Barnabas was born in Cyprus. His given name was Joseph; the apostles gave him the Hebrew name Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement," in honor of his work in the church. (Acts 4:36) Joseph Barnabas was born into a Jewish family, members of the tribe of Levi. As Jews of the Diaspora living outside of Palestine, they would have spoken Greek. We don't know when Barnabas came to Palestine. He may have been in the company of disciples who traveled with Jesus; some of the early church writers thought so. If he did not know Jesus before the crucifixion, Barnabas heard the apostles' preaching very soon after Pentecost.

Barnabas believed in the power of the gospel message to change people's hearts. He was the one who persuaded the apostles and the church in Jerusalem that Paul had been converted from a persecutor to an apostle. (Acts 9:26-27) Barnabas was one of the first to understand that the mission of the church was universal. He argued forcefully that Gentile converts did not have to be circumcised or follow the Jewish dietary customs. (Acts 15) The apostles sent him to strengthen the Christians in Antioch. He invited Paul to join him in this work. (Acts 11) The Antioch community sent Barnabas and Paul on a missionary journey together. They preached in synagogues throughout Asia Minor. When the community wanted to send them on a second journey, Paul and Barnabas found that they could no longer work together. Their disagreement was over a person, Mark, who had deserted them in the middle of their first journey. Barnabas wanted to give him another chance, but Paul didn't. So, Barnabas and Mark set off for Cyprus, while Paul and Silas went in a different direction.

We don't know how or when Barnabas died. Legend says he was martyred in Cyprus, his home. Our parish patron is a Christian with a foot in two cultures, a bridge between the Greek-speaking converts and the Hebrew speaking Jews of Palestine who were Jesus' earliest followers. Barnabas gives us a powerful example of openness in his sponsorship of Paul. He is a team player who knows the value of working with others, a collaborator in ministry. His willingness to give Mark a second chance shows us that Barnabas is a person of reconciliation. Barnabas faced many of the same challenges that we face now. As we celebrate his life and feast (June 11), let's pray that we will have the same spirit that he did. Across the centuries, Barnabas is still a "Son of Encouragement."