Barnabas

2 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Barnabas
     son of consolation, the surname of Joses, a Levite (Acts 4:36).
     His name stands first on the list of prophets and teachers of
     the church at Antioch (13:1). Luke speaks of him as a "good man"
     (11:24). He was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He
     was a native of Cyprus, where he had a possession of land (Acts


     4:36, 37), which he sold. His personal appearance is supposed to
     have been dignified and commanding (Acts 14:11, 12). When Paul
     returned to Jerusalem after his conversion, Barnabas took him
     and introduced him to the apostles (9:27). They had probably
     been companions as students in the school of Gamaliel.
     
       The prosperity of the church at Antioch led the apostles and
     brethren at Jerusalem to send Barnabas thither to superintend
     the movement. He found the work so extensive and weighty that he
     went to Tarsus in search of Saul to assist him. Saul returned
     with him to Antioch and laboured with him for a whole year (Acts
     11:25, 26). The two were at the end of this period sent up to
     Jerusalem with the contributions the church at Antioch had made
     for the poorer brethren there (11:28-30). Shortly after they
     returned, bringing John Mark with them, they were appointed as
     missionaries to the heathen world, and in this capacity visited
     Cyprus and some of the principal cities of Asia Minor (Acts
     13:14). Returning from this first missionary journey to Antioch,
     they were again sent up to Jerusalem to consult with the church
     there regarding the relation of Gentiles to the church (Acts
     15:2: Gal. 2:1). This matter having been settled, they returned
     again to Antioch, bringing the decree of the council as the rule
     by which Gentiles were to be admitted into the church.
     
       When about to set forth on a second missionary journey, a
     dispute arose between Saul and Barnabas as to the propriety of
     taking John Mark with them again. The dispute ended by Saul and
     Barnabas taking separate routes. Saul took Silas as his
     companion, and journeyed through Syria and Cilicia; while
     Barnabas took his nephew John Mark, and visited Cyprus (Acts
     15:36-41). Barnabas is not again mentioned by Luke in the Acts.
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  Barnabas, son of the prophet, or of consolation