Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement
Luke introduces Barnabas, born Joseph, as a Levite and native of Cyprus (Acts 4:36). Joseph being the second most popular Jewish name of the Second Temple period, his nickname may have been necessary to distinguish him from the numerous others bearing the same name. Luke interprets the Aramaic “Barnabba” as meaning Son of Encouragement.
While it is difficult to determine the exact biblical relation between Levites and prophets (Second Chronicles 20:14ff), the fact that the B’rit Chadashah places Barnabas among the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1), and implies that he as a gifted evangelist (Acts 11:24, 14:12, 15:2) may reflect his education as a Levite. His freedom to travel may likewise support the suggestion that Levitical service at the Temple was not compulsory (Jeremias, Jerusalem: 213) and that some (many?) Levites could be town teachers. Despite the social standing of craftsmen, the profession of a scribe was not considered lucrative, most scribes beginning their apprenticeship at a comparatively late age when the families could afford to forgo their potentially decreased income. Since ordinary priests appear to have been considered rich, it seems reasonable to conclude that the scribal class came almost exclusively from wealthy, distinguished families – including Levites.
The fact that Barnabas owned property (Acts 4:37, 12:12) possibly reflected the wealth of his family. Despite the biblical limitations on Levitical sale of land (Numbers 35:1ff), both Jeremiah and Josephus – both from priestly families – apparently owned land (Jeremiah 32:6ff; Josephus Life 422). Whether such limitations applied in the Diaspora is not easy to tell, although it is declared: Be careful that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live . . . in your Land (Deuteronomy 12:19). This would not include the Diaspora, meaning that a Levite would have been no different than any other poor person and need not be supported (as a Levite).
It cannot be conclusively determined whether Barnabas’ estate was in Cyprus of Jerusalem. Some of his relatives apparently lived in the Eretz (Land of) Isra’el, his cousin’s mother (Miriam, John Mark’s mother) owned a house in Yerushalayim (Acts 12:12; Colossians 4:10) and Barnabas evidently lived, at least semi-permanently, in the City. If this family was also of Levitical ancestry, it is possible that they lived in the priestly quarters of the Upper City. Mnason, one of the early disciples, was also a Cypriot living in Zion (Acts 21:15-16).
According to Luke, Barnabas served as Paul’s first “mentor” on returning to Jerusalem as a follower of Yeshua after spending three-and-a-half years in Arabia, introducing him to Peter and James and witnessing to the authenticity of his calling (to see link click Ai – Harmony of Acts 9 and Galatians 1). Having been sent by the Messianic community in Jerusalem to Syrian Antioch, he, in turn, sought Paul out in Tarsus in order to have Paul join him in encouraging [the new Gentile believers] to remain true to the Lord with heartfelt devotion (Acts 11:22-23). Having taught together in the church at Syrian Antioch (see the commentary on Acts Bj – The Church in Syrian Antioch), the elders commissioned both Paul and Barnabas to send relief to those brothers and sisters living in Judea, each according to their ability (Acts 11:29).
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