Barnabas

Biography

Barnabas, whose given name was Joseph, was a Levite from Cyprus so known for his generous, encouraging character that the apostles renamed him Barnabas, meaning 'son of exhortation' or 'son of encouragement.' Among the early believers who sold property to support the church's needs, Barnabas sold a field and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet, an early model of sacrificial generosity. When the newly converted Saul of Tarsus arrived in Jerusalem, the disciples feared him, remembering his violent persecution of the church, but Barnabas took him in, brought him to the apostles, and vouched for the account of his Damascus road encounter with the risen Lord and his bold preaching in Damascus. This act of trust opened the door for Saul's acceptance into the Jerusalem church. Sent to investigate the new Gentile church at Antioch, Barnabas rejoiced at what he saw of God's grace and urged the believers to remain true to the Lord, described as a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith. He then sought out Saul in Tarsus and brought him to Antioch, where they taught together for a year before the church commissioned them for the first missionary journey. Barnabas and Paul's partnership carried the gospel through Cyprus and Asia Minor, but a sharp disagreement arose when Paul refused to take John Mark, who had deserted them on the first journey, while Barnabas wished to give his cousin a second chance. The two separated, Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus, yet later evidence shows the rift healed, as Mark became useful again to Paul's ministry.