Christianity 101: Who was Barnabas in the Bible?
In the book of Acts, we encounter a Levite from Cyprus named Joses, who the apostles affectionately nicknamed Barnabas, meaning "Son of Encouragement" or "Son of Exhortation" (Acts 4:36-37). This moniker was likely bestowed upon him due to his natural inclination to serve others and his readiness to assist church leaders in any capacity (Acts 4:36-37, 9:27). Barnabas is described as a "good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith," and through his ministry, "a great number of people were brought to the Lord" (Acts 11:24). Paul highlights Barnabas as a model of generosity and proper perspective on money and property, noting how he sold his land and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet (Acts 4:36-37).
As the early church flourished
despite Herod's persecution, Barnabas was called by the Holy Spirit to join
Paul on a missionary journey. Accompanying them was Barnabas' cousin, John
Mark, who served as their assistant (Acts 13:5). During this first mission,
John Mark departed for unspecified reasons and did not complete the journey
(Acts 13:13). Nevertheless, Barnabas continued with Paul and was present when
Paul's ministry pivoted to reaching the Gentiles with the gospel (Acts
13:42-52). The only negative mention of Barnabas in Scripture pertains to an
incident where Peter's hypocrisy led other Jews, including Barnabas, to shun
some Gentiles at dinner (Galatians 2:13).
Following their initial journey, Paul and Barnabas began
planning their next adventure. However, a disagreement arose when Barnabas
wanted to bring his cousin, John Mark, along, but Paul refused. This rift
eventually led them to part ways (Acts 15:36-41). True to his nickname,
Barnabas took John Mark under his wing, mentoring him with such dedication
that, years later, Paul specifically requested John Mark's assistance,
recognizing his growth and value to the ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
As Christians, we are called to
be encouragers, much like Barnabas. Acts 11:23 portrays Barnabas as someone who
rejoiced in witnessing others embrace the grace of God, urging and encouraging
them to remain steadfast in their faith. Similarly, we should seek
opportunities to commend those who honor God through their faithful lives.
Barnabas also exemplifies a generous spirit, giving sacrificially to support
the Lord's work.
Please note: I did attempt to research the actual history behind the image I swiped from Biblical Archaeology Society. Normally, sites like this reference this information, but this one did not. Additionally, sources for this article include Biblical Archaeology Society and BibleRef.Com.
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Bruce holds degrees in Computer Science, Biblical History, and American History from Temple University and Liberty University; he has also completed a Doctorate in Educational Organizational Leadership at Abilene Christian University. He is a member of the Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society, Golden Key Honor Society, Historical Studies Honor Society, and the Saber and Scroll Society. He has worked in educational technology for 30 years and specializes in building infrastructures for schools that work to support the mission of technology in education in the classroom. He has also served as a classroom teacher in computer science, history, and English classes at both the high school and College levels. His baseball career spanned almost 15 years, from high school through Division I college ball and experience in MLB. He has coached players at various levels from ages 8 through 18.
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