Barnabas was an important early Christian disciple and missionary mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. His original name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus and was one of the first converts to Christianity after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was a generous man of faith who sold a field he owned and gave the money to the apostles to support the early church (Acts 4:36-37). Here is an overview of Barnabas’ life and ministry as described in the Bible:
Barnabas’ Background
The Bible first introduces Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37, where it is mentioned that his birth name was Joseph and he was a Levite from Cyprus. The Levites were members of the Hebrew tribe of Levi who assisted the Jewish priests in the temple. Barnabas came from a Jewish background but was living in Jerusalem after becoming a Christian. The apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, meaning “son of encouragement,” likely due to his generosity, positivity, and willingness to help others. The name Barnabas stuck and he became known as a generous, encouraging man of faith.
Barnabas Supports the Early Church
One of Barnabas’ first significant acts was selling a field he owned and laying the money at the apostles’ feet to help those in need, displaying his generosity (Acts 4:36-37). Later, when Saul (who later became Paul) came to Jerusalem after his conversion and tried joining the disciples, they were afraid to welcome him. But Barnabas looked past Saul’s history of persecuting Christians and brought him to meet the apostles, vouching for his conversion (Acts 9:26-27). This acceptance helped launch Saul’s ministry. Barnabas also accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey to share the gospel with Gentiles (Acts 13:1-3), demonstrating Barnabas’ missionary spirit.
Barnabas Recruits Paul for Ministry Work
After Saul’s conversion, he spent several years preaching the gospel in Arabia, Jerusalem, Tarsus and Antioch (Galatians 1:11-24). Eventually Barnabas traveled to Tarsus to find Saul and bring him to Antioch to teach new Gentile believers there for a whole year (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas wisely saw the potential in Paul and recruited him to get involved in ministry work when others may have still avoided Paul due to his background. Barnabas helped Paul launch into his powerful gospel ministry by welcoming and encouraging him.
Barnabas and Paul’s First Missionary Journey
The church at Antioch fasted, prayed and laid hands on Barnabas and Paul before sending them out on their first missionary journey together (Acts 13:1-3). John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, accompanied them as a helper (Acts 13:5). This missionary journey was the first major undertaking to spread the gospel to Gentiles throughout modern-day Cyprus and Turkey. Barnabas and Paul preached powerfully and planted several churches, with Acts 13-14 providing an account of the cities they visited and key events on this journey.
Conflict Between Paul and Barnabas
After returning from their first missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on their next trip, but Paul objected because John Mark had deserted them midway through the first journey. This disagreement caused a sharp contention between Barnabas and Paul, resulting in them separating and going different directions (Acts 15:36-41). While conflict can arise even between faithful believers, both Barnabas and Paul continued spreading the gospel – Paul with Silas and Barnabas with John Mark. This shows that though the disciples were not perfect, God still used them powerfully.
Barnabas Mentors John Mark
Though Barnabas separated from Paul over bringing John Mark along, their contention shows Barnabas looking out for the interests of his younger cousin who had deserted them on the first trip. By taking John Mark and developing him further, Barnabas prepared him for more effective ministry. Later in Paul’s letters, he requests John Mark’s presence, indicating they repaired the relationship and Paul saw Mark as useful once again (2 Timothy 4:11). Barnabas’ mentoring helped restore John Mark to future ministry.
Barnabas’ Legacy
Though Barnabas was not as famous as Paul or Peter, he played a critical role in the early church and the spread of the gospel. By generously supporting fellow believers, welcoming and encouraging Paul, and guiding the missionary efforts to reach Gentiles, Barnabas helped lay the foundation for the growing first-century church. He also mentored John Mark into a useful minister after their earlier rift. Barnabas exemplified how encouraging “sons and daughters of encouragement” can powerfully support church growth and development. Even when conflict arose, Barnabas did not give up his evangelistic work but continued equipping others for ministry. As his name suggests, Barnabas left a legacy as an “apostle of encouragement” and fiery missionary for the cause of Christ.
Key Lessons from Barnabas’ Life
When studying Barnabas’ biblical portrait, several key lessons emerge:
- Generosity – Barnabas’ generous giving to help others in need displays selfless generosity, setting an example of using our resources to aid God’s work.
- Acceptance – By accepting Paul when others avoided him, Barnabas showed that God can use anyone with a willing heart.
- Mentorship – Barnabas developed young ministers like John Mark into maturity through mentorship.
- Encouragement – Living up to his name, Barnabas encouraged and comforted others in their faith.
- Evangelism – Barnabas powerfully spread the gospel, especially impactful in his missionary efforts.
- Perseverance – Even when conflict arose with Paul, Barnabas persevered in ministry.
Barnabas sets an example of generosity, mentorship, acceptance, encouragement, evangelism, and perseverance that all believers should emulate today. His Christlike service helped establish the early church.
Barnabas in Other Books of the Bible
While the book of Acts provides the most detailed portrait of Barnabas’ ministry, he appears briefly in a few other New Testament books:
- Galatians 2:1, 9, 13 – Barnabas is mentioned as joining Paul in meeting with the apostles and in their confrontation of Peter.
- 1 Corinthians 9:6 – Paul asks if only he and Barnabas should refrain from financial support in ministry.
- Colossians 4:10 – Paul notes that John Mark has become useful in ministry, showing Barnabas’ mentoring paid off.
These additional references fill out the biblical picture of Barnabas as a key leader and ministry partner with Paul who played a vital part in the early church.
Barnabas’ Characteristics and Accomplishments
In summary, here are some of the key traits, accomplishments, and characteristics of Barnabas as seen in Acts and other biblical books:
- Generous – Sold land to fund ministry to the poor (Acts 4:36-37)
- Encouraging – Welcomed Paul when others avoided him (Acts 9:26-27)
- Missionary – Led first missionary journey with Paul (Acts 13-14)
- Mentor – Developed John Mark into a useful minister (Acts 15:36-39; Colossians 4:10)
- Evangelist – Passionately preached the gospel in Cyprus and Asia Minor
- Teacher – Taught new believers in Antioch with Paul for a year (Acts 11:25-26)
- Prophet – Served as a prophet and teacher in the Antioch church (Acts 13:1)
- Advisor – Met with apostles in Jerusalem about Gentile converts (Galatians 2:1)
Overall, Barnabas used his teaching, preaching, mentoring, prophetic, advisory, giving, and evangelism gifts to further Christ’s kingdom. He stepped in when needed – whether to advocate for Paul or salvage John Mark’s ministry. While less prominent than some apostles, Barnabas served a vital role.
Significance and Contributions
Barnabas made several significant contributions that shaped the early church:
- Funding – By selling his land, Barnabas helped fund the church’s ministry to the poor and needy.
- Acceptance of Paul – By welcoming Paul, Barnabas helped launch his ministry and Paul’s writings later formed much of the New Testament.
- Missionary Journeys – With Paul, Barnabas pioneered the work of spreading the gospel throughout Asia Minor/Turkey.
- Mentorship – Barnabas rescued John Mark’s ministry through mentorship when he had faltered.
- Prophetic Ministry – He served as a prophet and teacher, building up the church.
Barnabas played an integral, unsung role in establishing the early church and spreading Christianity beyond Judea through his ministry partnerships, financial support, missionary work, mentorship, and prophetic encouragement. While not the most famous of the apostles, he contributed greatly.
Barnabas’ Relationship with Paul
Barnabas had a close, fruitful ministry partnership with the Apostle Paul that benefited the early church immensely. Key aspects of their relationship included:
- Acceptance – Barnabas welcomed Paul when others avoided him due to his background.
- Partnership – Barnabas invited Paul to teach and lead ministry work with him at Antioch.
- Missionaries – They teamed up as the first missionaries to spread the gospel to Gentiles.
- Contention – They later had a sharp disagreement dividing them over John Mark.
- Reconciliation – Though divided for a time, later Paul spoke favorably of Mark, indicating restored relations.
Overall, Barnabas helped launch Paul’s ministry through acceptance and invitation to join him in teaching and missionary work. They did have a temporary rift over mentoring John Mark, but this discord did not permanently derail either of their ministries. Barnabas was willing to advocate for Paul when no one else would and trust him as a ministry partner when others avoided Paul due to his background. This partnership bore great fruit.
Barnabas in Church History and Tradition
In church tradition and writings after the biblical era, Barnabas continued to be held in high regard for his essential contributions:
- Early church leaders like Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian described him as one of Jesus’ seventy disciples and author of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
- He is traditionally considered the founder of the Cypriot Orthodox Church.
- Apocryphal Acts of Barnabas described him as preaching in Alexandria and Rome after Cyprus.
- Some traditions claim Barnabas was stoned to death or burned at Salamis around 61 AD.
- Barnabas is celebrated as a saint and has a feast day of June 11th in Western churches.
While church history and traditions are not on par with biblical authority, they do show Barnabas continued to be revered for his faithfulness in serving Christ and establishing churches. He left a lasting legacy in the early church.
Practical Application for Believers
While Barnabas lived in the context of the early church, his life and ministry have many practical applications for modern believers as well:
- Be generous – Help financially support ministry work and aid the poor, as Barnabas did.
- Encourage others – Build others up and see potential in them like Barnabas, who advocated for Paul.
- Build community – Promote unity and harmony between believers, avoiding unnecessary discord.
- Share your faith – Imitate Barnabas in enthusiastically spreading the Good News of Christ.
- Equip others – Mentor and train younger believers like Barnabas developed John Mark.
- Persevere – Follow Barnabas’ example to keep serving Christ even amidst conflict or trial.
Studying biblical heroes like Barnabas gives modern Christians role models to emulate in using their gifts to build up others, spread the gospel, and endure trials while serving God. Examining how Barnabas encouraged other believers and built unity equips us to serve Christ as passionately today.
Conclusion
In summary, Barnabas played a significant role in establishing the early Christian church through his generosity, evangelism, mentoring, encouragement, missionary travels, and ministry partnerships. His advocacy for Paul and reconciliation with John Mark displayed great wisdom, faith, and maturity. Barnabas cooperated with the Holy Spirit and faithfully used his spiritual gifts to benefit other believers and expand God’s kingdom. His Christlike character, missionary zeal, and tireless service left an exemplary legacy for all future generations of Christians.