Barnabas

The nickname of a helpful, generous follower of Jesus. His name was Joseph, but the apostles called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” Barnabas and Paul were good friends. Barnabas spoke up for Paul when the apostles still feared him. He later traveled with Paul as a missionary. Barnabas’s young cousin, John Mark, went with them. Later Paul and Barnabas disagreed when planning their second missionary trip. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along again. Paul didn’t, because John Mark left the first trip early. Finally, Paul and Barnabas separated. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus (Barnabas’s old home). Paul chose another companion, Silas, and went to Asia Minor (now called Turkey). Some scholars think Barnabas wrote the book of Hebrews, though no one knows for sure.