[1] : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

barnabas
   son of consolation, the surname of joses, a levite acts 4:36.
   his name stands first on the list of prophets and teachers of
   the church at antioch 13:1. luke speaks of him as a "good man"
   11:24. he was born of jewish parents of the tribe of levi. he
   was a native of cyprus, where he had a possession of land acts
   4:36, 37, which he sold. his personal appearance is supposed to
   have been dignified and commanding acts 14:11, 12. when paul
   returned to jerusalem after his conversion, barnabas took him
   and introduced him to the apostles 9:27. they had probably
   been companions as students in the school of gamaliel.
   
     the prosperity of the church at antioch led the apostles and
   brethren at jerusalem to send barnabas thither to superintend
   the movement. he found the work so extensive and weighty that he
   went to tarsus in search of saul to assist him. saul returned
   with him to antioch and laboured with him for a whole year acts
   11:25, 26. the two were at the end of this period sent up to
   jerusalem with the contributions the church at antioch had made
   for the poorer brethren there 11:28-30. shortly after they
   returned, bringing john mark with them, they were appointed as
   missionaries to the heathen world, and in this capacity visited
   cyprus and some of the principal cities of asia minor acts
   13:14. returning from this first missionary journey to antioch,
   they were again sent up to jerusalem to consult with the church
   there regarding the relation of gentiles to the church acts
   15:2: gal. 2:1. this matter having been settled, they returned
   again to antioch, bringing the decree of the council as the rule
   by which gentiles were to be admitted into the church.
   
     when about to set forth on a second missionary journey, a
   dispute arose between saul and barnabas as to the propriety of
   taking john mark with them again. the dispute ended by saul and
   barnabas taking separate routes. saul took silas as his
   companion, and journeyed through syria and cilicia; while
   barnabas took his nephew john mark, and visited cyprus acts
   15:36-41. barnabas is not again mentioned by luke in the acts.
   

[2] : Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's)

barnabas, son of the prophet, or of consolation

Barnabas >> B Words
Barnabas, definition of term: Barnabas
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