Barnabas first shows up selling a field and laying the money at the apostles' feet. The apostles had already given him a nickname: son of encouragement. It stuck because it was true. When the church in Jerusalem was afraid of Saul, Barnabas took him by the arm and brought him in.
He was not flawless. He once got swept along by Peter's hypocrisy at Antioch, and he split with Paul over a young man named Mark. But even that fight was about giving someone a second chance. Barnabas spent his life standing next to people at the moment they most needed it.
“
...he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
Name means
Son of encouragement (); his given name was Joseph
Home
Born on Cyprus, a Levite; later Jerusalem and Antioch
Role
Early church leader, missionary partner of Paul
Read in
to 15; ; ;
Barnabas's story
The sharp disagreement
Beginning
Sells his field
A Levite from Cyprus sells land and gives the money to the apostles. The church gives him a new name.
High point
Vouches for Saul
The disciples in Jerusalem are afraid of their former persecutor. Barnabas brings Saul to the apostles and tells them what the Lord did on the road.
High point
Sent to Antioch
He sees the grace of God among new Gentile believers and is glad. He goes to Tarsus to find Saul and brings him to help.
High point
Set apart for mission
The Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul out. At Lystra the crowds call him Zeus, and he tears his clothes to stop them.
Turning point
Led astray at Antioch
When Peter pulls back from eating with Gentiles, Barnabas follows. Paul says even Barnabas was led astray.
Ending
Splits with Paul over Mark
Barnabas wants to give Mark another chance. Paul refuses. They part ways, and Barnabas sails to Cyprus with Mark.
Starts as a generous Levite with a field to sell. Ends as a man still betting on a young failure.
Where Barnabas lived and went
Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.
HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.
How Barnabas is wired
The Helper
Enneagram 2, Reformer wing
He wanted people to belong, and he moved toward anyone left on the outside.
This one is debated. Here's why we land here.
At their best, toward 4 Under stress, toward 8
Why we think so
1
Gives himself first. He sells his own field and lays the money at the apostles' feet. ()
2
Stands next to the outsider. He brings Saul to the apostles when everyone else is afraid. ()
3
Bets on people. He insists on taking Mark again after Mark had left them. ()
The Reformer wing shows in his moral zeal. When the crowd at Lystra tries to worship him, he tears his clothes and rushes in to stop them. ()
The Individualist. Little recorded.
The Challenger. Under pressure his loyalty hardens into a fight. The disagreement with Paul is sharp enough that they separate. ()
The case for 9
Barnabas goes along with the group at Antioch and is led astray by Peter's hypocrisy. That reads like a Peacemaker avoiding conflict. But he also holds his ground hard against Paul over Mark, which a 9 usually avoids.
Other lenses
Big Five. Read from what he says and does in Acts and Paul's letters.
ReservedOutgoing
SteadyReactive
ChallengingAccommodating
SpontaneousDisciplined
TraditionalCurious
DISC style: Warm, steady advocate.
Strengths & struggles
What's good in Barnabas
Generous with money and with trust. Quick to see God's grace in others. Builds bridges between groups who are wary of each other. Willing to take second place to a more gifted partner.
Where Barnabas struggles
Can be swept along by the people around him (). His loyalty to people can make him dig in when there is conflict ().
What Barnabas wanted most
To see people welcomed in and kept in, especially those others had written off.
What Barnabas feared most
Scripture does not say. His choices suggest he could not bear to see someone left out or cast off.
Barnabas stood up for Saul before the church, which pictures Christ standing up for sinners before the Father.
Barnabas gave a field and spoke for a man nobody trusted. Christ gave far more and speaks for people with no case of their own. “...we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” ().
Questions to sit with
1
Who in your life needs someone to vouch for them right now?
2
When have you gone along with a group in a way that quietly excluded someone?
Study Barnabas with your group
Ready-to-lead group studies with discussion questions and a leader's note are on the way.
