Joseph called Barnabas

Icon of Saint Barnabas

A student of Gamaliel, like others such as Stephen, Hermas, Saul (Paul)... He is a Jew of the Diaspora, born in Cyprus, at Kition. Consecrated to God from birth because he was a "Consolation to his parents" who, grateful to the Lord for him, entrusted him to relatives in Jerusalem (John called Mark, the evangelist, is his cousin) so that he would belong to the Temple. There, serving the House of God, he met the rabbi Gamaliel and became his attentive and beloved disciple:

"They called me Joseph because, like the old Joseph, I took away from my mother the pain of being barren. But my mother always said 'my Consolation' while nursing me, and I became Barnabas to all."

He was definitively convinced by Jesus during the resurrection of Lazarus and followed him discreetly during his exile in Samaria. Then he followed him openly.

Character and Appearance

A young man with an open face, generous and of great elevation of Soul.

Apostolic Journey

At the meeting of the 500 on Mount Tabor, he was chosen to be joined to the seventy-two. Having become a disciple and companion of Paul, he is regarded as an apostle.

His Name

Joseph (Iosseph - Iehosseph) means "May God add!". Historical reference: the eleventh son of Jacob whom he had by Rachel. This favored son was sold by his brothers and became Pharaoh's steward.

Where is he mentioned in the work?

GRM 471 GRM 475

GRM 548 GRM 569 GRM 570 GRM 571 GRM 581 GRM 592

GRM 634 GRM 635

Learn More About This Character

• The Church honors him as an apostle and evangelizer of the island of Cyprus. He is commemorated on June 11.
• Man known for his generosity (he sold all his goods for the benefit of the early Christian community), he was also a man of great elevation of Soul, endowed with influence (the inhabitants of Lystra took him for Jupiter). He is the one who convinces the community of Jerusalem of the real conversion of Paul, the former persecutor and like him a student of Gamaliel.
• He was Paul's evangelizing companion, with whom he eventually quarreled. According to tradition, he died stoned at Salamis (island in the Aegean Sea).
• Article that supports the confusion between Joseph Barsabbas, the just, and Joseph Barnabas (Barnabas). For Maria Valtorta, as for the Vulgate, these are indeed two different characters. See, on this subject, the article by Jean-François Lavère.
• Saint Barnabas in "The Golden Legend" by Jacobus de Voragine.
• There exists in Greek an epistle called "of Barnabas" which is cited by Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and other ancient authors. Although very ancient, and accepted as authentic by some, it was not accepted by the Church among the canonical Scriptures.

Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.

Person or animal who has been killed by stones. This punishment was used in the East and especially among the Jews. (For example, Jews stoned adulterers, blasphemers).