Who was Barnabas in the Bible?
Barnabas appears in Acts as the man who gave away his land, vouched for a former persecutor of Christians, and carried the gospel to non-Jews alongside Paul. He is also the man Scripture shows failing twice — which makes his story both an encouragement and a warning.
A Levite from Cyprus
His birth name was Joseph (or Joses), and he came from a family set apart in Israel for temple service. That background makes his first recorded act striking:
Leslie M. GrantParticular attention is drawn to Joses, surnamed Barnabas, a Levite from the country of Cyprus. Levites in Israel received tithes from the people (Heb. 7:5), but grace worked so powerfully in the heart of Barnabas that he sold land he owned and gave the proceeds to the apostles for the common fund.
The name "Barnabas" was a nickname the apostles gave him. Commentators differ on its exact sense — some render it "son of consolation," others "son of exhortation" — but they agree it described the kind of ministry he had:
C. E. StuartBarnabas was a Levite. His own name was Joseph, but he received the surname, or title, of Barnabas because of the character of his ministry as an encourager. That was clearly his special gift. His surname, which means son of exhortation rather than consolation, plainly implies it.
The man who vouched for Saul
After his conversion, Saul of Tarsus — later called Paul — tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem, and they were afraid of him. Barnabas broke the deadlock, and one writer notices something unusual in how much he knew:
The Bible TreasuryThey did not know about his conversion, but Barnabas knew, and the Lord uses him to bring Saul into the assembly at Jerusalem... We are not told how Barnabas knew all this, but it is remarkable that he should know so much more about Saul's conversion than the apostles and disciples at Jerusalem. His heart was in it all, and the Lord had no doubt put him in the way of knowing it, in order to form a link between these two for future work together.
Sent to Antioch
When non-Jews began believing at Antioch, Jerusalem sent Barnabas to investigate. His reaction, and the verdict Scripture passes on him, are recorded together:
William KellyWe cannot imagine anyone more suitably chosen, if a warm heart devoted to Christ was needed to judge fairly of the work in Antioch and to reassure those in Jerusalem. For when he came and saw the grace of God, "he rejoiced and exhorted all with purpose of heart to abide by the Lord." And the comment of the inspired historian is striking, for he does not begrudge Barnabas his due any more than Paul would, even though Barnabas was later betrayed into unbecoming heat for his relative's sake: "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith."
Fetching Paul, and the first missionary journey
Barnabas did not keep the work at Antioch to himself. He went looking for the man he had once introduced in Jerusalem, and the two of them became the first pair sent out to the wider world:
Morrish Bible DictionaryHe then sought Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they worked together for a whole year. They then went to Jerusalem together with contributions from the saints (Acts 11:22-30). Antioch became a centre from which the gospel went out to the Gentiles. It was there that the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them," and from there they started on what is called Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-4).
The parting with Paul
Later Barnabas wanted to take his relative John Mark on a second journey; Paul refused, because Mark had abandoned the first one. The two separated. Commentators differ on the root of it — some read jealousy between the lines, others natural family attachment — but the outcome is recorded plainly:
Church HistoryBarnabas takes Mark his relative, and sails to Cyprus, his native country. And here we part with Barnabas, that beloved saint and precious servant of Christ! His name is not mentioned again in Acts... We leave it with two happy reflections. First, that it was overruled for blessing to the nations — the waters of life now flow in two streams instead of one. This, however, is God's goodness, and gives no sanction to divisions among Christians. Second, that Paul afterwards speaks of Barnabas with complete affection, and asks that Mark should come to him, having found him useful for the ministry.
When kindness was not enough
Barnabas is also named in Galatians as one who was carried along when Peter withdrew from eating with non-Jewish believers. The man famous for warmth was not proof against pressure:
William KellyHow much one gracious heart can achieve, and how little the circumstances matter when it seeks to please the Lord and help those who are tried! Yet how often, when such a character is formed and proved, a crisis arises too strong for anything but the present guidance of the Lord — and graciousness breaks down completely. So Barnabas proved at a later day. How little anyone could have expected then that Saul would be the one to rebuke Peter, and Barnabas too, for allowing flesh or law to endanger the truth of the gospel!
Summary
- Grace loosened his grip. A Levite entitled to receive from others sold his field and gave the money away — grace made a giver out of a receiver.
- Grace gave him a name. The apostles renamed him for what he did best: encouraging people, with "cleave to the Lord" as his one great appeal.
- Grace made him see others. He saw a converted persecutor when everyone else saw a threat, and he was glad at Antioch over work that gave him no credit.
- Grace reached through him. He fetched Paul, taught with him for a year, and was set apart by the Holy Spirit for the first mission to the nations.
- Grace outlasted his failure. He broke with Paul over a relative and was swept along at Antioch — yet Scripture still calls him a good man, and Paul still spoke of him with affection.