St. Barnabas

St. Barnabas was a Jew of the tribe of Levi, born on the island of Cyprus in the first century. His given name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas—'son of encouragement'—a name his whole life would justify. He appears first in the Acts of the Apostles as a model of the early Church's generosity, selling a field he owned and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet. Though not one of the Twelve, he is honored with the title of apostle because of his foundational missionary labors, and the Church has always counted him among the great figures of the apostolic age. Barnabas's gift was to see grace where others saw danger. When the newly converted Saul of Tarsus arrived in Jerusalem and the disciples feared him, it was Barnabas who vouched for him before the apostles. Later, sent by Jerusalem to oversee the astonishing growth of the church at Antioch—where the disciples were first called Christians—Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul and brought him into the work. Acts remembers him simply: 'he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.' Set apart with Paul by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas embarked on the first great missionary journey, preaching across his native Cyprus and into the cities of Asia Minor, enduring persecution and founding churches. He stood with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem in defense of the Gentile converts' freedom from the Mosaic law. Afterward the two friends parted over a disagreement about John Mark, Barnabas's cousin; true to his name, Barnabas took the young man with him back to Cyprus, a patient encouragement that bore fruit—Mark was later reconciled to Paul and gave the Church his Gospel. Scripture says nothing of Barnabas's death. According to tradition, he was martyred at Salamis in Cyprus around the year 61, stoned to death for preaching Christ. A fifth-century tradition relates the discovery of his tomb near Salamis, and the Monastery of St. Barnabas near modern Famagusta still marks the site venerated as his burial place. The Letter of Barnabas, an early Christian writing once attributed to him, is not considered his work. His feast is celebrated on June 11, and he is honored as a patron of Cyprus and of peacemakers.