Bible Verses About Barnabas

Thus Yosef, whom the emissaries called Bar-Nabba (which means “the Exhorter”), a Levi and a native of Cyprus,

sold a field which belonged to him and brought the money to the emissaries.

but under cover of night, his talmidim took him and let him down over the city wall, lowering him in a large basket.

On reaching Yerushalayim, he tried to join the talmidim; but they were all afraid of him — they didn’t believe he was a talmid.

However, Bar-Nabba got hold of him and took him to the emissaries. He told them how Sha’ul had seen the Lord while traveling, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Dammesek Sha’ul had spoken out boldly in the name of Yeshua.

In Iconium the same thing happened — they went into the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large number of both Jews and Greeks came to trust.

But the Jews who would not be persuaded stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Therefore, Sha’ul and Bar-Nabba remained for a long time, speaking boldly about the Lord, who bore witness to the message about his love and kindness by enabling them to perform signs and miracles.

However, the people of the city were divided — some sided with the unbelieving Jews, others with the emissaries.

Eventually the unbelievers, both Jews and Gentiles, together with their leaders, made a move to mistreat the emissaries, even to stone them;

but they learned of it and escaped to Lystra and Derbe, towns in Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,

where they continued proclaiming the Good News.

They began calling Bar-Nabba “Zeus” and Sha’ul “Hermes,” since he did most of the talking;

and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, intending to offer a sacrifice to them with the people.

When the emissaries Bar-Nabba and Sha’ul heard of it, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd, shouting,

“Men! Why are you doing this? We’re just men, human like you! We are announcing Good News to you — turn from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them!

In times past, he allowed all peoples to walk in their own ways;

yet he did not leave himself without evidence of his nature; because he does good things, giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, filling you with food and your hearts with happiness!”

Even saying this barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.

After some time, Sha’ul said to Bar-Nabba, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we proclaimed the message about the Lord, and see how they’re doing.”

Now Bar-Nabba wanted to take with them Yochanan, the one called Mark.

But Sha’ul thought it would be unwise to take this man with them, since he had gone off and left them in Pamphylia to do the work by themselves.

There was such sharp disagreement over this that they separated from each other, with Bar-Nabba taking Mark and sailing off to Cyprus.

Then after fourteen years I again went up to Yerushalayim, this time with Bar-Nabba; and I took with me Titus.

I went up in obedience to a revelation, and I explained to them the Good News as I proclaim it among the Gentiles — but privately, to the acknowledged leaders. I did this out of concern that my current or previous work might have been in vain.