SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:36
Entonces Jos, que fue llamado de los apstoles por sobrenombre, Bernab, (que es interpretado, Hijo de consolacin) levita, natural de Chipre,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 4:36
Verse 36. Joses] Or, Joseph, as many excellent MSS. read; but who he was, farther than what is here said, we know not. Surnamed Barnabas] Or, Barsabbas, according to the Coptic.
The son of consolation] uiov paraklhsewv; As paraklhsiv signifies exhortation, as well as consolation, and is indeed distinguished from the latter, 1 Cor. xiv. 3, the original name was probably abn rb Bar naba, or aybn rb Bar nebia, which signifies the son of prophecy or exhortation; and this is certainly one sense which prophecy has in the New Testament; and in this way Barnabas distinguished himself among the apostles. See chap. xi. 23. And Barnabas EXHORTED them all that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord.
A Levite, and of the country of Cyprus] Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, off Cilicia, and not very distant from the Jewish coast.
The Jews were very numerous in that island: see Dion. Cas. lib. 68, 69.
Though he was a Levite, he might have had land of his own by private purchase. The Levites, as a tribe, had no land in Israel; but the individuals certainly might make purchases any where in the country: but, as Barnabas was of Cyprus, his land probably lay there; and as it is likely that he was one of those strangers that came up to Jerusalem to the late feast, and was there converted, he might have sold his land in the island to some of his own countrymen who were at Jerusalem at this time; and so, being called to the work of the ministry, continued to associate with the apostles, travelling every where, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God.
He was the constant companion of St. Paul, till the separation took place on account of John Mark, mentioned chap. xv. 36-39.
IT is worthy of remark that the two apostles of the Gentiles, though of Jewish extraction, were both born in Gentile countries; Paul in Cilicia, Barnabas in Cyprus: this gave them many advantages; served to remove prejudices from the heathens; and gave them no doubt much facility in the Greek tongue, without which they could have done but little in Asia Minor, nor in most parts of the Roman empire where they traveled. How admirably does God determine even the place of our birth, and the bounds of our habitation! When under the influence of the grace of Christ, every thing is turned to a man's advantage. The man whom he calls to his work he will take care to endue with every necessary qualification. And is it too much to say that God never did call a man to preach the Gospel whom he did not qualify in such a manner that both the workman and the work should appear to be of God? Some have said that ignorance is the mother of devotion. Devotion and religion are both scandalized by the saying. Enlightened piety has ever been the most sincere, steady, and active. God makes those wise who turn unto him; and by experimental religion all the powers of the mind are greatly improved. Every genuine minister of Christ has an enlightened heart; and, to this, it is his duty to add a well-cultivated mind. Exodus quovis ligno Mercurius non fit: A blockhead never did, and never can, make a minister.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 36. And Joses , etc.] The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read Joseph, and so do Bezas most ancient copy, and two of his manuscripts, and the Alexandrian copy, and others; for Jose, or Joses, is only an abbreviation or contraction of Joseph; though according to others it is the same with Josiah: there is one of this name, who was the sort of Alphaeus, and brother to two of the apostles, James and Jude, ( Matthew 13:55) and another called Joses Barsabas; and it may be to distinguish the one from the other this is called Joses Barnabas; for so it follows, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas : his name before his conversion was Joses, or Joseph, or Josiah; and afterwards, or at least after he came to be acquainted with the apostles, and to be in their company, they called him Barnabas, The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, who was of the apostles; and so Barnabas is spoken of as if he was an apostle, ( 1 Corinthians 9:5,6) which is, being interpreted, the son of consolation ; or of exhortation; from the excellent gift and talent he had at exhorting; (see Acts 11:23 14:22) and from the use he was of for the comforting of distressed minds; for abn , Naba, to prophesy, includes both exhortation and comfort; and he having the gift of prophecy or preaching the Gospel, was called abnrb , Barnabas, a son of comfort, or a comforter, or an exhorter: and so Jerom interprets it, the son of a prophet. Drusius conjectures that his right name was amjn rb , Bar Nachama, and by contraction Barnama, and with a Greek termination Barnamas; which properly signifies, in the Chaldee and Syriac languages, the son of consolation, as it is here interpreted; and he observes, that the letters M and B are sometimes used one for an other: thus one and the same man is called Berodach and Merodach, ( 2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1) and the same river is called Abana, ( 2 Kings 5:12) and in the margent Amana; but others think he had his name from the same word that Noah had his, and which signifies rest and comfort, as appears from the reason of his name. This same shall comfort us, etc. And so the name of this man in the Chaldee or Syriac language was aba jn rb , which may be literally rendered the son of the fathers rest, or comfort. And this man is said to be a Levite ; of the tribe of Levi, and of the priestly race: and of the country of Cyprus ; or by birth, or nation, a Cyprian; for though he was a Jew, as is clear from his being of the tribe of Levi, and was born of Jewish parents, yet in Cyprus, and so was a native of that place. The Ethiopic version renders it, of the city of Cyprus; but Cyprus was not a city, but a country; wherefore the Syriac version renders it, of the place, or country of Cyprus, as we do: it was an island in the further part of the Mediterranean sea; it had its name from the plant Cyprus, and is now by the Turks called Kibris. According to Pliny f185 , it lay to the east and west of Cilicia, and was opposite Syria, and was formerly the seat of nine kingdoms; its circumference was three hundred and seventy miles, and had been called by various names; as Acamantis, Cerastis, Aspella, Amathusia, Macaria, Crypton, and Colinia; in it were fifteen towns or cities, which wcre Paphos, Palsepaphos, Curias, Citium, Corineum, Salamis, Amethus, Lapethos, Solce, Tamaseus, Epidarum, Chytri, Arsinoe, Carpasium, and Golgi. According to the same writer f186 , it was by an earthquake divided from Syria; and that part of it which lay to the east from Syria, is said to be less than a hundred miles distant from it. And according to Mela f187 , its chief cities were Salamis and Paphos, mentioned in ( Acts 13:5,6). And according to Ptolomy f188 , it had on the west Pamphylia, on the south the Egyptian and Syrian seas, and on the east the Syrian sea, and on the north the straits of Cilicia: it was inhabited by people of various nations, and, among the rest, by Jews; and R. Benjamin makes mention of Jewish Rubbans in Cyprus, in his time f189 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 32-37 - The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ' dying precept to his disciples, and his dying prayer for them. Thus it was then, and it will be so again, when the Spirit shall be poured upo us from on high. The doctrine preached was the resurrection of Christ a matter of fact, which being duly explained, was a summary of all the duties, privileges, and comforts of Christians. There were eviden fruits of Christ's grace in all they said and did. They were dead to this world. This was a great evidence of the grace of God in them. The did not take away others' property, but they were indifferent to it They did not call it their own; because they had, in affection forsaken all for Christ, and were expecting to be stripped of all for cleaving to him. No marvel that they were of one heart and soul, when they sat so loose to the wealth of this world. In effect, they had all things common; for there was not any among them who lacked, care wa taken for their supply. The money was laid at the apostles' feet. Grea care ought to be taken in the distribution of public charity, that is be given to such as have need, such as are not able to procure maintenance for themselves; those who are reduced to want for well-doing, and for the testimony of a good conscience, ought to be provided for. Here is one in particular mentioned, remarkable for thi generous charity; it was Barnabas. As one designed to be a preacher of the gospel, he disentangled himself from the affairs of this life. When such dispositions prevail, and are exercised according to the circumstances of the times, the testimony will have very great powe upon others __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ιωσης 2500 N-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM επικληθεις 1941 5685 V-APP-NSM βαρναβας 921 N-NSM υπο 5259 PREP των 3588 T-GPM αποστολων 652 N-GPM ο 3739 R-NSN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S μεθερμηνευομενον 3177 5746 V-PPP-NSN υιος 5207 N-NSM παρακλησεως 3874 N-GSF λευιτης 3019 N-NSM κυπριος 2953 N-NSM τω 3588 T-DSN γενει 1085 N-DSN
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:36 {Barnabas} (Barnabas). His name was Joseph (correct text, and not Jesus) and he is mentioned as one illustration of those in verse #34 who 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 comfort or exhortation" (huios paraklesews). 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 #Ac 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 paraklesis though exhortation, comfort, comfort are used to render it (#Ac 9:31; 13:15; 15:31). See also #16:9; 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 (#Ac 14:14) in the broad sense of that word.
