Barnabas

Barnabas, also known as the “Son of Encouragement” or “Son of Consolation,” was an early Jewish Christian in the New Testament who was also called an apostle. He and the Apostle Paul undertook a series of missionary journeys, which led to the widespread dissemination of Christianity.

Barnabas’s original name was Joseph. He belonged to the tribe of Levi and was born on the island of Cyprus (Acts 4:36). The apostles called him Barnabas because he was filled with the Holy Spirit and great faith, and possessed a heart of love for the Lord, generosity, compassion, kindness, humility, and a gift for encouraging people.

In the early days of Paul’s conversion to a disciple of Jesus, other believers were afraid of him because he had previously fiercely persecuted Christians. “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:26-27). Because of Barnabas’s kindness and faith, Paul was able to move freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and preach in the name of the Lord.

In the early church, disciples who were being persecuted and afflicted traveled far and wide to preach the gospel of the Lord. When news of this reached the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to encourage them. “When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (Acts 11:23).

Barnabas also went to Paul’s hometown of Tarsus to find him and brought him to the church in Antioch to serve God together. During a time of fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit moved them to set apart Barnabas and Paul for missionary work. On this missionary journey, Barnabas brought his cousin, John Mark, with them. However, after they reached Perga in Asia Minor, John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Later, after the Jerusalem council, Paul and Barnabas returned to the church in Antioch and began planning their second missionary journey to strengthen the churches and believers they had established on the first journey. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again, but Paul refused because John Mark had abandoned them halfway through the previous journey. As a result, Barnabas took John Mark and sailed for Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15).

Barnabas did not give up on John Mark, who had failed in his service. Instead, he accepted him and gave him another chance to serve. This was extremely important for John Mark’s life. After serving with Barnabas, John Mark returned to Jerusalem and later served with Peter (1 Peter 5:13). In his later years, Paul also expressed a desire for John Mark to be with him (2 Timothy 4:11). This shows that John Mark eventually earned the trust of both Peter and Paul, who considered him a close co-worker. John Mark’s travels took him to Antioch and Rome, and he went on to write one of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark.

Because of Barnabas’ acceptance and equipping, Paul, with the help of the Holy Spirit, changed the development of early Christianity and influenced the entire world.