Barnabas, the Son of Consolation

Although Barnabas is mentioned numerous times in the scriptures, there is more to his life than we see on the surface. This short article is intended to shine a little more light into who Barnabas, the son of consolation, was.

His original name was Joses, according to 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,

The name Joses (Greek ioses) is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew name Yoseph (Joseph). In America, we’d call him “Joe”.

Barnabas was a Levite living in the country of Cyprus. Being a Levite indicates he likely grew up seeing his father carry out some ministerial duties at the local synagogue. All Jewish boys were familiar with the word of God, but especially one who grew up as a Levite.

Barnabas was the uncle of John Mark according to Colossians 4:10  Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas…

This sister of Barnabas is named Mary, and it was in her house where the disciples were praying when the apostle Peter was liberated from jail by an angel.

Acts 12:11-12  And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.  (12)  And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

The name Barnabas is broken down into two parts; Bar (Aramaic for the son of) and Nabas (prophecy; comfort). While he is called the son of consolation, his name could also be translated as the son of prophecy.

Although these were Jews, Aramaic is used along with Greek in translating the New Testament.

The equivalent Hebrew words to the Aramaic Bar nabas (the son of prophecy or the son of comfort), are Ben nabiy (nabee).  These words are used in such scriptures as 2nd Kings 2:3  And the sons of the prophets (ben nabiy) that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha…

Joses likely received the surname, Barnabas, the son of consolation (comfort and encouragement), because he liked to encourage others, which takes a certain amount of leadership and personal sacrifice because it involves more giving than taking.

We know Barnabas showed forth this kind of leadership because he was the first to reach out to Saul, who had been persecuting the churches before finally getting saved.

Acts 9:26-27  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.  (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 name of Jesus.

Just because his surname means the son of consolation, does not necessarily mean Barnabas did not have a strong personality.

I’m sure that before bringing Saul to the other apostles, Barnabas had a very frank and detailed discussion with Saul to ensure that he was telling the truth about his conversion and that Saul had genuinely been saved.

This Saul would later be known as Paul, who would go on to start several Christian churches, lead many lost people to Christ, and write 14 of the 27 books in the New Testament.

Barnabas played a significant role in Paul’s success by giving him a chance when others would not!

Although there is more that could likely be written about Barnabas, we see there is more to his life than what appears on the surface.

This article is meant to shine a little more light into who Barnabas, the son of consolation, was.

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Pastor Fulmer