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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 4:36 - 4:36
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Barnabas (Barnabas). His name was Joseph (correct text, and not Jesus) and he is mentioned as one illustration of those in Act 4:34who selling brought the money. The apostles gave him the nickname Barnabas by which later he was known because of this noble deed. This fact argues that all did not actually sell, but were ready to do so if needed. Possibly Joseph had a larger estate than some others also. The meaning of the nickname is given by Luke as “son of consolation or exhortation” (huios paraklēseōs). Doubtless his gifts as a preacher lay along this same line. Rackham thinks that the apostles gave him this name when he was recognized as a prophet. In Act 11:23 the very word parekalei (exhorted) is used of Barnabas up at Antioch. He is the type of preacher described by Paul in 1Co 14:3. Encouragement is the chief idea in paraklēsis though exhortation, comfort, consolation are used to render it (Act 9:31; Act 13:15; Act 15:31). See also Act 16:9; Act 20:12. It is not necessary to think that the apostles coined the name Barnabas for Joseph which originally may have come from Barnebous (Deissmann, Bible Studies, pp. 308-10), son of Nebo, or even the Hebrew Bar Nebi (son of a prophet). But, whatever the origin, the popular use is given by Luke. He was even called apostle along with Paul (Act 14:14) in the broad sense of that word.