Act 4:36 | KingComments | STEP | Among all those who sell their possessions and bring the money to the apostles’ feet, there is also Joseph, who was nicknamed “Barnabas” by the apostles. His name is mentioned at least twenty-five times in Acts and five more times in Paul’s letters. Luke gives the meaning of his name. Literally in Aramaic his name means ‘son (bar) of prophecy (naba)’. So Luke does not give a literal translation, but he immediately gives the fully permitted specific meaning to ‘prophecy’ of ‘encouragement’ (cf. ). This will be because from his performance mentioned below it appears that encouraging is his specific gift ( ). Barnabas is a Cyprian by birth, i.e. he was born in the dispersion and later came to Israel. He was born outside the land, but is a descendant of Levi. The fact that he owned land is remarkable because a Levite was not allowed to have land of his own ( ; ). How Barnabas got it is not clear. Possibly he had a piece of land on Cyprus, to which the Jewish law did not apply. Like the others who sell their land, he shows that the blessing is no longer earthly, but that he participates in heavenly, spiritual blessings.

‏ Acts 4:36

Barnabas

Among all those who sell their possessions and bring the money to the apostles’ feet, there is also Joseph, who was nicknamed “Barnabas” by the apostles. His name is mentioned at least twenty-five times in Acts and five more times in Paul’s letters.

Luke gives the meaning of his name. Literally in Aramaic his name means ‘son (bar) of prophecy (naba)’. So Luke does not give a literal translation, but he immediately gives the fully permitted specific meaning to ‘prophecy’ of ‘encouragement’ (cf. 1Cor 14:3). This will be because from his performance mentioned below it appears that encouraging is his specific gift (Acts 11:23).

Barnabas is a Cyprian by birth, i.e. he was born in the dispersion and later came to Israel. He was born outside the land, but is a descendant of Levi. The fact that he owned land is remarkable because a Levite was not allowed to have land of his own (Num 18:20; Deu 10:9). How Barnabas got it is not clear. Possibly he had a piece of land on Cyprus, to which the Jewish law did not apply. Like the others who sell their land, he shows that the blessing is no longer earthly, but that he participates in heavenly, spiritual blessings.