Last week we saw how Saul [Paul] was launched into ministry at Antioch by Barnabas. Please note however, that Antioch did not necessarily need Saul. Prior to his arrival, the text indicates that the church in Antioch was doing very well, similar to the early growth explosion at Jerusalem (Acts 11:21 “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord”–this is repeated in vs. 24). Barnabas was obviously doing a very effective job.

Barnabas obviously had reasons for bringing Saul on his team. In one sense he was a risk taker, bringing on staff a radical, passionate debater ( see my prior post ) during a very successful time of growth and stability in the Antioch church.

Barnabas saw the potential in Saul (name changed to ‘Paul’ in Acts 13:9) and was willing to risk his position—his role of recognized leadership in the Antioch church—in order to see Paul’s potential released; a potential that would later outstrip his own reputation. Notice in Acts 11:26, 30, 12:25, 13:1, 2, 7 that the Bible records their names as “Barnabas and Saul,” but thereafter it switches to “Paul and Barnabas;” Paul becoming the lead player and Barnabas taking a lesser role.

As encouragers we must be more concerned about our team members than about ourselves. We need to see the potential in others and release it through the power of encouragement. We must be willing to commend the ‘Pauls’ on our teams, pushing them to the forefront and releasing them to greater potential regardless of how it affects our position or status.

The modern Barnabas measures his success by whether others stand or fall; not on whether or not he was successful in his own exploits.