Protos

Who was Barnabas in the Bible?

Levite, in the New Testament era

Barnabas whose original name was Joseph or Joses, was a prominent figure in the early Christian church. Barnabas appears in 28 verses across 4 books of the Bible.

What does the Bible say about Barnabas?

Barnabas, whose original name was Joseph or Joses, was a prominent figure in the early Christian church. He was a Levite from the island of Cyprus (Act.4.36) who sold his land and brought the money to the apostles, demonstrating his generosity and commitment to the faith. Barnabas played a crucial role in introducing the newly converted Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem, vouching for his sincerity (Act.9.27). The church in Jerusalem later sent Barnabas to Antioch, where he encouraged the believers and brought Paul to minister there (Act.11.22-26). Barnabas and Paul were then commissioned by the Holy Spirit to embark on a missionary journey (Act.13.2), during which they preached the gospel and established churches in various cities. Barnabas was also involved in the dispute concerning the acceptance of Gentile believers and accompanied Paul to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). He later separated from Paul due to a disagreement over taking Mark on another journey (Act.15.36-39). Barnabas continued his ministry with Mark, while Paul chose Silas as his new companion. In the New Testament epistles, Barnabas is mentioned as a fellow laborer and an example of one who worked for the gospel without relying on financial support from the churches (1Co.9.6). He was recognized as a pillar of the church alongside James and Peter (Gal.2.9). Barnabas' ministry was characterized by encouragement, generosity, and a commitment to spreading the gospel message.

Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.

Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.

Where does Barnabas appear in the Bible?

Barnabas is referenced in 28 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

Acts 23Galatians 31 Corinthians 1Colossians 1

Showing the first 24 of 28.

Open all 28 references in Protos

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Barnabas.

PaulJerusalemAntiochMarkCyprusGentiles

Common questions

How many times does the Bible mention Barnabas?

Barnabas appears in 28 verses across 4 books, most often in Acts, which accounts for 23 of them.

Which books of the Bible mention Barnabas?

Acts, Galatians, 1 Corinthians, Colossians.

Where can I read every verse about Barnabas?

This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 28, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.

Read it in context

Read Acts with Barnabas explained on the verse.

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