Barnabas

Family: Christian · Role: disciple · First appears: Acts 9

In Acts 9 at Jerusalem, Barnabas supported Paul by bringing him before the apostles and testifying about his encounter with the Lord and his preaching. In Acts 11, he brought Paul to Antioch, where they taught the church for a whole year; there, the disciples were first called Christians, and relief for believers in Judaea was sent through them. Barnabas later returned from Jerusalem with Paul and John Mark.

At Antioch, the Holy Ghost separated Barnabas and Paul for their work, and the church sent them away. They preached together, turned to the Gentiles after rejection by the Jews, endured persecution and expulsion, and saw many believe at Iconium. At Lystra, the people mistook them for gods, but Barnabas and Paul stopped the sacrifice and proclaimed the living God. They continued through Derbe, ordained elders in the churches, and reported in Antioch how God had opened the way of faith to the Gentiles.

Barnabas and Paul then went to Jerusalem over the circumcision dispute and helped deliver the council’s decision to Antioch with Judas Barsabas and Silas, where the brethren rejoiced. After a sharp contention over John Mark, Barnabas separated from Paul and took John Mark to Cyprus, while Paul departed with Silas. Later, Peter and others gave fellowship to Barnabas and Paul, assigning them to preach among the Gentiles, though at Antioch Barnabas was drawn into the other Jews’ dissimulation. He is also identified as the maternal uncle of Marcus, and is associated with Jesus through the lives risked for his name.