Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (20) And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. (21) And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (22) Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. (23) Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (24) For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
I beg the Reader to notice, how the Lord overruled the persecution which arose at Jerusalem, in the death of Stephen, and other faithful servants to the Lord; to minister to his glory, in scattering his people far and near to spread the Gospel. How little are the enemies of the cross aware, how greatly their malice sometimes turns out, to the furtherance of the truth, as it is in Jesus! How often they become thereby, the unwilling instruments, in promoting the very reverse of what they intend. So it was here: so is it now; and so the Lord will forever make it, as long as the present-time-state of the Church shall remain. And I hope the Reader will not pass away from that precious verse, which speaks of the hand of the Lord being with them, until that he hath first observed the blessedness of the thing itself, and the blessings which are said to have followed.
I admire the character given of Barnabas. It is but short, though sweet. A good man, and full of the Holy Ghost! What could be said more? And observe what holy joy it opened in his soul, when he had seen the Lord's work, in the hearts of the Lord's people. For, in the great number which are said to have believed, Barnabas beheld some of the same blessed effects discovering themselves in the people, which he felt in his own experience. For where God the Spirit dwells, all the properties of regenerating, renewing, illuminating, converting, and confirming grace, cannot but abound.
And there is a very great sweetness in this exhortation of the Apostle, which he gave them, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord, He used the exhortation, but he was directing their minds to look unto the Lord for the accomplishment. Hold thou me up, (said one of old), and I shall be safe. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee! Reader! it is blessed, when at any time we receive the Lord's commands, to be looking to the Lord for grace to follow them. I shall run (said the same holy saint I just now quoted), the way of thy commandments; when thou hast set my heart at liberty. Here is the strength for performance. And when we are enabled to accept the Lord's biddings, as enablings! oh! how sweet and precious are all the Lord's ways to his people, Psalms 119:32. Reader! do not dismiss this view of Barnabas, and his exhortation, before that you have first enquired at the heart, whether you have followed it. No man can cleave unto the Lord, until he knows the Lord. And if we truly know the Lord, we shall know ourselves also: and in that knowledge, both of our nothingness, and Christ's all sufficiency, the tendency of the soul will be, to cleave unto him. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee. No man can trust, or cleave to, an unknown God, John 4:10; Psalms 9:10
And it will be among the easiest of all things, to discover whether we cleave to the Lord by the conscious strength and help we derive from the Lord. The tenderest plants in nature are not more feeble, when they throw their blanches round some statelier tree for support, as the ivy to the oak, than a child of God, which cleaves to Christ, and lays hold of Jesus, as his whole security. And how sweet in confirmation is that Scripture. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms, Deuteronomy 33:27. Reader! it will be well for you and me, if while we admire, as we cannot but admire, this interesting account of Barnabas, we can trace somewhat of the same spirit which marked his life, in our own. Moses, the man of God, enjoined the same motive to Israel for cleaving to the Lord, because (said he), he is your life, Deuteronomy 30:20.