Barnabas encouraged them to remain faithful in the Lord, and a large number of people was added to the Lord. One of the phrases that we frequently come across as we read the story of the growth and development of the early Church is the addition of new members to the community of believers (“ and a large number of people was added to the Lord”). One can easily attribute this to the fact that Christianity was still in its inception stage, and we know from experience that people tend to be drawn to something that is a novelty. It might be true that people were drawn to this new group perhaps because it presented an alternative to the establishment (we always get tired of the establishment and anything that comes up as an alternative is uncritically embraced). However, in the case of the young Church, we are given an answer in today’s reading: fidelity. 
When Barnabas visited with this community, he confirmed the news that had reached the ears of the Jerusalem Church. A large number was indeed being added to the Lord each day, and Barnabas could only attribute this to their fidelity to the gospel. In other words, not only was this community receiving well the message of the Lord, they were also living it (putting to practice what they had received). The gospel is intrinsically active. It is good news in action. Once its message hits the ear, it demands a response from the hearer. The only way to remain faithful to the gospel is to embody its message and make it one’s own. It appears this community was doing exactly that, for it is the love, kindness, spirit of sharing and concern, and joy that radiated from them that prompted new members to join them. It is true they were offering an alternative, not to the established religion, but to the way of life. It was a way of life that had been thought to be only ideal and not practical. This was the only alternative this young Christian community could offer. Christianity had not yet developed doctrines and dogmas, and the only way to pass the teaching of Christianity was to live it. It worked for the young Church, and I think it can work for us today. All that we need to do is to substitute our doctrines with some action.