The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-25
BARNABAs AND PAUL.
Rev. DIR. RaGsdale's Sermon at the
First Baptist Church.

AFHN
Large congregations listened to two ex-
cellent sermons by Rev. B. D. Ragsdale,
d. D., OF Mercer University. at the First
Baptist Church yesterday. DR.. Jordan was
absent in Atlanta where he officiat ted at
one of the Baptist churches Of that city
The topic discussed by DR.. Ragsdale at
night was the character of Barnabas. one
Of the leading disciples of Christ. and the
companion of Paul in his early missionary
journeys.
DR.. Ragsdale said that Barnabas seemed
TO be one of the neglected characters of
the Scriptures. His evident purpose in
discussing the life and work of Barnabas
was TO show the great usefulness of many
men to whom 1t is not given to take the
leading parts in great movements, but
who lay the foundations upon which others
build
DIR. Ragsdale said the scriptural ac-
counts give but slight information con-
corning Barnabas. He first comes into
prominence when the Jewish Christians
at Jerusalem We're informed that Christ
had been preaching to the Greeks at
church. and Barnabas was chosen to go
90 Antioch and investigate. He did so,
and gave his hearty approval and encour-
agement to the work already begun
there among the Gentiles
1t is here that the scriptural account
speaks of Barnabas as "a good man, and
full of the Holy Ghost and of faith"
With the further statement that much
people was added unto the Lord" I'm
mediate1V fol- lowing is stated that Rar-
nabas departed to Tarsus to seek for
Saul, who had recently been converted,
and brought him to Antioch, where they
conducted a revival meeting for a whole
year, converting many TO Christ. After
this they went on their first missionary
journey together, visiting the new
churches, making many converts and I'M
dergoing persecution later. being sent out
again by the church at Antioch. a Sc
rious contention arose, Paul declining to
accept of the company of Mark, the
nephew of Barnabas, because the latter
had got homesick,'' as DIR. Ragsdale
expressed II, on the former journey, and
had turned back.
DR.. Ragsdale was inclined to attribute
this falling out and separation of the two
great missionaries as due rather to the
impulsive spirit of the Apostle Paul than
20 any error in judgment on the part of
Barnabas. The former. he pointed out.
was the younger man, the more recent
convert, and the more filled with fire and
zeal. He had begun to preach the gospel
Immediately upon his conversion, and had
raised a great stir at Damascus, where
he was first received by the Christians.
He followed this by creating great ex-
element at Jerusalem and later at An
tioch and other places which he visited.
Although all further account of Bar
nabas ceases after this and the remand
er of the narrative is devoted almost en-
trely to the work of Paul, who thence
forth became the great apostle TO the
Gentiles DR.. Ragsdale pointed o9t that
there was no reason 20 imagine any re-
Election or discredit upon Barnabas on
this account He had already done a
great work for the church. and for the
apostle himself. 1t was he who went to
Tarsus and brought the new convert, Sui
to the Christians at Antioch giving him
his Endorsement and laboring there with
him very successfully for the period of
a year. 1t was Barnabas who accom-
panied Paul on his first missionary tour
and who apparently had the direction of
the tour 1t was evident, DR.. Ragsdale
said, that the advice and experience Of
the older man was needed by the young
apostle and the great success which at
tended the work of the latter thereafter
may have been due in large part to the
instruction of che friend from whom he
parted in heat.
Discussing Barnabas, DR.. Ragsdale said
that he would judge him to be fine look
ing man. because at one place where the
natives We're astonished al miracle by
Paul the people thought they were gods
and called Barnabas Jupiter. showing ap-
parently that he was of commanding pres
ence. Apparently from expressions else
where he was an unmarried man and also
possessed of some means, as he was said
TO be a liberal giver. He raised a large
contribution at Antioch for the benefit of
the distressed brethren in Judea during
= the famine there, every man determining
TO give according to-his ability, which DR..
Ragsdale considered a very good rule in
such matters. That he was a prudent
man was evident from the fact that he
was selected to go to Antioch to deal with
the situation there when the question of
preaching Christ to the Gentiles first
arose. /
Apparently it had not been given TO Bar
nabas to be one of the great leaders of
the early Christian movement, but the
work assigned him was important and was
well done DR.. Ragsdae lilened him to
the type of the many useful Christians
who perform important work for the well
fare and advancement of the cause OF
Christ, but who remain in the background
while fame is reaped by Others which
would not have been possible except for
I-t-s