Barnabas (also called Joseph, Acts 4:36) was a Christian believer who actively participated in teaching others about Jesus (Acts 9:27; Acts 13:1–2; Acts 15:2–12; 1 Corinthians 9:6) and helped with financial needs in the church (Acts 4:36–37; Acts 11:28–30). The fact that he was a Levite identifies him as someone who was responsible for teaching God’s law in Israel under the terms of the old covenant (Joshua 21:1–45; Nehemiah 8:7, Nehemiah 8:9; 2 Chronicles 17:7–9; 2 Chronicles 35:3). The fact that he came from Cyprus suggests that he was a visitor to Jerusalem. He joined Paul on his first missionary journey to Cyprus (Acts 13:4) and then also later joined with John Mark (Acts 15:39).
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.