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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.

The name Barnabas means “son of the prophet, or of consolation”

MaleLeviteTribe of LeviNew Testament eraNew Testament4 books46 verses

Summary

A man living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Acts 4:36; referred to as Barnabas (Βαρνάβας), Joseph (Ἰωσήφ), or Joses (Ἰωσῆς); his mother was Mary ; a brother of Mary.

Profile

Barnabas is shown in Acts as a good example of a Christian leader. He was from Cyprus and was active in the Jerusalem church. Barnabas showed great generosity by helping poorer members (Acts 4:32–37). His real name was Joseph, but he was nicknamed Barnabas. Barnabas means "Son of Encouragement" and shows his character (Acts 4:36).

Barnabas was well-suited to fairly assess the new work in Antioch (Acts 11:19–22). Barnabas saw God's blessing there and encouraged believers to remain faithful to the Lord (Acts 11:23). His good character was evident in his kindness, strong faith, and Spirit-filled life and work (Acts 11:24). The Holy Spirit chose Barnabas and Saul for a special mission (known as the first missionary journey). The church at Antioch sent them out on this journey (Acts 13:1–3).

Barnabas showed wisdom when he went to Tarsus to find Saul (Acts 11:25). Barnabas admired Saul's bold preaching as a new Christian in Damascus. He introduced Saul to the apostles, which was important because Saul had previously attacked believers. Thanks to Barnabas, Saul met the original apostles, gained their acceptance, and preached bravely in Jerusalem until he had to leave (Acts 9:26–30). Barnabas's trip was successful, and for a year, they worked together in the Antioch church, attracting large crowds (Acts 11:26).

Barnabas was an important person. In Lystra, people even thought he was Zeus (see Acts 14:8–18). He was John Mark’s cousin and mentor. Barnabas helped John Mark get a second chance to succeed as a Christian leader after he left an earlier mission (see Acts 15:36–40).

Barnabas understood how others could influence people to do wrong things. One time, he gave in to this pressure and did something he knew was wrong (Galatians 2:11–13). Barnabas was not perfect, but he was a "Son of Encouragement" to many. He was generous and unselfish, helping others and the church grow.

Passages for Further Study

Acts 4:36–37; 9:26–28; 11:19–30; 13:1–15:40; Galatians 2:1–14

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Barnabas Joseph Joses

Family members

Father

Barnabas' father

Siblings

Mary

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 18 verses that refer to Barnabas without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. Acts 4:36Βαρνάβας · Barnabas; Ἰωσήφ · Joseph; Ἰωσῆς · Joses
    Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
  2. Acts 4:37Referred to, not named
    …sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
  3. Acts 9:27Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
  4. Acts 11:22Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
  5. Acts 11:23Referred to, not named
    When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
  6. Acts 11:24Referred to, not named
    Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
  7. Acts 11:25Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
  8. Acts 11:26Referred to, not named
    …and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
  9. Acts 11:30Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
  10. Acts 12:25Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
  11. Acts 13:1Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
  12. Acts 13:2Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
  13. Acts 13:3Referred to, not named
    And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
  14. Acts 13:4Referred to, not named
    So Barnabas and Saul, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
  15. Acts 13:5Referred to, not named
    When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
  16. Acts 13:6Referred to, not named
    They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,
  17. Acts 13:7Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    …an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
  18. Acts 13:8Referred to, not named
    But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
  19. Acts 13:43Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
  20. Acts 13:46Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
  21. Acts 13:50Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.
  22. Acts 14:12Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
  23. Acts 14:14Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
  24. Acts 14:20Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
  25. Acts 14:21Referred to, not named
    They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
  26. Acts 14:22Referred to, not named
    …strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
  27. Acts 14:23Referred to, not named
    Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
  28. Acts 14:24Referred to, not named
    After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
  29. Acts 14:25Referred to, not named
    And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
  30. Acts 14:26Referred to, not named
    From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
  31. Acts 14:27Referred to, not named
    When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
  32. Acts 14:28Referred to, not named
    And they spent a long time there with the disciples.
  33. Acts 15:2Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
  34. Acts 15:12Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
  35. Acts 15:13Referred to, not named
    When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
  36. Acts 15:22Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
  37. Acts 15:25Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
  38. Acts 15:35Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
  39. Acts 15:36Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
  40. Acts 15:37Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
  41. Acts 15:39Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
  42. 1 Corinthians 9:6Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
  43. Galatians 2:1Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
  44. Galatians 2:9Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
  45. Galatians 2:13Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
  46. Colossians 4:10Βαρνάβας · Barnabas
    My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.