St. Barnabas

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Born in Cyprus and described in Scripture as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (Acts 11:24), St. Barnabas was a foundational figure in the early Church. His heart burned with generosity—he sold his possessions to support the Christian community, embodying the radical charity of the Gospel.

Barnabas was the first to welcome and defend St. Paul, seeing beyond his violent past to the potential of his conversion. While others hesitated, Barnabas believed. He mentored Paul and became his faithful companion on bold missionary journeys across Antioch, Cyprus, and Asia Minor. Together, they preached the Gospel, endured persecution, and laid the groundwork for Christian communities that would carry the faith forward through the ages.

Around the year 44 A.D., Paul and Barnabas spent an entire year forming and teaching the disciples in Antioch. It was there that a name emerged which would change the world: “It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26)

But being called a “Christian” in those days was not a title of honor—it was a mark of danger. As Pope Benedict XVI explains in Co-Workers of the Truth, to be called a Christian was akin to being named a gang member. Jesus had suffered a criminal’s death on the Cross, and those who followed Him were viewed as aligning themselves with a condemned and subversive figure. Accepting that name meant accepting death. It meant counting the days until the crown of martyrdom might rest upon your head.

To be a Christian was to live prepared—to lay down your life whenever God willed it. Why? Because you believed in the promise of Jesus: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) You believed it enough to die for it.

So ask yourself—Are you truly a Christian?
Are you ready to live—and die—for that name?
Are you worthy of the label?

St. Barnabas’s life was marked by courage, compassion, and unwavering faith. Through humility and vision, he became a bridge-builder—between old and new believers, between fear and trust, between division and unity.

His legacy lives on in every missionary effort, every act of reconciliation, and every Christian who chooses to encourage rather than condemn. As the patron saint of peacemakers and builders of unity, St. Barnabas reminds us that true discipleship means lifting others up—and boldly proclaiming Christ with love, truth, and enduring hope. It means walking the walk, and helping others rise to walk as well, so they in turn can lift others. And so the Gospel passes on, heart to heart, generation to generation.

May we, like Barnabas, become voices of encouragement in a weary world—proud to bear the name Christian, even when it costs everything.