Acts 4 refers to Barnabas as “Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,” Acts 4:36.
The apostles had named him this apparently because he exhibited the qualities of an encourager. We know he was a Levite, meaning he was from the tribe of Levi, Acts 4:36. His home was the Island of Cyprus.
He was a cousin of John Mark, Colossians 4:10. After Paul’s conversion, he had remained in the Damascus area for three years preaching in the synagogues, Galatians 1:17.
When he decided to return to Jerusalem, the brethren there knew of his reputation as a persecutor of the church and were reluctant to meet with him, Acts 9:30.
Barnabas removes the distrust of the disciples at Jerusalem and secures the admission of the former persecutor into their fellowship. It is said that he “brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way,” Acts 9:27.
The question arises, was there some connection between Barnabas and Paul, since he seems to have no hesitancy in defending the integrity of Paul? Barnabas was from the island of Cyprus, Acts 4:36. He would have lived within seventy miles of Tarsus, the home of Paul, Acts 11:25.
Cyprus had been annexed so as to form one province with Cilicia, of which Tarsus was the capital city and Paul’s home city. Some suggest they both may have received their education there and had known each other previously to Paul became a Christian. Also, it is probable that both had been educated in Jerusalem, where they had been friends.
The fact that Barnabas knew about his conversion may indicate he had met Paul in Damascus at some time during the three-year period Paul preached in that area. In some way, there seems to be some connection since Barnabas has no hesitation about accepting Paul into the fellowship of the Jerusalem Christians.
Barnabas is also known for his generosity. We know that he owned property in Jerusalem and sold a field that he had and contributed its price to the support of the poorer members of the church, laying it at the apostles’ feet, Acts 4:36. He is described as “a good man and full of the Holy Spirit” and a man “of faith”, Acts 11:24.
When persecution arose with the stoning of Stephen, brethren “travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only,” Acts 11:19. Some of these men were from Cyprus and Cyrene. They came to Antioch, and “spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus,” Acts 11:20.
The Hellenists would be Jews who had lived outside of Palestine and spoke Greek as their native tongue. There would also have been Gentiles living there, and it had already been made clear that God wanted the Gentiles to be saved just as much as the Jews. The result was that a great number of people had become Christians, Acts 11:24.
The news reached Jerusalem, and they decided to send Barnabas to Antioch to give it encouragement and direction. His being filled with the Holy Spirit would enable him to teach them accurately what God expected of them.
We are told, “who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord,” Acts 11:22-24.
Acts does not tell us why Barnabas was selected ahead of others to visit Antioch, but we know that he was from Cyprus, and it seems to be the proper person to deal with men of Cyprus who had come to Antioch. His gifts of exhortation and consolation well qualified him to render assistance to this new church.
His being a “good man,” Acts 11:24, would make him gentle and sympathetic in dealing with this new class of converts, namely, not those gathered from proselytes, as the eunuch and Cornelius, but from those with an idolatrous background.
He would not have any of the narrow Jewish jealousy or prejudice that many Jews had toward non-Jewish Christians. When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what had been taking place. We learn that “many people were added to the Lord,” Acts 11:24.
After his arrival, he saw that there was a need for additional help. Thus, he went to Tarsus (a short distance away) to bring him back with him to Antioch. They worked together for an entire year teaching many people, Acts 11:26. We learn that it was here in Antioch that the “disciples were first called Christians in Antioch,” Acts 11:26.
We remember that Paul had been handpicked by God to be an apostle to the Gentiles, Acts 9:15. No doubt, he had been doing this back in Tarsus. Paul must have felt very much at ease teaching Gentiles in Antioch.
Being warned by Agabus, a prophet sent from Jerusalem, “that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar”, Acts 11:28, the brethren in Antioch decided to send relief to their brethren in Judea.
It is said, “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul,” Acts 11:29-30. Such a gift would break down a lot of the prejudice the Jews had toward the Gentiles.
This must have been an exciting trip. This is the first time Paul has returned to Jerusalem in several years. Upon their return to Antioch, the Holy Spirit made it known that he wanted Barnabas and Paul to travel preaching the gospel to areas where they had not been before.
Thus, they proceeded with what has been called “Paul’s First Missionary Journey.” Before their departure, there was a period of fasting and prayer, and then they “laid hands on them, they sent them away,” Acts 13:3.
They took with them a young man named John Mark, Acts 15:37, who was from the city of Jerusalem, his mother owning property there and whose house was used as a gathering place of the early Christians, Acts 12:12.
This journey will take them first to the island of Cyprus, then to Pamphylia. When they reached Pamphylia, John Mark “departed from them, returned to Jerusalem,” Acts 13:13.
Why he made this decision, we do not know. From there, they went into Pisidia and Lycaonia, Acts 13:14, which were Roman Colonies. Then they returned to Antioch.
There were at least six churches established on this journey. Up until Acts 13:43, Barnabas is named first. It was “Barnabas and Saul.” As they proceed further, it becomes “Paul and Barnabas”, indicating that Paul took over the leadership and became the chief spokesman on this trip.
In Lystra, they called Barnabas Zeus, Acts 14:12, who was the father of the gods, and Paul was called Mercury, Acts 14:12, who was the messenger of the gods. The people evidently thought these gods were visiting them.
Upon their return to Antioch, they appointed elders in each of the churches they had established, Acts 14:23. Most synagogues had elders, a relatively easy move to become an elder of the church.
Upon their return to Antioch, they soon learned that certain men came from Jerusalem, saying the Gentiles should be circumcised, Acts 15:1. Paul and Barnabas, along with others, were dispatched to Jerusalem to settle this issue, Acts 15:22. After considerable discussion, it was understood that Gentiles were not required to be circumcised, Acts 15:19-21.
Paul and Barnabas now return to Jerusalem. After “some days”, Paul expressed his desire to go back and visit those churches that had been established on their first journey. Barnabas was “determined to take with them, John called Mark,” Acts 15:37.
Paul was opposed to this. “Paul insisted they not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work,” Acts 15:38. The result was that a sharp contention broke out with them, Acts 15:39. So much so that Barnabas took Mark and they sailed to Cyprus, Acts 15:39.
The generosity of Barnabas was such that he was willing to give John Mark a second chance. Paul took Silas, and they departed and went through Syria and Cilicia, “Strengthening the churches,” Acts 15:40-41.
At this point, Barnabas drops out of view, and we hear no longer from him. On the other hand, John Mark is mentioned later on, and Paul calls for him to come and aid him in his work, which shows that Paul’s confidence in Mark had been restored, 2 Timothy 4:11.
Both Calvin and Luther regard 2 Corinthians 8:18-19 as referring to Barnabas as “the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the church”, indicating there was subsequent joint work between Paul and Barnabas.
The only negative event involving Barnabas is referred to in Galatians 2:11-13. He allows himself to be carried away by Judizers and Peter’s refusal to eat with the Gentiles.
But as with all great characters, none of them was perfect but had weak moments. Barnabas deserves to be listed as one of the great characters of the Bible.