Acts 11:25

Acts 11:25

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul;

a. NLT: Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.

b. NIV: Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

c. YLT: And Barnabas went forth to Tarsus, to seek for Saul,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: [Barnabas] went on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.

e. Worrell Translation: And he departed to seek for Saul.

1. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul;

a. Then [Strong: 1161 * de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. departed [Strong: 1831 * exerchomai ex-er'-khom-ahee from 1537 and 2064; to issue (literally or figuratively):--come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.]

c. Barnabas [Strong: 921 * Barnabas bar-nab'-as of Chaldee origin (1247 and 5029); son of Nabas (i.e. prophecy); Barnabas, an Israelite:--Barnabas.]

d. to [Strong: 1519 * eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

e. Tarsus [Strong: 5019 * Tarsos tar-sos' perhaps the same as tarsos (a flat basket); Tarsus, a place in Asia Minor:--Tarsus.]

f. for to seek [Strong: 327 * anazeteo an-ad-zay-teh'-o from 303 and 2212; to search out:--seek.]

g. Saul [Strong: 4569 * Saulos sow'-los of Hebrew origin, the same as 4549; Saulus (i.e. Shaul), the Jewish name of Paul:--Saul.]

1). Barnabas had just witnessed Gentiles coming to Christ and God blessing it. It obviously sparked in him what he had been told by Saul when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

a). Acts 26:12-18 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

b). Saul had told Barnabas that God had called him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and here he had just witnessed God blessing the preaching of the gospel to Gentiles and they heard and received. What better person than Saul who God had called?