Barnabas

Son of Encouragement

After Pentecost, the believers in Jerusalem “were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32), and “neither was there among them any who lacked” (Acts 4:34). Here the passage first mentions him: “Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:36-37). These events are in Lesson 1.

Receiving Saul; to Antioch

When Saul, after he believed, came to Jerusalem, “he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26). “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:27), and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly.

Later, many in Antioch believed. “The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch” (Acts 11:22), “who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord” (Acts 11:23). The passage says: “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord” (Acts 11:24).

“Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:25-26). These events are in Paul, Lesson 2.

The disciples in Antioch, “each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea” (Acts 11:29), “sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:30). When the two had fulfilled their service, they went on, “also taking with them John who was called Mark” (Acts 12:25).

Sent Out

“Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1). As they served the Lord and fasted, “the Holy Spirit said, ‘Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2). “Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3). These events are in Paul, Lesson 3.

They sailed to Cyprus and proclaimed God’s word in the synagogues at Salamis; “They also had John as their attendant” (Acts 13:5). There the passage speaks of “Saul, who is also called Paul” (Acts 13:9). “Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13).

In Pisidian Antioch, many followed them, and the two, “speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). Later “Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly” (Acts 13:46), saying they would turn to the Gentiles; but the Jews “stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders” (Acts 13:50).

In Lystra, the crowd “called Barnabas ‘Jupiter’, and Paul ‘Mercury’” and would have offered sacrifice to them; “But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes,” crying out, “We also are men of the same nature as you” (Acts 14:12, 14-15). After Paul was stoned, “On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:20). The two went back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, and “When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed” (Acts 14:23). These events are in Lesson 2.

They sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been sent out; “When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations” (Acts 14:26-27).

The Jerusalem Meeting; Parting from Paul

Some men came down from Judea saying that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved. “Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them”, and they were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders (Acts 15:2). There, “All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them” (Acts 15:12). The apostles and elders wrote a letter that called them “our beloved Barnabas and Paul” (Acts 15:25), and chose Judas and Silas to go back to Antioch with them (Acts 15:22). These events are in Paul, Lesson 4.

“But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also” (Acts 15:35). After some days Paul suggested going back to visit the brothers in every city. “Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also” (Acts 15:37); “But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work” (Acts 15:38). “Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus” (Acts 15:39). These events are in Lesson 3. This is the last time Acts mentions Barnabas.

In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul also writes about Barnabas: “Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me” (Gal 2:1); James and Cephas and John, “those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles” (Gal 2:9). He also writes that when Peter came to Antioch, he first ate with the Gentiles, but when people came from James, “he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision” (Gal 2:12); “And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy” (Gal 2:13). How these things fit with the order in Acts, Paul does not say.

Afterwards

Paul mentions Barnabas again in later letters. To the church in Corinth he writes: “Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?” (1 Cor 9:6). To the church in Colossae he writes: “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received instructions, ‘if he comes to you, receive him’)” (Col 4:10).

To Timothy he writes: “Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Tim 4:11). What happened in between, the passage does not say.

What became of Barnabas afterwards, and where he died, the passage does not tell.