Equipped

Pete Kersker - Jun 30, 2026

"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2 NIV).

Barnabas and Saul spent a year with the new Christians in Antioch to build unity (Barnabas) and teach them the Scriptures (Saul). We know that these were the skills of these two men. Barnabas, for example, is his nickname because he was such an encourager (Acts 4:36). Saul was trained like a "Bible-college professor" is trained today (Acts 22:3).

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV).

Saul taught them the Scriptures. Barnabas taught them to love one another. Both of them, through their words and actions, equipped those in Antioch for works of service. Some of them learned to teach others as well. They would become the new teachers for the Christians in Antioch once Barnabas and Saul left. They were equipped for works of service so the Body of Christ would be built up.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul (Acts 13:1 NIV).

Have you seen people equipped to serve in the church?
Have you being equipped to serve? How? Who is equipping you?