St. Luke tells us that Barnabas was actually his nickname, given him by the apostles. It tells you a lot when the leaders name you "Son of Encouragement"! It was a name that suited him so well that he's known to the Church by his nickname, not his given name of Joseph.
Barnabas as we see him in Acts consistently lives out his name. He generously sells a piece of land he owns and gives all the proceeds to the apostles. When no one in the early Church trusted the newly converted Saul, he takes him under his wing and introduces him to the apostles. When the apostles are looking for someone to check out the situation in Antioch, who do they send? Barnabas. And when he sees evidence of God's grace at work, he rejoices, encourages it, and then goes and finds Saul, recognizing that he has gifts that will serve this fledgling work of God.
Early in their work in Antioch and the first mission trip, Luke lists them as "Barnabas and Saul." But it isn't too long into their mission trip before the roles switch. Saul, now Paul, is the chief speaker, the one who is listed first when they are mentioned on mission. But do you get any sense that Barnabas has a problem with this? I can almost hear him say, echoing John the Baptist, "He must increase and I must decrease."
Even the cause of the disagreement that separated Paul and Barnabas is so consistent with his character. Barnabas wanted to take Mark along on their return journey to the communities they founded in Asia Minor. Yes, he knew that Mark had deserted them the first time, but he wanted to give him another chance. That is so typical of Barnabas! And when Paul would have none of it, rather than give in to Paul, he stands on his principles and takes Mark along with him to Cyprus.
We never hear him mentioned again in the Acts of the Apostles, but we owe so much to St. Barnabas! Would we even have a St. Paul if Barnabas had not taken him under his wing and introduced him to the apostles, and later sought him out in Tarsus? And, of course, St. Luke was a friend and disciple of St. Paul, so if there hadn't been a St. Paul, there wouldn't have been a St. Luke, either. Would we have a St. Mark if Barnabas had not given the young man another chance to prove himself, launching him onto his life of service to Peter and Paul? In one sense, we owe a large part of the New Testament writings to the love and encouragement of St. Barnabas!
Dear St. Barnabas, thank you so much for your faithful love and encouragement of God's people, a quiet ministry that has impacted the Church throughout all the ages. Pray for me, that I, too, may be one who encourages the Lord's people, recognizing the work of His Spirit and blessing it wherever it is found. Amen.
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