He is described as having the status of an Apostle in Acts 14:14.
Together with St Paul, he undertook many missionary journeys throughout the Mediterranean. He was originally called Joseph, although because of his ability to encourage those around him, the early church re-named him Barnabas which means son of encouragement (Acts 4:36).
St Barnabas understood the power of the Gospel to change people's hearts, and lives. When an arch persecutor of the early Christian Church, Saul (later called Paul), arrived in Damascus claiming to have experienced a now famous conversion en route it was Barnabas who made great efforts to convince the early Church of the genuineness of Saul's conversion.
