Barnabas

Barnabas was a leading figure in the first generation of the church. Acts says his given name was Joseph (Joses). He was a Levite from Cyprus, and the apostles called him Barnabas, which Acts explains as 'son of encouragement'. He sold a field and gave the money to the apostles (Acts 4:36-37). When the Jerusalem believers distrusted the newly converted Saul, Barnabas vouched for him (Acts 9:27). Sent to Antioch, he brought Saul there from Tarsus, and the two taught together (Acts 11:22-26). The Antioch church sent them out on a journey through Cyprus and southern Asia Minor (Acts 13-14). At Lystra the crowd hailed Barnabas as Zeus (Acts 14:12). Acts calls both men apostles (Acts 14:14). Barnabas went with Paul to the Jerusalem meeting about Gentile believers (Acts 15:2-12; Galatians 2:1-9). Afterwards they argued over John Mark (called Barnabas's cousin in Colossians 4:10) and separated, and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus (Acts 15:36-39). Church tradition says he was martyred at Salamis. Clement of Alexandria credited him with the 'Epistle of Barnabas', but scholars treat that work as anonymous and later.