ApostolicEarly Church

Barnabas

1st century AD

Cypriot Jewish follower of Jesus who supported the Jerusalem community, introduced Paul, and shared in the early Gentile mission.

B
BornCyprus
TraditionEarly Church
EraApostolic

Life and Historical Setting

Acts calls him Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, and explains Barnabas as a nickname. He sells property for the community, sponsors the newly converted Saul, and is sent to investigate the mixed Jewish-Gentile church at Antioch.12

Work and Contribution

Barnabas and Paul undertake a mission together and defend Gentile inclusion. Their later dispute over John Mark ends the partnership, preserving a rare account of durable disagreement among respected missionaries.23

Reception and Influence

Later Cypriot tradition claims Barnabas as an apostolic founder. The anonymous Epistle of Barnabas and Acts of Barnabas were attributed to him, but modern scholarship generally does not treat them as his compositions.34

Evidence, Debate, and Interpretation

Acts gives Barnabas a larger role than Paul's letters do, while Galatians reports that he joined Peter's withdrawal from Gentile meals at Antioch. Reading both sources resists turning him into either an uncomplicated hero or a mere assistant.41

Sources and further reading

  1. Primary sourceEpistle of Barnabas (later attribution)Barnabas, late 1st–early 2nd century; consult a critical or authorized edition
  2. Academic scholarshipThe Cambridge History of Christianity: Origins to ConstantineCambridge University Press
  3. Academic scholarshipThe New Testament and Early ChristianityPrimary texts and critical historical studies
  4. Reference workOxford Dictionary of National Biography and regional biographical scholarshipOxford University Press and specialist reference works

Paragraph citations point to starting sources. They do not imply that every source is neutral or that sources agree with one another.

Editorial record

Source-guided profile

Version 1 · Updated

Narrative synthesis with paragraph-level starting citations. Evidence, tradition, debate, and uncertainty are labeled separately.

  1. v1 · 2026-08-25Figure profile added to or upgraded within Feason’s connected Christian encyclopedia.
Contemporary evidence
Material or textual evidence created near the person, place, or event.
Tradition
Later community memory, devotion, or institutional claim, attributed to its holders.
Historical debate
More than one responsible interpretation remains in active discussion.
Unknown
The surviving record cannot presently establish a confident answer.

Known For

  • Mission with Paul
  • Jerusalem and Antioch Churches
  • Encouragement

Key Works

Epistle of Barnabas (later attribution)late 1st–early 2nd century

Influenced By

  • Jesus Movement
  • Jerusalem Church

Influenced

  • Paul the Apostle
  • John Mark
  • Cypriot Christianity

Related Figures

P
Paul the Apostlec. 5 – c. 64 AD
P
Peter the Apostle1st century – c. 60s
M
Mark the Evangelist1st century AD

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