Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Biblical Person · New · Apostolic Age · 0001-01-01 – 0061-01-01

Barnabas

Barnabas

via Wikimedia Commons

Barnabas, originally named Joseph, was an early Christian missionary and companion of the Apostle Paul, known for his role in the spread of the Gospel and his encouragement of believers.

AI-assisted summary — may contain inaccuracies.

From Wikidata

Biographical facts

Born
0001-01-01
Died
0061-01-01
More
Wikipedia →

Key events

Where Barnabas appears

28 verses across 4 books.

Acts23×Gal3×1Cor1×Col1×

Verses mentioning Barnabas

  • 1Cor 9:6 — Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
  • Acts 4:36 — And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
  • Acts 9:27 — But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the nam
  • Acts 11:22 — Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
  • Acts 11:25 — Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
  • Acts 11:30 — Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
  • Acts 12:25 — And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
  • Acts 13:1 — Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod th
  • Acts 13:2 — As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
  • Acts 13:7 — Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
  • Acts 13:43 — Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
  • Acts 13:46 — Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting lif
  • Acts 13:50 — But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
  • Acts 14:12 — And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
  • Acts 14:14 — Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
  • Acts 14:20 — Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
  • Acts 15:2 — When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and e
  • Acts 15:12 — Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
  • Acts 15:22 — Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among t
  • Acts 15:25 — It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
  • Acts 15:35 — Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
  • Acts 15:36 — And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
  • Acts 15:37 — And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
  • Acts 15:39 — And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
  • Col 4:10 — Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
  • Gal 2:1 — Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
  • Gal 2:9 — And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen,
  • Gal 2:13 — And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Voices from the tradition

The Church Fathers on Barnabas

Patristic commentary on the Scriptures that name Barnabas.

But that Paul acceded to [the request of] those who summoned him to the apostles, on account of the question [which had been raised], and went up to them, with Barnabas, to Jerusalem, not without reason, but that the liberty of the Gentiles might be confirmed by them, he does himself say, in the Epistle to the Galatians: "Then,…

For there is extant withal an Epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas-a man sufficiently accredited by God, as being one whom Paul has stationed next to himself in the uninterrupted observance of abstinence: "Or else, I alone and Barnabas, have not we the power of working? " And, of course, the Epistle of Barnabas is more…

In the writers of ancient stories you can find that Jove, even though he was a man, made himself a god and said that he was a god, just as many Roman and Macedonian kings styled themselves gods. There one ought to believe in what was said long ago about this, namely, that some were misled and called certain persons gods. Consequently…

These men he had as witnesses, through whom he proved that his gospel was given to him through revelation, seeing that he said "Barnabas went up with me," and he also took Titus, whose faith and gospel were approved by everyone.

— Gaius Marius Victorinus (370) on Gal 2:1

"Not to me alone," [he says], "did they give the right hand of fellowship, but also to Barnabas who was my companion." He made the addition so that it should not appear that he alone had received the trust.

— Gaius Marius Victorinus (370) on Gal 2:9

Paul means by this that he and Barnabas do have this right, but they do not want to exercise it.

"Which when the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you." See how on all occasions they are clean from the lust of glory, not only not coveting, but even repudiating it when offered: just…

"Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul." He came to the athletic wrestler, the general fit to lead armies, the champion of single combat, the lion - I am at a loss for words, say what I will - the hunting-dog, killer of lions, bull of strength, lamp of brightness, mouth sufficing for a world.

Barnabas means, 'Son of a prophet', or 'son of one coming', or, as many think, son of consolation. All the derivations, as 'Bar' (son of) either 'Nabi' (a prophet), or a derivative from 'Bo' (to come) or from 'Bee' (to console), as by the Syriac interpreter it is also rendered, 'Son of consolation.'

And in every place is it written concerning them that they fasted and prayed. "And while they were fasting and praying, the Holy Spirit said to them, Separate ye unto Me Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them."

How in the Epistle to the Galatians he says, "I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, nor did I entrust the Gospel to them or preach it among the Gentiles"; (Gal. 1:16-17) and yet here he says that Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders? And we say that, first, he…

It seems reasonable that the separation arose from mutual understanding, and to say to one another that "Since I wish it and you do not, so that we do not quarrel, let us divide the regions." Therefore they entirely yielded to one another in this. For Barnabas wished that Paul should remain, and therefore he departed. Yet we also find…

Historic voices touch this life

47 passages from 12 historic works cite verses that mention Barnabas.