‘And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles' feet.'
There was a man called Joseph, whose surname was Barnabas, (uncle or cousin to John Mark, writer of the Gospel - Colossians 4:10). He was a Levite, a Jew dedicated to God's service. And he was a Cypriot, one of the Dispersion. There were many Jews living in Cyprus. And he demonstrated that he was both dedicated to God and no longer ‘far off' from Him by selling a field that he owned and bringing all the proceeds and laying them at the Apostles' feet. It was an act of love, sacrifice, worship and full dedication without thought for the cost.
‘Bar-nabas.' This may mean ‘son (bar) of a nabi (a prophet)' and thus a giver of encouragement and consolation. Or it may reflect the Aramaic newaha (‘consolation) transcribed into Greek as ‘navas'. The purpose is to bring out Barnabas' character not simply to translate. He was an encourager and consoler. Later he will be described as ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith' (Acts 11:24). He would continue to grow spiritually until he became the valuable companion of Paul.
No doubt one reason that he was selected as an example was precisely because Luke would shortly show that he soon rose to greater things within the Kingly Rule of God. He demonstrated that one act of dedication can lead on to another until a man becomes especially useable by God. The moment the reader saw the name of Barnabas his eyes would light up. While at this stage he was simply an unknown he would go on to greater things and become one of the most esteemed men in the church. What a contrast with what happened to Ananias. Later Luke would similarly introduce Stephen (Acts 6:5), Philip (Acts 6:5) and Saul who became Paul (Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1; Acts 8:3) in small cameos, before subsequently expounding on their fuller ministries.
They were the difference between the old creation and the new. In the new creation salvation was at work in all who were chosen to be God's people. Thus while failure might arise God's final triumph was assured.
But for Ananias there would be no future. Like Judas he made his choice in the wrong direction. He had given Satan leeway.