{"id":44466,"date":"2020-01-11T01:03:29","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T22:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44466"},"modified":"2025-05-06T20:11:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T17:11:53","slug":"even-barnabas-was-taken-by-their-hypocrisy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/01\/11\/even-barnabas-was-taken-by-their-hypocrisy\/","title":{"rendered":"Even Barnabas Was Taken by Their Hypocrisy!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

1. The Human Side of Apostleship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When reading the Book of Acts<\/em>, we are often inspired by the boldness and faith of the apostles as they carried the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8, NIV). They performed miracles, endured persecution, and established the early Church. However, Scripture is also honest about their flaws. These human moments are not meant to discredit them but to serve as lessons for us, as Paul wrote:<\/p>\n

\n

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…”<\/em>
(1 Corinthians 10:11, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2. Peter\u2019s Compromise and Paul\u2019s Rebuke<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One significant example is found in Galatians 2:11-14<\/strong>, where Peter (Cephas) compromised the truth of the gospel due to fear of man:<\/p>\n

\n

“When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned…”<\/em>
(Galatians 2:11, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Peter, who had previously received a vision affirming that Gentiles were accepted by God (Acts 10:9\u201316), still withdrew from them when legalistic Jewish believers arrived. This was not a theological mistake rooted in ignorance\u2014it was hypocrisy<\/em> (Greek: \u1f51\u03c0\u03cc\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2 \u2013 playing a part<\/em>), driven by fear of criticism (Galatians 2:12).<\/p>\n

3. Even Barnabas?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What shocked Paul most wasn\u2019t just Peter\u2019s actions, but that Barnabas<\/strong>, the “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36), followed him in this hypocrisy:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.\u201d<\/em>
(Galatians 2:13, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This was heartbreaking because Barnabas was a trusted, Spirit-filled leader known for defending outcasts (Acts 9:27) and uplifting those whom others had rejected\u2014like Paul and Mark (Acts 15:36\u201339). His role was central to integrating Gentiles into the Church, making his fall into ethnic favoritism all the more serious.<\/p>\n

4. Theological Implication: Justification by Faith Alone<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Paul\u2019s confrontation with Peter was not just a personality clash\u2014it was a defense of the core of the gospel: justification by faith, not by the works of the Law.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c…know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/em>
(Galatians 2:16, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Peter\u2019s actions suggested that Gentiles needed to adopt Jewish customs to be fully accepted. This undermined the sufficiency of Christ\u2019s atonement and promoted a false gospel (Galatians 1:6\u20139). By confronting this, Paul defended the doctrine of Sola Fide<\/strong>\u2014faith alone\u2014a pillar of Christian orthodoxy.<\/p>\n

5. Barnabas\u2019 Influence and Responsibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Barnabas was a seasoned leader, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24). His past actions had helped shape the Church, especially among Gentile believers. He had vouched for Paul (Acts 9:27), and he mentored Mark\u2014who would later write one of the four Gospels (2 Timothy 4:11). He had sacrificed personal possessions (Acts 4:37) and was known for his comfort and leadership.<\/p>\n

Therefore, when Paul says “Even Barnabas was led astray,” it’s a lament that such a spiritually mature man could fall into public error. It is a warning that no one\u2014no matter how faithful\u2014can let down their guard (1 Corinthians 10:12).<\/p>\n

\n

6. What Does This Mean for Us Today?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Bible warns:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.\u201d<\/em>
(Revelation 3:11, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Your crown<\/em>\u2014your reward, calling, and spiritual inheritance\u2014can be influenced by others if you allow compromise, fear, or peer pressure to silence your convictions or gifts. Sometimes it’s not Satan, but a respected leader, a cultural norm, or even tradition that derails us.<\/p>\n