Barnabas

Identity

Barnabas is the Cypriot Levite whose given name was Joses (or Joseph); the apostles renamed him 'Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation' (Acts 4:36). He is the man who took the newly-converted Saul and introduced him to the apostles when no one else in Jerusalem would (Acts 9:27). He is Paul's first great missionary partner.

Name and titles

Given name: Joses / Joseph. Apostolic name: 'Barnabas' — meaning 'son of consolation' or 'son of encouragement' (Acts 4:36). Scripture also calls him 'a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith' (Acts 11:24).

Historical period

• c. AD 30 — Sells land and lays the money at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:36-37).
• c. AD 36 — Introduces Saul to the apostles at Jerusalem (Acts 9:27).
• c. AD 44 — Sent from Jerusalem to lead the young church at Antioch (Acts 11:22-24).
• c. AD 45 — Goes to Tarsus to fetch Saul (Acts 11:25-26).
• c. AD 46-48 — First missionary journey with Paul: Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 13-14).
• c. AD 49 — Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).
• c. AD 49 — Sharp contention with Paul over Mark; sails with Mark to Cyprus (Acts 15:37-39).
• Tradition — Martyred at Salamis in Cyprus.

Scripture appearances

• Acts 4:36-37 (KJV) '…Barnabas… having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.'
• Acts 9:27 (KJV) 'But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles.'
• Acts 11:24 (KJV) 'For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.'
• Acts 11:25-26 (KJV) 'Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul.'
• Acts 13-14 (KJV) The first missionary journey.
• Acts 15:37-39 (KJV) The division over Mark.
• Galatians 2:9 (KJV) Paul: 'James, Cephas, and John… gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship.'

Connected Places

• Cyprus — his home island.
• Jerusalem — the mother-church.
• Antioch — the church he led and sent Paul from.
• Tarsus — where he found Paul.

Connected People

• Paul — his first great partner.
• Mark — his cousin (Col 4:10).
• Peter — his co-labourer in Jerusalem.

Salvation history role

• The man who brought Paul into the apostolic circle — arguably the single most important human decision of the apostolic age.
• The first bridge from Jerusalem to the Gentile Christian world (Antioch).
• The reconciler who took Mark back when Paul would not.

Christian tradition

• Feast: 11 June (both Western and Eastern Christianity).
• The Cypriot Orthodox Church claims him as its founder.
• The traditional site of his tomb at Salamis in Cyprus was the ground of the Autocephalous Church of Cyprus (from AD 431).

Household reflection

Barnabas teaches the household to be the 'son of encouragement.' Every family needs one: the person who introduces the shy one, who defends the accused, who takes back the one others have written off.

There is no more Christlike role in a household than Barnabas's.

Room connections

Where this entry meets the household in the wider house of CrossAIHub.

• Read (Library) — Read Acts 4:36 - 15:39 to trace the whole Barnabas story.
• Pray (Chapel) — On his feast (11 June), pray for the household's 'sons and daughters of consolation.'
• Family (Kitchen Table) — At every family reconciliation, remember Barnabas taking Mark back.
• Sing (Choir Room) — Sing 'How Sweet, How Heavenly Is the Sight' (Joseph Swain, 1791).
• Learn (Workshop) — Study the Epistle of Barnabas (early second-century Christian writing; not canonical but ancient).

Further reading

Acts 4:36 - 15:39 in the KJV.

Galatians 2.

The (non-canonical) Epistle of Barnabas.

Elsewhere in the Atlas

• Paul
• Mark
• Cyprus
• Antioch
• Tarsus
• Return to the atrium — the Atlas's main room.