Barnabas was a Jew of Cyprus. He was closely associated with St.Paul. He introduced Paul to Peter. When a Christian community developed at Antioch, Barnabas was sent as the official representative of the Church to incorporate them into the fold.

His own story is told in the Acts of the Apostles. He appears in the context of the early believers sharing all their possessions, so that there was not a needy person among them. He was not one of the original apostles and was originally named Joseph but renamed ‘Barnabas’ (which means son of encouragement). He is spoken of simply as one who dedicated his life to the Lord. He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.