Barnabas was a Levite whose family came from the island of Cyprus. He was a cousin of Mark. His Hebrew name was Joseph, but he was better known as Barnabas. Barnabas is first mentioned as a landowner who sold some land and generously donated all the proceeds to the apostles in Jerusalem. God appointed him as an apostle with Paul to the Gentiles. He spent many years preaching the gospel in lands far distant from both Jerusalem and Cyprus. Barnabas was not afraid to stand by God's messengers in a time of tumult. He was the first person of influence and responsibility to extend his personal warmth and home to Saul of Tarsus when all Jerusalem was still casting stones at him. Barnabas came forward and showed great kindness toward him. He introduced Saul to the apostles. In subsequent times as Paul came into greater prominence Barnabas quietly fell back into a supporting role. A serious conflict arose between them over John Mark. Sharp contention caused Barnabas and Paul to head their separate ways. In Antioch Paul writes that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. Scripture paints a picture of Barnabas as a kind forgiving encouraging and compassionate man. He was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Wherever he went a great many people were added to the Lord. Barnabas sacrificed himself to be instrumental in God's cultivation of His church. In Acts 4:36 Luke translates Barnabas to mean son of encouragement or son of consolation. The original Greek word rendered encouragement paraklesis means encouragement consolation comfort exhortation and entreaty. Barnabas wisely encouraged people by pointing them in the right direction toward the coming Kingdom of God. All the members in Antioch he encouraged that with a purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. His kindness generosity and forgiving nature helped console and encourage many. He encouraged the brethren with the hope that they would be raised incorruptible at Christ's return and consoled them with the knowledge that as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

Barnabas received acclaim because of the sacrifices that he made for the church. Ananias and Sapphira saw the acclaim that Barnabas received as a result of his sacrifice. This motivated them to want the same kind of acclaim without having to make the same kind of sacrifice. They made it appear as though they were making the same kind of sacrifice as Barnabas had done.

Barnabas was sent by the church in Jerusalem to Antioch. Barnabas was a Hellenist and a Levite from Cyprus. His major personality characteristic was that he was an encouraging person who consoled others. Barnabas was trusted by the church in Jerusalem as well as by the Hellenists. In the whole book of Acts Barnabas is the only one called good. Barnabas was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. Barnabas remembered his old friend Saul because it was Barnabas who took Saul by the hand and introduced him to the Jerusalem church. Barnabas went out and recruited the apostle Paul's help. Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch. For a whole year Barnabas and Saul assembled with the church and taught a great many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch during this time. The disciples sent relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry. In the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers including Barnabas. The Holy Spirit said to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work to which He had called them. Having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them the church sent Barnabas and Saul away.

Barnabas was willing to give his seemingly derelict cousin one more chance after the cousin had departed from Paul and Barnabas during their work. When Paul refused to take the cousin along again because of that earlier desertion, the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. Barnabas took the cousin and sailed to Cyprus. Barnabas evidently believed his cousin could redeem himself. This trust was well placed.

Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus who sold his property and gave the proceeds to the early church. He traveled with Paul on his first missionary journey. In Acts 9 Barnabas sought out Paul when everybody else was afraid of him. Barnabas listened to Paul and recognized that his testimony was genuine. Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles. Barnabas insisted on believing the best of others. When others suspected Paul of being a spy Barnabas insisted on believing that he was genuine. Barnabas was a man who never held anyone's past against them. Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles and Paul spent the next few days in Jerusalem with others who were of the Way.

Barnabas was selected along with Paul from the group at Antioch to take the gospel to the Gentile areas. The congregation fasted and prayed and laid hands on Barnabas and Paul before sending them away. Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Paul went to Seleucia and then sailed to Cyprus. They preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and had John as their assistant. At Paphos they were called by the proconsul Sergius Paulus. Elymas withstood Barnabas and Paul. After this event it became Paul's company, whereas in the beginning it had been Barnabas and Saul. Paul gradually came to the forefront and Barnabas became the second man. A contention arose between Barnabas, Paul, and Mark after Mark departed from them at Perga and returned to Jerusalem.

Barnabas took Saul and brought him to the apostles. He declared to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, that He had spoken to him, and how Saul had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Barnabas was a man of some vision and a big heart. His name meant son of encouragement. He took the apostle Paul under his wing and led the way for him in order to have him accepted by the community. So he confirmed the sincerity and the reality of Paul's conversion.

Barnabas was carried away with the dissimulation of Peter and the other Jews. Barnabas was affected by the presence and arguments of certain Jews who arrived claiming they were from James. Barnabas withdrew from associating with the Gentiles in the church at Antioch. Barnabas was Paul's traveling companion on many journeys.

Barnabas is first mentioned in Acts 4:36. He brought the converted Paul directly to the apostles' attention. He was sent out by the Jerusalem church to go as far as Antioch. No other apostle, not Paul, nor the Lord's brothers James and Jude, nor Barnabas, can meet the description of the Twelve given by Peter in Acts 1:21-22. Both Barnabas and Saul are named as apostles after the Holy Spirit directs officers of the church to set them apart by ordination and send them out on a mission.

After the council it became necessary to send people out to spread the word regarding the decisions that were made at the council and this was entrusted to Paul and Barnabas and Silas and Judas. As they went out on their way they went to Antioch and the apostle Paul there made the decision that he wanted to go back and visit the churches that they had visited before. A contention arose between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them once again. The apostle Paul did not want to do that and the contention became so great between them they actually divided up and Paul went with Silas and Barnabas took Mark with him. Instead of having one team God now had two teams. The work was actually doubled. He had Barnabas and Mark and He had Paul and Silas. Both of them apparently were very fine teams and they went out and did their work amongst the people. Rather than having one it was now two.

Barnabas was also named Joses. The apostles gave him the name Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement. He was a Levite from the country of Cyprus. He sold land and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Barnabas serves as an example of doing things right. His household name was Joses, or Joseph. Barnabas was a nickname given by the apostles likely because there were so many Josephs and this was a way of telling them apart. He was named for his outstanding characteristic of being an encouraging fellow who built people up. He was a Levite from the island of Cyprus. He figures prominently later. He was a man of unselfish bent. He was a man of generosity and of encouragement. He was a man of understanding as well. The main thing about Barnabas is that he contributed ungrudgingly of his wealth for the well-being of those people.

Barnabas sold a piece of property. He contributed the proceeds of it to the welfare of the people. The fact that this act is pointed out indicates that what he did was rather an unusual act. This shows the attitude of giving that the believers had in putting their goods at the disposal of any who happened to need them.