Barnabas :: essays research papers

BarnabasI. Who was Barnabas?II. Where is he first manpowertioned in the Bible?III. Barnabas introduction of Saul to the apostlesIV. His mission work with PaulV. His handout from PaulVI. Barnabas as a writer VII. His Death     Barnabas was a native of the island of Cyprus. His birthplace makes hima Jew of the Diaspora, the dispersion of Jews outside Palestine or modern Israel.He was origin on the wholey progress tod Joseph but the apostles called him Barnabas, he probablyacquired this name because of his ability as a preacher. The name Barnabas wasunderstood by Luke to mean "Son of Encouragement" (Acts 436). Barnabas was anapostle of the secondary group, companion of Paul on his mission to Cyprus andthe Pisidian mainland.     Barnabas first appears in Lukes account of communal living in theJerusalem church, as a gentleman of some means who gave to the church the proceedsfrom the sale of a piece land, "Barnabas sold a field he ow ned and brought themoney and put it at the apostles feet" (Acts 436-37).     After the stoning of Stephen in Acts 754-81, the church was persecutedand scattered, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church atJerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea andSamaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began todestroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women andput them in prison" Acts 81-3. In Acts 926-27, "Saul tries to join thedisciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he real was adisciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told themhow Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him,and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." Barnabasthus belongs to the company of first converts in Jerusalem who were won by theapostolic preaching, if not by Jesus hims elf.     Though not a native, Barnabas had the combine of the apostles. Laterhe was sent to join the company of workers at Antioch, to preach to Jews,Hellenists, and Greeks (Acts 1119-22). As the work of the Antioch churchexpanded and more workers were needed, Barnabas went over to Tarsus and brought dressing with him Saul. It seems that Barnabas was the leader of the Antioch church,and the order which Luke gives, "Barnabas and Saul," indicates the pre-eminence.It was "Barnabas and Saul" who carried relief funds from Antioch to the famine-stricken Jerusalem (Acts 1130).