St. Barnabas 35. Britain, Cyprus, and Martyrdom. St. Paul likely spent the winter of 57/58 AD in Corinth (cf., 1 Cor 16:5-6), where he wrote his letter to the Romans. Among the many people he greets is the “household,” or “family,” “of Aristobulus” (Ro 16:10). This expression, “household” or “family,” implies that St. Aristobulus may not himself have then been present in Rome, but his extended family was. So where might Aristobulus, the brother-in-law of Barnabas, have been?  There are several reports that both Aristobulus and Barnabas were sent by St. Paul to Britain in order to prepare the way for Paul’s desired missionary work in Britain. Christianity had previously arrived in Britain, purportedly by Joseph of Aramathea. [1] Aristobulus assisted the Apostle St. Andrew in his evangelization, and was also appointed the first Bishop of Britain [2], which may have been in 63 AD [3], although he likely had arrived in 58 AD [4]. St. Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre, writing in 303...

St. Barnabas 32. In Macedonia and Corinth (Again?)       Last week’s article concluded that about 55-56 AD, St. Barnabas was evangelizing inland in Western Asia (today’s Turkey), probably around Colossae, while St. Mark had remained with St. Paul, who was at the time probably imprisoned at Ephesus, which lies at the Western coast of the Agean Sea. Upon Paul’s release (probably early Spring 57 AD) from the “uproar” at Ephesus ( Ac 20:1 ), he left for Macedonia ( Ac 20:1-2 ). It was from there ( 2 Cor 7:5 ) that Paul and Timothy ( 2 Cor 1:1 ) wrote the second letter to the Church at Corinth in advance of Paul’s coming there.       Now Paul writes that Titus will be coming to Corinth first (so likely carried this second letter to the Church) and, “With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel, and not only that, but he has been appointed by the Churches to travel with us in this gracious work whic...

  St. Barnabas 31. Evangelization in Asia.       Continuing our lengthy biography of St. Barnabas, last week we discussed his and St. Mark’s evangelization on the island of Cyprus (about 50 AD and following). The next reference in Scripture is St. Paul’s reference to Barnabas in 1 Corinthians 9 (written about 54 AD) which, from the context, indicates that the Corinthians (in Greece) must have known Barnabas first-hand, with the reasonable probability that Paul and Barnabas had evangelized together.       It is further interesting that in Philemon24 , Paul includes Mark in a list of “fellow workers” sending greetings (and thus there with Paul), but Barnabas is not included. Also, in Colossians 4:10 Paul writes, “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions–if he comes to you, receive him).” Paul also says these two, and Justus, are the “only men of the circumcision...

St. Barnabas 30. Back to Cyprus.       It is now 50 AD. Imperial Rome is at the height of its political, economic, and military power. [1] According to a tradition of the Eastern Church, St. Matthew finished writing his Gospel in Aramaic this year, having begun six years earlier. [2]       St. Barnabas and St. Mark have left Antioch of Syria for the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus. St. Luke does not mention Barnabas further in the book of Acts, so we look elsewhere.       There exists a work called the Acts of Barnabas  or, more fully, The Travels and the Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Barnabas , which scholars date no earlier than the 5th Century. It purports to be written by St. Mark, who writes in the first person. Some aspects (such as Mark’s own conversion, and the cause of the split between Barnabas and Paul) tend to be inconsistent with Scripture, other aspects (such the timing and manner of Barnabas’ death) is ...

  St. Barnabas 29. Parting of the Ways. God the Holy Spirit, with the Apostles and Elders of the Church, had now clearly spoken that Gentile believers were full members of the Church without circumcision and without the burden of the entire Jewish Law.  We are told “Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also” ( Ac 15:35 ). We know the Church at Antioch of Syria was rich with prophets and teachers ( Ac 13:1 ), and in the roughly nine years since St. Barnabas was first sent to Antioch ( Ac 11:22 ) and Euodious appointed second Bishop of Antioch (after St. Peter), no doubt the Church continued to grow with these “many others” teaching and preaching as well. But the Letter from the Apostles and Elders was not just for the Antiochian Church. It was also for all the Gentile Churches which Barnabas and Paul had previously founded in the couple years prior. So it is no surprise that St. Luke writes, “After some days ...

St. Barnabas 20. Antioch of Pisidia       After the departure of John Mark at the seaport town of Perga ( Ac 13:13 ), St. Paul and St. Barnabas made the five- or six-day journey up the coastal mountains on to the high plateau (mesa) where the city of Antioch of Pisidia (“of the hills”) was located ( Ac 13:14 ). Initially the road went through a thickly populated and beautiful coastal area (along today’s southern coast of Turkey), but as they climbed up, the trees thinned out, the houses became fewer, and the road more rocky and dangerous – not only from its steepness but also from outlaws. The road was so dangerous that merchants would only travel the route together and with armed guards. But Paul and Barnabas made it through safely.       They sought out the synagogue and on the Sabbath attended services ( Ac 13:14-16 ), Barnabas obviously gave way to Paul to speak. “Men of Israel, and you that fear God.” That was new! Paul acknowledged and ...

  St. Barnabas 19. Ordaining Lazarus as Bishop . Last week we left St. Barnabas, St. Paul (Saul), and St. Mark on the Island of Cyprus, traveling on their first missionary journey.  According to a tradition of the Eastern Church, when the missionaries were “going through the whole island” of Cyprus ( Ac 13:6 ), they traveled along the southern coastal region still called Larnaca today, and came to a town then called Kition, where St. Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead ( Jn 11:38-44 ) was then living. According to Scripture and the tradition of the Cypriot Church, St. Lazarus was compelled to seek refuge away from Jerusalem to avoid the anger of the high priests and the Pharisees, who wanted to kill him ( Jn 12:9-11 ). Like other believers ( Ac 11:19 ), Lazarus would have had to leave Judea to seek refuge in another country, and apparently made his way to the town of Kition on Cyprus (cf., Ac 11:19 ). When the Apostles Saul/Paul and Barnabas then came to Kition, the...

St. Barnabas 18. On to Cyprus. St. Barnabas, Saul, and Mark sailed from the Antiochian port city of Seleucia heading for the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, about 100 miles away. They land at Salamis along the eastern coast, initially preaching in the synagogues ( Ac 13:5 ). Salamis was Barnabas’ birthplace and would, in the future, be the place of his martyrdom, [1] so undoubtedly he (and his nephew Mark) would have had relatives there. Each Jewish synagogue in the diaspora (i.e., Gentile lands) had a hospice (overnight accommodation with kosher food) for traveling Jewish rabbis and messengers. We can imagine Barnabas, Saul, and Mark seeking the Salamis hospice out and staying there until Sabbath services when they might speak publically. Barnabas would likely also seek out family and old acquaintances to identify the baptized and share the Gospel with the unbaptized. On the Sabbath, then, perhaps Barnabas, as leader of the group, and on his “home turf,” would first give the messa...

  St. Barnabas 17. First Missionary Journey.       The Holy Spirit’s new call upon St. Barnabas’ life unfolds like this: “Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul” ( Ac 13:1 ).       Notice, again, that St. Luke’s listing of prophets and teachers begin with Barnabas, presumably as lead.       Symeon, also called Niger (Latin for “black skin”), is mentioned next. Some think this is the same Simon of Cyrene (in Africa) who helped carry the Lord’s cross [1] ( Lk23:26 ), although the spelling is different. But the Eastern Church tradition is that it is Symeon, son of Cleopas, younger brother of St. Joseph, one of the 70, second Bishop of Jerusalem from 67 to 107 AD, and who died a martyr. [2]       Lucius of Cyrene some believe to be St. Luke [3], again with d...

St. Barnabas 16. Reflection on Antioch Years.       Continuing the story of St. Barnabas’ life, the next recorded event in the Bible is the first missionary journey of Barnabas, Saul, and Mark. But before we set on the journey with them we might reflect on Barnabas’ years in Antioch (probably three, but could be about five).       In past articles we’ve suggested that Barnabas was something of a mentor to Saul/St. Paul during their work together in Antioch. Historian Henri Daniel-Ropes writes, “[I]t was in Antioch that Saul concluded his studies in the art of apostleship, under the guidance of a truly wise and good teacher [Barnabas]. Antioch, we must remember, was the city in which the essential development in the Christian missionary outlook was even now taking shape.” [1]       This mentoring task may well have been through the influence of Barnabas’ goodness, gift of the Holy Spirit, and gift of faith ( Ac 11:24 ) ...

  St. Barnabas 15. Prison and Angelic Intervention. Starting in 37 AD and until his death in 41 AD, Emperor Caligula gradually had given kingship rule over all of Palestine to Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, the one who slaughtered the Holy Innocents. Herod Agrippa I is mentioned in Acts 12: “About that time [likely 43 AD] Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the Church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.” ( Ac 12:1-3 .) Now Barnabas and Saul are still in Jerusalem on their famine relief mission, and it is the week following Passover ( Ac 12:3 ), Easter week for the Church. Luke tells the story solely focusing on Peter: Peter is in prison, asleep, chained between two guards. While the Church was in “earnest prayer” for him, an angel came, the chains fell off, the gates opened, and they walk out of prison. God’s marvelous intervention! Peter goes to ...

St. Barnabas 9. Antioch.       Last week we looked at the Biblical record of the early evangelization from around 32 to 34 AD by the Apostles, Deacons, and disciples, which undoubtedly would have included Barnabas. And we know that later, probably about 41 AD, Barnabas is sent to evangelize in Antioch of Syria ( Ac 11:22 ).       What were the beginnings of the Church in Antioch?       In the tradition of the Eastern Church, St. Peter founded the Church of Antioch in 34 AD, which is the same time frame of this early evangelization when some went as far as Antioch ( Ac 11:19-20 ). The Bible doesn’t tell us, but it may well be that Peter came to Antioch with this group. Barnabas also could have come. As he was a Cypriot, it may have been with the second group ( Ac 11:20 ). As one author puts it: “Barnabas as a Cypriote would have felt quite at home in Antioch, and the people of the city would have recognized him as a member ...