MEMORIAL: JUNE 11
St. Barnabas is one of the few non-Apostles mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles by name. He was a Jewish convert after the crucifixion of Christ and was given the name Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement.” We first hear of Barnabas when he takes the newly converted Paul under his wing, and they travel to the Gentiles to give them the good news of Jesus. The duo of Paul and Barnabas converted many to Christianity.
Acts of the Apostles famously has a breakup of Paul and Barnabas over John Mark (the evangelist). Paul did not want to take him on the journey because Mark had abandoned them on an earlier trip. Barnabas refused to leave without Mark thus breaking up the duo. Paul and Barnabas would eventually reconcile. Tradition holds that Barnabas was martyred through stoning.
