Barnabas
Barnabas, also known as Joseph or Joses, was a Levite from Cyprus who played a significant role in the early church and accompanied Paul on missionary journeys.
Biography
Born Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, Barnabas received his nickname, meaning 'Son of Encouragement', from the Jerusalem apostles (Acts 4:36). One of his first recorded acts was selling a field and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet, exemplifying radical generosity in the early church. When the newly converted Paul was viewed with suspicion in Jerusalem, Barnabas vouched for him and introduced him to the apostles (Acts 9:27). He later traveled to Antioch to strengthen the growing Gentile church there and then recruited Paul for a year of teaching. Together they were commissioned as the first intentional missionaries (Acts 13:1–3), planting churches across Cyprus and Asia Minor during the First Missionary Journey before ultimately parting ways over the question of John Mark.
Significance
Barnabas embodies the ministry of encouragement and apostolic bridge-building. His sponsorship of Paul at a critical moment accelerated the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem. By advocating for Gentile inclusion alongside Paul in Antioch and at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), he helped establish the theological precedent that salvation is by grace apart from Jewish law. His later decision to restore John Mark (2 Timothy 4:11) further illustrates the redemptive character of his ministry. Barnabas stands as a model of sacrificial generosity, relational trust, and Spirit-led discernment that undergirds the entire Pauline mission enterprise.
Verse Appearances (21)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]