Judas Barsabbas

Biblical Account

Judas Barsabbas appears only in Acts 15. The Jerusalem Council was a meeting that considered whether Gentile believers should be required to undergo circumcision and keep the Law. After the council reached its conclusion, the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, chose men to carry the decision to the church at Antioch; Judas was chosen along with Silas. Acts 15:22 calls the two men "chief men among the brethren," indicating that they held positions of leadership within the church.

Judas and Silas went down to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas and delivered the council's letter. The letter states that the two men would also report the same things by word of mouth (Acts 15:27). When the letter was read, the believers in Antioch "rejoiced for the consolation" (Acts 15:31). Acts 15:32 records that "Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them." After some time the two were sent off in peace by the brethren and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 15:33).

Some later manuscripts include a verse 34 stating that Silas decided to remain in Antioch. Scholars debate whether this verse belonged to the original text, and many modern translations omit it from the main text and place it in a marginal note. Whichever reading is adopted, Scripture records nothing further about Judas's activities.

Significance in Scripture

Judas served as an official witness sent by the Jerusalem church to the Gentile church. Had Paul and Barnabas alone delivered the decision, they might have been suspected, as interested parties, of reporting it in their own favor. It is significant that a leader from the Jerusalem church accompanied them and confirmed the same content in person. Judas did more than deliver a letter; as a prophet, he exhorted and strengthened the church. For this reason his ministry is also read as an example of how prophetic ministry in the early church served to comfort and encourage.

Interpretation and Issues

• Name: "Barsabbas" appears to be an Aramaic byname and is commonly interpreted as meaning "son of the Sabbath." Other meanings have also been proposed, and the interpretation is not settled.
• Relationship to Joseph Barsabbas: Acts 1:23 mentions "Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus," who was put forward along with Matthias as a candidate to fill the place of Judas Iscariot. Because of the shared byname, some hold that the two men were brothers, but Scripture does not state their relationship, and this view should be treated only as conjecture.
• Distinction from other figures named Judas: Several people named Judas appear in the New Testament. Judas Barsabbas is generally regarded as a different person from Judas Iscariot and from Judas the son of James (Thaddaeus), one of the Twelve.

In the Korean Church

Sermons or Sunday school lessons devoted specifically to Judas Barsabbas are rare. He is usually mentioned in sermons on the Jerusalem Council or on Silas. In such contexts he is often presented as an example of someone who bridged churches in conflict and built up the church through exhortation.