Barnabas aka Joseph

Barnabas (whose birth name was Joseph) was a Levite from Cyprus. Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” Barnabas is first mentioned in Acts 4:36-37 which states Barnabas sold property to fund the work of the apostles. When many believers feld Jerusalem to escape persecution, Barnabas chose to stay behind (see Acts 8:1-8 and Acts 11:19-22). After Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, many believers were afraid of Paul who had a history of persecuting Christians but Acts 9:27 says Barnabas alligned himself with Paul and brought him to the apostles.