19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers[d] living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Again we see God bringing good out of bad: there was a further gospel expansion, breaking through yet more barriers. Those who were ”scattered” preached, and God worked powerfully. Many became ”Christians”. (It seems that, initially, this was something of a nickname). So we see a rippling effect outwards from this terrible loss

It’s interesting to note that Saul (Paul) was to become the better known of these two. ‘Barnabas and Paul’ quickly becomes ‘Paul and Barnabas’. But there is no sense of Barnabas being threatened by Saul’s obvious abilities. Rather, he wanted to encourage him. Barnabas’s personal ministry to Saul was such a service to the church (see also 9:27).

Thank God for such ”a good man”. However, the church did not grow because of a good man. Rather, its growth was due to a great and gracious God. Without His ”hand” upon us there will be no true progress.