Acts 4:36 to Acts 5:11. Community of Goods among the First Christians.
Acts 4:36 f. The Case of Joses Barnabas. Joses is not again heard of in the NT under this name, but always under his other name, Barnabas, a translation of which is offered, but one with which scholars are not satisfied. It connects him with prophetic functions (Nabi, a prophet) and consolation is one of these. He is Paul's companion in his first journey, but Paul excels him as a speaker (Acts 14:12); and he is a person whom the Galatians and Corinthians know well (Galatians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 9:6). To his connexion with Cyprus the direction of Paul's first journey was due. He has property, whether in his native country of Cyprus or elsewhere we know not; he afterwards worked for his living (1 Corinthians 9:6), and may have parted with all his property at this time.