Summer Devotional:
​No Other Name - A Devotional on the Book of Acts

Day 23 – June 29th, 2021
Read Acts 11:19-30

Helpful Background
Peter’s experience in chapter 10 of Acts was followed by the early Church struggling to hear God and go in whatever new direction God was leading them in.  Once the decision had been made, that God was indeed inviting the Gentiles to repent and become followers of God, then someone needed to share that invitation with the Gentiles.  
 
The Church decided that the best person to send was a man by the name of Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus.  If you do not recognize his name, don’t be surprised, you probably know him by the name the early Church gave him, Barnabas. The Church gave Joseph this name because it means “Son Of Encouragement” and that was what Joseph did, he encouraged others, what a perfect person to send to the Gentiles as they were coming to know and follow Jesus.
 
And what did Joseph (Barnabas) do once he received the call to go to the Gentiles? He found a forgotten Pharisee who had recently had an amazing conversion experience, Barnabas found Paul and took him along to help these Gentiles as they grew in their faith and walk with Jesus.
 
Years later, Paul would carry on that tradition of finding someone he could mentor, Paul found Timothy. And just as Barnabas had poured his life into Paul so Paul would pour his life into Timothy.

Questions - Who is your Barnabas?  Who has helped you grow in your faith?  And who is your Timothy?  Who are you helping as they grow in the faith?​

Grab your journal or use the notes section on your phone.
Respond to the Scripture reading with your thoughts, questions, and/or prayer response to today’s Bible verses.​

For more background information & study questions on the Book of Acts, check out Brian Ralston's handouts here.