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People of the Bible
Who Was Barnabas?
In short
Barnabas, whose name means 'son of encouragement,' was a generous, big-hearted leader of the early church. When others feared the newly converted Paul, Barnabas vouched for him.
He traveled with Paul spreading the gospel and had a gift for seeing the potential in people others had given up on, a model of encouragement and grace.
“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 · King James Version (public domain)
Barnabas at a glance
| Name | Barnabas |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Acts |
| Key passage on this page | Acts 11:24 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Acts 11:21
- Acts 5:14
- Psalms 112:5
- Acts 9:31
- Acts 6:5
- Acts 6:8
- Romans 15:15
- 2 Samuel 18:27
- Acts 6:3
- Psalms 37:23
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Barnabas in the Bible?
Barnabas appears in Acts. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Acts 11:24?
Readers most often set it next to Acts 11:21, Acts 5:14, Psalms 112:5, Acts 9:31.
Why does Barnabas matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Barnabas is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Father, you are already present in Barnabas, before any of us arrive. We bring you Barnabas, Acts. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, Acts 11:24, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Barnabas's story says about God, not only about Barnabas.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Christ meets people in a place, and then walks on with them. Here are doors that walk on.
Read the story of Barnabas
You can read the story of Barnabas in Acts on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
