Bible Strands
Acts 4:36
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text identifies Joseph within a narrative account of the Jerusalem church’s resource distribution. It occurs at the moment the apostles record the voluntary surrender of property by a member of the community.
The words — ἐπικληθεὶς (epiklētheis) = having been called. This participle marks the transition from his birth name to the designation the apostles assigned him.
The thread — The narrative introduction connects to later accounts where Paul references his companionship with this same figure in Galatians 2:1, 2:9, 2:13.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that early church leadership assigned functional titles to members based on their service. It asks the reader to account for how communal identity and resource stewardship are formally recognized within the apostolic framework.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Cross-references
- Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
- Galatians 2:9 And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
- Galatians 2:13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
- Acts 15:39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
- Acts 11:22 When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
- Acts 11:30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
- Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
- Acts 15:37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
- Acts 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.
- 1 Corinthians 9:6 Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?