKING IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH.

1. Acts 13:2 says, “As they ministered to the Lord…” They were ministering.  They were working.   They were serving.
2. Also, they were fasting and praying (13:2, 3).
3. We know much about the great apostle Paul.  His conversion is recorded in Acts 9 and he dominates the second half of the book of Acts.
4. Paul wrote 13 epistles, 14 if you count the epistle to the Hebrews.
5. We know much about the apostle Paul, but not so much about his partner on his first missionary journey – Barnabas (13:1, 2).
6. Barnabas is often overlooked, probably because he is overshadowed by the great apostle Paul.  Spurgeon said: “It takes more grace than I can tell, To play the second fiddle well.”
7. Acts 11:24 tells us that “he was a good man.” Oftentimes the world will point to a man and say, “He is a good man,” when in fact the man is a no-good rascal.  But when the Holy Spirit says a man was a good man, then we can be certain he was a good man!
8. Another thing to consider: Unfortunately, there are many professing Christians who do not make this impression.  The unconverted look at them and say, “He is a religious man but he is not very good.”  Naturally, this can be a great stumbling block.
9. I have heard stories like this: an unsaved man walks into a church and recognizes one of the ushers or one of the people in the choir and thinks to himself: he goes to this church?  And he heads quickly for the door!
10. But Barnabas was different than many phony church members – “he was a good man.”
11. We are first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4, where we are told that Barnabas was a Levite from the country of Cyprus (4:36).
12. We see from Acts 4:36 that his real named was Joses (Joseph), and he was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles.  His name means, “The son of consolation” (4:36).
13. Barnabas was a great encourager. Thank God for Christians like Barnabas who console us and exhort us and encourage us!
14. I do not think I would be standing here tonight if it were not for good church members, and good preacher friends, and good Christian friends from other churches who have encouraged me, and encouraged my wife, and encouraged my children.  People like Barnabas.
15. Barnabas owned land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet (4:37).  Not only was he a good man, and a humble man – he was also a generous man.  When a man gets right with God, he starts giving generously.
16. Do you remember when Saul of Tarsus was converted?  The Bible says the disciples “were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26).  “But Barnabas took him…” (9:27).
17. No one wanted to take a chance with Paul.  No one trusted him.  But Barnabas was willing to stick his neck out and befriend Paul.
18. The famous preacher from Scotland, Alexander Whyte, wrote these words: “Speaking for myself I would far rather have a little of Barnabas’ grace than have all Saul’s genius.”
19. The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 11:19-26).  Antioch was a wealthy and magnificent city, the third greatest city of the world in that day, after Rome and Alexandria.
20. Some of the Christians in Antioch were from Cyprus (11:20). Barnabas was from Cyprus (4:36).  Therefore, the church at Jerusalem sent forth Barnabas to Antioch (11:20-23).
21. Acts 11:24 tells us that Barnabas was “full of the Holy Ghost.” That is why he gave all he had to the church.  That is why he was humble.  That is why the Bible says “he was a good man” (11:24).  He was “full of the Holy Ghost.”  Barnabas was a spiritual man.
22. Barnabas preached the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit “and much people was added unto the Lord” (11:24).
23. If we hope to see more people saved around here, we need to be “full of the Holy Ghost” just like Barnabas. Let’s keep reading – “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul…” (11:25).
24. Barnabas wanted Paul to get in on the blessing.  He wanted Paul to see what was happening in Antioch and be a part of this exciting ministry. 
25. And you know the rest of the story?  It soon went from “Barnabas and Saul” (13:1, 7) to “Paul and Barnabas” (13:43, 46).  Barnabas knew this would happen, but Barnabas was a humble man. What was it that Spurgeon said?  “It takes more grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well.”

II. THEY WERE CALLED IN THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH.

1. In Acts 13:2, we read that “the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul…” This was the apostle Paul’s first missionary journey.  Not just anybody could accompany him.  It had to be a special man, a good man, a humble man, a spiritual man, a surrendered man.
2. We often sing, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give…” But do we really mean it? Paul meant it, and Barnabas meant it.
3. They could have said: “We’re needed here in this church at Antioch. Someone else can go instead.”  But Paul and Barnabas were surrendered men, and these are the type of men (and women) that God uses.
4. It amazes me that some men say God called them to preach when they never do a thing in their local church.  Theirs is not a genuine call, because God only calls those that are busy serving him in the local church (cf. Acts 13:1, 2).
5. Over the years many men have came to me and told me God called them to preach.  Only a few of them could I sincerely recommend for the ministry.  They were like Paul and Barnabas.  The others were not.
6. Paul and Barnabas were surrendered men.  What about you?  God calls those that are busy serving Him, and He only calls those that are surrendered.

III. THEY WERE SENT BY THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH (13:3-5).

1. Notice in verse 3 it says, “they (the church) sent them away.”  Then in the next verse it says, “So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost…” (13:4).  There is no contradiction here.
2. The Holy Spirit works through the local church.  Any missions work that is done apart from the local church has no Biblical basis.
3. The Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas out on their missions trip.  Therefore the Holy Spirit must be a Person.  He directs; He leads; He controls; He chooses; He equips; and He sends out workers.
4. Our Lord said in Matthew 9:38, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”
5. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the Lord of the harvest because He sends forth laborers into His harvest. In this case, the laborers were Paul and Barnabas.
6. The harvest that awaited them was in Seleucia, then Cyprus (remember, Barnabas was from Cyprus – Acts 4:36), Salamis, Paphos, and many other places (Acts 13:4ff).
7. So Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit working through the church at Antioch.  The Holy Spirit is the life of the church (the body of Christ), and the church is the instrument of the Holy Spirit.
8. The Holy Spirit works through the local church, and the church has no power to move except under the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8).
9. The men of the church laid hands on Paul and Barnabas (13:3) to show them that they identified with them. They were partners in the Gospel.  They would hold the ropes through prayer and financial assistance.
10. William Carey, the great Baptist missionary who went from England to India, said, “I will go down, but you must hold the ropes.”

CONCLUSION:

1. Paul’s first missionary journey starts here in Acts 13 and goes up to Acts 14:26.
2. Paul’s second missionary journey starts at Acts 15:36 and his third at 18:23.
3. The book of Acts is a book about the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. It is a book about revival.
5. And it is a book about soulwinning and missions.