Who Was Barnabas? The Great Encourager

Barnabas may not be as famous as Peter or Paul, but the early church could hardly have thrived without him. Known as the great encourager, he had a gift for believing in people and lifting them up. Here's who Barnabas was.

The son of encouragement

His real name was Joses, but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas — 'the son of consolation,' or encouragement. The name captured his character. He was generous, warm, and always ready to build others up. It's telling that of all the traits they could have named him for, they chose encouragement.

Generous with his resources

Barnabas first appears selling a field and laying the money at the apostles' feet to help the needy in the church. His generosity was practical and open-handed, meeting real needs. He held his possessions loosely, ready to give for the good of others.

Believing in Paul

When the newly converted Paul — formerly a persecutor — came to the church, everyone was afraid of him. It was Barnabas who took the risk, vouched for him, and brought him to the apostles. Without Barnabas's willingness to believe in him, Paul's ministry might never have begun. Barnabas saw potential others feared.

Restoring a failure

Later, when a young helper named Mark had deserted them on a mission, Barnabas was willing to give him a second chance, even parting ways with Paul over it. Mark went on to become useful again and even wrote a Gospel. Barnabas's belief in a failure helped restore him.

Barnabas was the great encourager — generous with his money, willing to believe in a feared convert, and ready to give a failure a second chance. His quiet ministry of encouragement shaped the whole early church, launching Paul and restoring Mark. His life is a reminder that encouragers change history, and that believing in people, as God believes in us, is a powerful and needed gift.