Barnabas

Biblical Record

Barnabas first appears in Acts 4:36–37. His given name was Joseph, and he was a Levite born in Cyprus. He sold a field and laid the proceeds at the apostles' feet. The apostles gave him the name Barnabas, meaning "son of consolation."

• Introducing Paul: When the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of the newly converted Saul (Paul), Barnabas brought him to the apostles and vouched for him (Acts 9:26–27).
• Ministry in Antioch: Sent by the Jerusalem church, he went to Antioch. Acts 11:24 describes him as "a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." He brought Saul from Tarsus, and the two taught together for a year; during this time the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:25–26). He later delivered famine relief to Jerusalem (Acts 11:30).
• First Missionary Journey: At the direction of the Holy Spirit, he and Saul were set apart and traveled to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 13–14). The people of Lystra called him Zeus (Acts 14:12).
• The Jerusalem Council and the Separation: He attended the Jerusalem Council, which addressed the question of circumcision for Gentiles (Acts 15). Afterward, he and Paul had a sharp disagreement over whether to take Mark along, and they parted ways; Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus (Acts 15:36–39).

Barnabas is also named in the Pauline Epistles. Galatians 2:13 records that in Antioch he, along with Peter and others, withdrew from table fellowship with Gentiles. 1 Corinthians 9:6 indicates that, like Paul, he worked to support himself. Colossians 4:10 identifies Mark as a relative of Barnabas. Korean translations differ on this term: the Korean Revised Version (Gaeyeok Gaejeong) renders it "nephew" (sister's son), while the New Korean Standard Version renders it "cousin."

Significance Within Scripture

Although Barnabas was not one of the Twelve Apostles, Acts 14:14 calls him an "apostle" together with Paul. He is portrayed as a bridge figure who brought about Paul's acceptance by the church and opened the way for the mission to the Gentiles. The earlier accounts list the pair as "Barnabas and Saul," but during the first missionary journey the order shifts to "Paul and Barnabas"; many interpreters read this change as indicating that leadership passed to Paul.

Interpretation and Debate

Interpretations of the dispute with Paul differ. Some emphasize Paul's adherence to principle, while others stress Barnabas's generosity in giving Mark, who had failed, a second chance. The latter view cites 2 Timothy 4:11, where Paul later wrote of Mark, "he is profitable to me for the ministry."

Traditions outside the Bible should be distinguished from the biblical text.

• Epistle of Barnabas: An early Christian writing bears his name, but scholars generally do not regard Barnabas as its author, and it was not included in the canon.
• Gospel of Barnabas: A document by this name is judged to be a much later work.
• Authorship of Hebrews: There is a record that Tertullian regarded Barnabas as the author of Hebrews.
• Martyrdom Tradition: A tradition holds that he was martyred in Cyprus, but Scripture contains no record of this.

The Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and others observe June 11 as his feast day.

In the Korean Church

In preaching, Barnabas is commonly presented as an "encourager," a model co-worker who builds others up. Some churches use the name "Barnabas" for ministries that help new believers settle into the church or that mentor them in the faith. The passages on his conflict with Paul are frequently cited in sermons about conflict and reconciliation among co-workers.