What did Barnabas do with his land in Acts 4:36?
Barnabas, also called Jose, owned land on the island of Cyprus. He sold that property and brought the money to the apostles, laying it at their feet. This was part of the early believers’ practice of holding all things common and distributing to those who had need.
Les explains that Acts 4 describes the early believers as being of one heart and one soul, not claiming that what they owned belonged only to themselves, but having all things common. They sold lands and houses and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet, not at the feet of the pastor and deacons. Specifically, Jose, surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which is interpreted son of consolation, had land clear out on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. He sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Les points out that this is not what we normally call church language or what believers today are expected to do.
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,
More Questions
Who was Barnabas and what does his name mean?
Joses, surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, is interpreted as 'the son of consolation,' and he was a Levite from the country or island of Cyprus.