Lives of Scripture

Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus whose given name was Joseph, is introduced selling a field he owned and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet, earning him the nickname "Son of Encouragement" from the apostles themselves (Acts 4:36-37). When Saul, newly converted, tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem, they were understandably afraid of him given his history as a persecutor; Barnabas took the risk of vouching for him, describing his encounter with the Lord and his bold preaching in Damascus, and the church accepted Saul on his word (9:26-28). Sent by the Jerusalem church to the growing congregation in Antioch, Barnabas encouraged the believers there and then sought out Saul in Tarsus to help teach the new church for a full year (11:22-26). The two were formally set apart by the Holy Spirit and sent out together on what became known as the first missionary journey, and Barnabas is listed first, suggesting he was initially the senior partner, though Paul's role grows more prominent as the account proceeds (13:1-3). Barnabas consistently extended grace: preparing for a second journey, he wanted to bring his cousin John Mark, who had abandoned the first journey partway through, but Paul refused, judging Mark unreliable, and the disagreement grew sharp enough that the two separated, Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus while Paul chose Silas (15:36-41). Barnabas's willingness to give Mark a second chance appears vindicated later, when Paul himself calls Mark "useful to me for service" (2 Timothy 4:11).