Barnabas
Barnabas (Gr. n. Barnabas [“son of encouragement”]). An apostle and coworker of Paul.
Barnabas was also called Ioseph (“Joseph”) and was a Levite born in the Roman province of Cyprus (Acts 4:36). Barnabas is referred to as a faithful and generous disciple of Christ. When Christ’s followers were sharing all they had (Acts 4:32–35), he sold a “tract of land” that he owned, and brought the money to the apostles (Acts 4:37). It was Barnabas who introduced Paul, who was called Saul, to the apostles, recounting to them his conversion and his bold preaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:27).
Barnabas was a trusted man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24). He was sent by the apostles to Antioch to see the believers (Acts 11:22). After witnessing the work being done in Antioch, he went to look for Paul in Tarsus and brought him to Antioch to help with the church there (Acts 11:25). Barnabas and Saul (Paul) became companions and fellow gospel workers (Acts 13:2–5). Together, they proclaimed the gospel, ministered to a number of cities and towns, suffered hardships and persecutions, and performed miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:3–14:28).
On their first missionary journey, Barnabas and Paul departed for Cyprus together with their helper John, called Mark. However, John Mark left them in Pamphylia (Acts 15:38). When Paul and Barnabas decided to set out on a second missionary journey, they had a sharp disagreement over whether to bring John again. This disagreement led to the separation of the two companions; Barnabas departed with Mark, and Paul with Silas (Acts 15:37–41). In effect, their separation resulted in two missionary teams.
Paul refers to Barnabas in 1 Cor 9:6 when he states that he and Barnabas had the right to financial support for their work, though they refrained from receiving it (1 Cor 9:15). Barnabas and Paul also attended the Jerusalem council to discuss whether circumcision should be required of the Gentiles (Acts 15:1–35; cf. Gal 2:9). There, they provided a powerful testimony of God’s work among the Gentiles (Acts 15:4). Barnabas is also mentioned in Gal 2:13 in the context of being led astray by Peter’s example of eating separately from the Gentiles, a conduct which Paul rebuked (Gal 2:14).
True to his name, “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36), Barnabas consistently invested in others: he donated the proceeds of his property for the needs of the community, vouched for Paul when others were skeptical, and gave John Mark a second chance. Though not without failings, he can serve as an example to Christians of generosity, mentorship, commitment to the gospel, a life of service, and faithful surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit.