Among the many figures in the book of Acts, there is one who is forever standing beside others, helping them succeed. He did not preach to three thousand souls the way Peter did, nor write the many letters that Paul left behind. Yet without him, the story of the early church might have unfolded very differently. His name was Barnabas—the man the apostles affectionately called the 「son of encouragement.」
A Man Given a New Name
He was a Levite, born on the island of Cyprus, and his name was Joseph. But when he appeared among the church in Jerusalem, the apostles gave him a new name. That name itself was a commentary on his very life.
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 4:36 (KJV)
The 「son of encouragement」 was a man who brought comfort, encouragement, and strength to others. God does not place everyone in the spotlight; often He raises up hearts that gladly help others shine—and Barnabas was exactly that kind of person.
Selling His Field, Laying It at the Apostles' Feet
In the early church, believers held all things in common and provided for one another. Barnabas did not stop at spoken enthusiasm; he actually gave away what he owned. 「Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.」 (Acts 4:37)
For a Levite, land was a rare possession, yet he offered it up without hesitation. This was no impulse of the moment, but a heart that valued the kingdom of God above its own wealth. Generosity has never been a question of how much money one has, but of whom the heart is set upon.
Vouching for the Saul Everyone Feared
After Saul came to Christ, his reputation as a persecutor of the church still left the disciples uneasy. When he arrived in Jerusalem, they all kept their distance and would not believe he was truly a disciple. In that awkward and dangerous moment, Barnabas stepped forward.
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.Acts 9:27 (KJV)
It was Barnabas who was willing to believe that a man could change, willing to vouch for him and lead him into the community. Had it not been for this act of welcome, the Paul who would one day write most of the New Testament might have remained shut out. Those who are gifted at encouraging others can often see the work God is already doing in someone's life.
A Good Man Sent to Antioch
When the gospel reached Antioch and many Gentiles turned to the Lord, the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas there. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he urged everyone to remain faithful and to cleave to the Lord with steadfast hearts. Scripture gives him the highest of commendations:
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.Acts 11:24 (KJV)
Behind the plain title 「a good man」 lay a life filled with the Holy Spirit and full of faith. He did not grab credit or pass judgment; he simply rejoiced to see what God was doing and brought people to the Lord.
The Heart to Go to Tarsus and Seek Saul
Faced with the enormous pastoral needs of Antioch, Barnabas did not keep the ministry to himself. Instead, he went all the way to Tarsus to seek out the Saul everyone else had forgotten, inviting him to serve alongside him. The two of them taught in the church together for a whole year.
He was willing to hand the stage to a younger, more gifted man. True maturity is not being afraid that others will surpass you, but delighting to see the kingdom of God enlarged as others rise. The greatness of Barnabas lay precisely in his willingness to take second place.
A Fellow Worker on the Road of Mission
Later, in the church at Antioch, the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul in particular and sent them out to preach the gospel. Together they walked the first missionary journey, passing through Cyprus and across Asia Minor, carrying the gospel to places that had never heard it. He did not merely provide and encourage; he set out in person on the hard and dangerous road of mission.
Even though the two later parted ways in a dispute over Mark, Barnabas still chose to take Mark with him, giving this young man—who had once shrunk back—a second chance. And that same Mark would one day write the Gospel of Mark. The heart of the son of encouragement never changed.
Lessons to Learn from Barnabas
The life of Barnabas shows us this: the church needs not only those who stand in the spotlight, but also those who support from the side and gladly help others succeed. A generous hand, a welcoming heart, an encouraging voice—these too are gifts that God delights to use. Perhaps you and I could each become someone's 「Barnabas.」
May you also be stirred by such a life. Open the BiblePro App and use 「chapter-by-chapter comparison」 to read closely through Acts chapters 4, 9, 11, and 13, and watch how the figure of Barnabas runs through them all. You can also use 「AI Search」 to explore the rich meaning of words like 「encouragement」 and 「consolation」 throughout Scripture. And may you step into a local church, where in a real community you will be encouraged—and go on to encourage others.
In this series
- 1Adam: The First Man, Formed from Dust and Bearing God's Image
- 2Eve: Mother of All Living, and Hope Planted in the Midst of Judgment
- 3Noah: The Righteous Man Who Walked with God and Built the Ark by Faith
- 4Abraham: The Father of Faith, Whose Journey Began by Leaving Home
- 5Sarah: Mother of Nations Who Spent a Lifetime Waiting on God's Promise
- 6Isaac: The Child of Promise and a Lifetime of Quiet Faith
- 7Rebekah: How a Girl Drawing Water at a Well Became Isaac's Wife
- 8Jacob: The Grasper Who Became Israel
- 9Joseph: How the Brother Who Was Sold Became a Savior
- 10Moses: From a Baby on the Nile to the Prophet Who Led Israel
- 11Aaron: Israel's First High Priest and the Mediator Who Atoned for the People
- 12Miriam: The Prophetess Who Watched by the River and Sang with a Timbrel
- 13Joshua: The Faithful Servant Who Took Up Moses' Mantle
- 14Caleb: The Warrior Who Wholly Followed the Lord
- 15Deborah: The Prophetess and Leader Who Rose in the Age of the Judges
- 16Gideon: The "Mighty Man of Valour" Hiding in a Winepress
- 17Samson: The Strong Man's Weakness and the Grace of God
- 18Ruth: How a Foreign Widow Entered the Family Line of David and Jesus
- 19Hannah: The Mother Who Prayed in the Temple
- 20Samuel: The Prophet Born of Prayer and Israel's Last Judge
- 21King Saul: The Glory and Fall of Israel's First King
- 22Jonathan: The Prince Who Gave Himself in Loyal, Self-Giving Love
- 23Solomon: The King Who Asked God for Wisdom, and the Warning of His Later Years
- 24Elijah: The Prophet Who Stood Bold Before Kings and Was Tenderly Cared For by God
- 25The Prophet Who Asked for a Double Portion: The Everyday Miracles of Elisha
- 26Hezekiah: The Reformer King Who Tore Down Idols and Trusted the LORD Alone
- 27Isaiah: Seeing the Lord's Glory and Saying 「Here am I; send me」
- 28Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet: Faithful to the End in a Hard-Hearted Age
- 29Josiah: The Boy King Who Took the Throne at Eight and Found the Book of the Law
- 30Ezra the Scribe: A Heart Set to Seek the Law of the LORD
- 31Nehemiah: The Praying Warrior Who Rebuilt from the Ruins
- 32Who Was Mordecai? A Faithful Jew in the Land of Exile
- 33Job: The Suffering Righteous Man, and Trusting God in Affliction
- 34Daniel: A Captive in a Foreign Land, Faithful to the End
- 35John the Baptist: The Voice in the Wilderness Who Prepared the Way
- 36Mary: A Young Woman Who Answered Grace with Obedience
- 37Nicodemus: The Man Who Came by Night — A Quiet Journey from Curiosity to Faith
- 38Peter: From Fisherman to Rock, a Failure Held Fast by Grace
- 39Andrew: The Disciple Who Brought People to Jesus
- 40John the Apostle: The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
- 41Thomas: From Honest Doubt to Falling Down in Worship
- 42Mary Magdalene: Set Free by the Lord, the First Witness to His Resurrection
- 43Barnabas: The Man They Called the 「Son of Encouragement」
- 44Timothy: Paul's True Son in the Faith
- 45Lydia: Europe's First Believer, an Open Heart and an Open Home
Carry deeper Bible study in your pocket
BiblePro brings AI-powered search, parallel translations, original-language tools and reading plans together — free to download, so you can study deeply anytime, anywhere.