26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 9:26–27.
Saul of Tarsus was a terror to Christians until he encountered a resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. It was this encounter and conversion that produced Paul, from whom we get most of our new testament instruction. You can imagine the hesitancy of the existing believers to accept Paul into the brotherhood because of his history persecuting Christians. However, one man became his friend and vouched for him, a man named Barnabas.
Barnabas introduced Paul to his brothers and sisters in Christ and helped him in his transition, much like we are to walk along side new believers today. I can remember that I had such a hunger and so many questions as a new believer. If it weren’t for the men that discipled me and gave me direction, I don’t know where I would be today.
What are we doing to help new believers in our sphere of influence? Seek out new believers to disciple them. Think of that hunger and desire for answers that you had as new believer. Be a Barnabas for someone.