Barnabas

Barnabas — “son of encouragement,” the name the apostles gave to Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus (Acts 4:36) — was one of the most generous and gracious figures of the early church and a key bridge between the Jerusalem apostles and the Gentile mission. He first appears selling a field and laying the money at the apostles’ feet, a model of the believers’ shared life (Acts 4:37). Luke calls him “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24).

True to his name, Barnabas repeatedly opened doors for others. When the recently converted Saul was feared by the disciples, Barnabas took him, vouched for him, and brought him to the apostles (Acts 9:26-27). Sent by the Jerusalem church to investigate the new Gentile believers at Antioch, “he saw the grace of God” and rejoiced, exhorting them to remain faithful, and many were added to the Lord (Acts 11:22-24). He then sought out Saul in Tarsus and brought him to Antioch, where the two taught for a year and the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:25-26).

Set apart by the Spirit with Saul, Barnabas became half of the church’s first missionary team, sent out from Antioch through Cyprus and Asia Minor (Acts 13:2-3). At Lystra the amazed crowds took Barnabas for Zeus and Paul for Hermes, and the two tore their garments, protesting that they were only men bringing good news (Acts 14:11-15). They stood together at the Jerusalem Council defending the gospel of grace to the Gentiles (Acts 15:12).

Yet Barnabas was not flawless. He and Paul parted ways in a sharp disagreement over whether to take John Mark, who had earlier deserted them; Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas (Acts 15:36-39). Paul also notes that Barnabas was briefly swept up in Peter’s withdrawal from Gentile believers at Antioch (Galatians 2:13). Still, Barnabas’s gracious investment bore lasting fruit — in Paul, whom he launched, and in Mark, whom he restored and who later became useful again even to Paul (2 Timothy 4:11). He stands as Scripture’s great example of the encourager who builds up others for the work of the gospel.