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Acts Facts
URL http://www.cortright.org/actfact1.htm
© Copyright 2000 Michael Cortright
Barnabas was a Levite. According to the Old Testament law (which the Judean believers were still attempting to keep in these opening chapters of the book of Acts) the Levites were designated as those who were responsible for services in the Temple of Solomon and the Judean synagogues. Levites were to live from the tithes of the people and were not to own land. Barnabas was a Levite who owned land which would have been contrary to the law of Moses. As believers were attempting to clean up their lives and walk the Word together after being born again on the day of Pentecost, they began to sell their pluralities and share of their abundance. Barnabas must have felt guilty about owning land as a Levite and so he sold it and brought the price of the land to the apostles to be shared to meet the needs of the believers.
These verses also tell us that Barnabas was from the country of Cyprus. It is interesting to note that when Paul and Barnabas left Antioch on their first outreach journey that they went first to the isle of Cyprus.
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.
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.
When Paul first approached the believers in Jerusalem after being born again they were afraid of him. After all, he had been responsible for persecuting the church and having believers put to death. Barnabas, as an elder helping a young believer, received Paul and brought him in to the apostles. This act began what was to be a long close working relationship in which these two men brought the Word of God to the Gentiles of Asia Minor.
Acts 11:22-25
Then tidings of these things [that a great number of Gentiles had believed] came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seek Saul:
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples where called Christians first in Antioch.
After Peter opened the Word of God to the Gentiles, some believers spoke the Word of God to more Gentiles and great number believed. When Jerusalem heard this they sent Barnabas, as a leader in the church, to check it out. When Barnabas saw the grace of God he went an got Paul and the two of them began teaching these new Gentile believers a foundational knowledge of the Word of God in Antioch. Here also is evidence that Barnabas and Paul first began teaching "Christ in You" which, when the unbelieving Gentiles heard, they began calling the believers "Christians." The origin of this term was a derogatory name given to the believers by unbelieving Gentiles in Antioch.
This record tells us that Barnabas was a leader. He was "filled to overflowing" with holy spirit and with spiritual believing - which means he operated manifestations and walked with great believing on that which God was revealing to him.
Acts 11:29-30, 12:25
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Prior to the outreach journey that begins in Acts Chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas had taken financial support to the Judean believers in Jerusalem from the Gentile believers in Antioch. While in Jerusalem they picked up Barnabas' nephew (John Mark - Colossians 4:10) who accompanied them back to Antioch. It is also interesting to note that when Peter had been released from prison by the angel in Acts Chapter 12 that he had gone first to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark - Barnabas' sister.
Acts 15:39
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Barnabas continued to work closely with Paul until the issue of law VS grace and the inclusion of John Mark in the next outreach journey caused a split between them. Barnabas goes back to Cyprus which was where he was from according to Acts Chapter 4 and is never mentioned again in the book of Acts.
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Acts Facts