“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,”
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means 'son of encouragement'), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. — Barnabas (Iōsaphat, Joseph; Barnabas, son of encouragement, son of exhortation) is introduced as the exemplar of generosity. His Levitical heritage (Levitēs, Levite, priestly tribe) is noted; Levites had no tribal inheritance but relied on tithes and offerings. His sale (poleō, sell) of land and contribution (prospherō, bring, present) embody the ideal described in verses 32-35. Barnabas becomes a key figure throughout Acts (mentoring Paul, missionary companion).
Church Fathers on Acts 4:36
And Joses, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation), a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles' feet. The writer is now about to relate the affair of Ananias and Sapphira, and in order to show that the man's sin was of the worst description, he first mentions him who performed the virtuous deed; that, there being so great a multitude all doing the…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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