Covered and Called
Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen the Master on the road, and how the Master had spoken to him. He also said how in Damascus he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name. Acts 9:27 (MSG)
Saul had a past. A public one. He wasn’t just known for what he used to believe. He was known for what he used to do. He actively persecuted Christians. He hunted them down, approved of their arrests, and watched their deaths. So when he showed up in Jerusalem claiming to be changed, the believers weren’t quick to embrace him.
They weren’t questioning his theology. They were questioning his character. And honestly, who could blame them?
But then Barnabas stepped in.
Barnabas, whose name means "son of encouragement," had a reputation for building bridges and lifting people up. When others hesitated, he leaned in. He believed Saul’s story. But more than that, he used his voice to make space for him. Barnabas didn’t just pull Saul aside and pray for him. He brought him in and spoke up for him. He took him under his wing.
Before Saul could walk fully in his calling, he needed someone to cover him. Someone to trust him out loud. Someone to lend their credibility until he could build his own.
Sometimes people can’t step into what God has for them because they don’t have anyone willing to stand with them. Barnabas did more than believe in Saul. He vouched for him. He made room for him in a room that didn’t want him.
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."
That line sticks with me. Encouragement doesn’t cost you anything, but it can change everything for someone else. And Barnabas proves it. His act of covering helped launch one of the most influential ministries in all of Scripture.
“Because when you vouch with your voice, you validate someone’s value.”
What Barnabas Teaches Us:
1. Speak up, not just believe in.
Barnabas didn’t just believe in Saul silently. He introduced him. He explained what God had done. He stood up for him.
Encouragement isn’t just kind thoughts, it’s brave words in the right room.
That’s what it means to cover someone.
2. Tell their story when others only know their past.
The believers knew Saul the persecutor. Barnabas reminded them of Saul the preacher.
Be someone who tells the part of the story others haven’t seen yet.
3. Lend your credibility to build theirs.
Barnabas was respected and he used that influence to lift Saul.
Real encouragement costs something. Are you willing to spend your credibility for someone else’s future?
4. Encourage boldness, not perfection.
Saul wasn’t polished. He was just bold and obedient. And that was enough for Barnabas.
Don’t wait for someone to be perfect before you speak up. Encourage the direction they’re headed, not just their current condition.
I know what it’s like to need that kind of voice. After walking through a difficult season, I wasn’t sure if people would ever trust me again. I knew God had restored me, but I still carried the weight of people’s hesitation. And then someone stepped in. He didn’t just believe in me privately. He said it publicly. He stood with me in rooms I couldn’t walk into on my own. He covered me. And that covering helped me keep walking in my calling.
That’s what it means to be a Barnabas. It’s not always convenient. It’s not always popular. But it’s powerful. Covered and called. That’s what people need. And maybe you’re the one who can give it.
And if that feels hard or risky, remember this, it’s exactly what God has done for you.
When no one else saw your worth, He did. When your past spoke louder than your potential, He spoke louder still. He didn’t just redeem you quietly. He sent His Son to stand in your place, to speak up for you, to cover your shame and call you forward. That’s the gospel. Covered by grace. Called by name.
So we don’t cover and call others out of obligation, we do it out of reflection. We give what we’ve received. Let’s pray:
God, thank You for the people who believed in us when others weren’t sure. Thank You for second chances and for voices that speak life into our future. But more than anything, thank You for covering us when we couldn’t cover ourselves. For calling us by name when we didn’t feel worthy of it. Help us be bold like Barnabas. Help us stand in the gap for someone who’s trying to move forward. Show us who needs our belief, our voice, and our covering today. Amen.
Make it Personal:
Is there someone I have overlooked because of their past even though God may be doing something new in them?
Who in my life needs more than quiet support and is waiting for my voice to speak up?
What would it look like to come alongside someone with grace instead of standing at a distance?
How has God covered me and called me forward even when I did not deserve it and how can I do the same for someone else?
