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 "Joseph, a Levite,
born in Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (son of encouragement),
sold a field he owned, brought the money, and turned it over to the
apostles." (Acts 4:36f). This is the first mention we have of Barnabas.
His new name fits what we know of his actions. When Saul (or Paul) came to
Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the Christians there wanted nothing
to do with him. They had known him as a persecutor and an enemy of the
Church. But Barnabas was willing to give him a second chance. He looked him
up, spoke with him, and brought him to see the other Christians, vouching
for him. Later, Paul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey together,
taking Mark with them. Part way, Mark turned back and went home. When Paul
and Barnabas were about to set out on another such journey, Barnabas
proposed to take Mark along, and Paul was against it, saying that Mark had
shown himself undependable. Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance,
and so he and Mark went off on one journey, while Paul took Silas and went
on another. Apparently Mark responded well to the trust given him by the
"son of encouragement," since we find that Paul later speaks of him as a
valuable assistant (2 Tim 4:11; see also Col 4:10 and Phil 24).
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