The first time you see the name Barnabas mention was in Acts 4 were he sold some land gave it to the Apostles. 

Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ‬‬

Acts‬ ‭4:36-37‬ ‭ESV

We see that Barnabas’s real name was Joseph, Joseph was a very common name so they began calling him by his nature one that encourages people, Barnabas. We know that Jesus had more than twelve disciples, after sharing with a multitude in John 6, we see a group of disciples left Jesus, and He turned to his disciples and asked them a question.

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

John 6:66-67 ESV

When the disciples are mentioned we think of just the twelve but Jesus had more than twelve. In Luke 10 Jesus sent out seventy-two into the harvest and came back amazed the even the demons obey them. I believe the Barnabas might have been one of these disciples not of the twelve but of the seventy-two. In the gospels, a disciple name Joseph of Arimathea along with Nicodemus buried Jesus (John 19). So we can see that Jesus had many more disciples.  

The apostles may have known Barnabas for years, he may have even been one of the hundred and twenty in the upper room on Pentecost. The apostles would have known that Barnabas knew the teachings of Jesus and was a witness of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. The apostle honored and respected Barnabas’s opinions, he was the one that brought Saul (Paul) to the apostles in Jerusalem after his conversion and vouched for Paul. So when reports from Antioch came to the apostle they had no issue in sending Barnabas.

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”‬

Acts‬ ‭11:22-26‬ ‭ESV

Barnabas being one that encourages others and seeing the number to people to minister to, Barnabas went to Tarsus to retrieve Saul to help. Barnabas did not just send a message but went to get Saul himself. This is my conjecture Saul had to reconcile within his heart and with God of all, he did to the people of God before his conversion. The believers he imprisons, and possibly lead to their deaths. Saul could have been in a hard place and it took Barnabas the encourager to come alongside him to Antioch. Without this encouragement would of Saul ever became the Apostle Paul and the person who wrote a large portion of the New Testament.

“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

After years and many mission journeys together as Barnabas and Paul, there was a point and the bible is not clear of when it switched to Paul and Barnabas. As a good mentor, this was Barnabas’s desire for Saul to grow and be able to mentor another. Once Saul (Paul) was developed and secure in Jesus that he became a mentor to others and began his own journey.

APPLICATION

• What would your nickname be if the disciple knew you? based on your nature and character.
• Who are you mentoring?
• Learn how to help others to accomplish what God called them to do.