06/11/2026
St. Barnabas traveled with the Apostle Paul. Prior to his travels, he sold his land in Cyprus and gave the money to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. He was a Levite and a cousin of John Mark. He was sent to Antioch by the Jerusalem Council in order to oversee the Church there. He went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch to assist him. The church in Antioch then sent Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. On the second journey, a disagreement over taking John Mark along led Barnabas to head to Cyprus with Mark while Paul went to Syria and Cilicia with Silas. Tradition holds that Barnabas died as a martyr in Cyprus by stoning. Barnabas is only spoken about in Acts 4, 11, 13 and 15, as well as Colossians 4 and 1 Corinthians 9.
Let us pray: “Almighty God, Your faithful servant Barnabas sought not his own renown but gave generously of his life and substance for the encouragement of the apostles and their ministry. Grant that we may follow his example in lives given to charity and the proclamation of the Gospel; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Amen.
Description adapted from and prayer quoted from “Treasury of Daily Prayer,” 422-3.
Image: “St. Barnabas Curing the Sick” by Paolo Veronese. Public Domain.
