St. Barnabas, Apostle?

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I noticed that today is St. Barnabas’ feast day, and that he is listed as an apostle. How did he become an apostle? I don’t remember seeing this before and am curious.
 
From the Catholic Encyclopedia:
St. Barnabas
Barnabas (originally Joseph), styled an Apostle in Holy Scripture, and, like St. Paul, ranked by the Church with the Twelve, though not one of them; b. of Jewish parents in the Island of Cyprus about the beginning of the Christian Era. A Levite, he naturally spent much time in Jerusalem, probably even before the Crucifixion of Our Lord, and appears also to have settled there (where his relatives, the family of Mark the Evangelist, likewise had their homes — Acts 12:12) and to have owned land in its vicinity (4:36-37). A rather late tradition recorded by Clement of Alexandria (Strom., II, 20, P.G., VIII, col. 1060) and Eusebius (H. E., II, i, P. G., XX, col. 117) says that he was one of the seventy Disciples; but Acts (4:36-37) favours the opinion that he was converted to Christianity shortly after Pentecost (about A.D. 29 or 30) and immediately sold his property and devoted the proceeds to the Church. The Apostles, probably because of his success as a preacher, for he is later placed first among the prophets and doctors of Antioch (xiii, 1), surnamed him Barnabas, a name then interpreted as meaning “son of exhortation” or “consolation”. (The real etymology, however, is disputed. See Encyl. Bibli., I, col. 484.) Though nothing is recorded of Barnabas for some years, he evidently acquired during this period a high position in the Church.
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Thanks. I had found that he came from Cyprus. So he was an apostle somewhat by acclamation, like St. Paul.
 
katy said:
Thanks. I had found that he came from Cyprus. So he was an apostle somewhat by acclamation, like St. Paul.
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I think Paul was declared an Apostle by Jesus Christ, just like the original 12.

Barnabus is called an apostle, meaning “one who is sent” because he was one of the early evangelist. In other words, “he was sent” to spread the Word.

If I’m correct, you’ll find Timothy is referred to as an apostle, as well as even Apollos.
 
NotWorthy said:
If I’m correct, you’ll find Timothy is referred to as an apostle, as well as even Apollos.
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Perhaps in the scriptures, but in the General Roman Calendar you will find only the eleven (twelve less Judas), Paul, Barnabas and Matthias.

tee
 
tee_eff_em said:
Perhaps in the scriptures, but in the General Roman Calendar you will find only the eleven (twelve less Judas), Paul, Barnabas and Matthias.

tee
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Oops, I just did a quick search of the name Apollos, and nowhere does it show he was listed as an apostle. Although I could have sworn I saw something on it. I’ll try and dig up more on it.
 
NotWorthy said:
Are you saying that Timothy and Apollos don’t have “Feast Days”? Or are you saying they were never called apostles?

I really don’t think “perhaps in Scriptures” should be under-rated.
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Do you know the Scripture verses to verify they were called Apostles? I can’t remember either way what they were called 🤷
 
On the apostleship of Barnabas, see Acts 14:14.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out…(NKJV)
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katy said:
I noticed that today is St. Barnabas’ feast day, and that he is listed as an apostle. How did he become an apostle? I don’t remember seeing this before and am curious.
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Hi
There is a book, perhaps called Book of Barnabas, why it has not been included in the NTBible?
Thanks
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paarsurrey said:
Hi
There is a book, perhaps called Book of Barnabas, why it has not been included in the NTBible?
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Because the Catholic Church did not consider the work was inspired by God. That’s not to say that anything in it is false, just that the Holy Spirit didn’t guide the author of this book when it was being penned.
 
NotWorthy said:
I think Paul was declared an Apostle by Jesus Christ, just like the original 12.

Barnabus is called an apostle, meaning “one who is sent” because he was one of the early evangelist. In other words, “he was sent” to spread the Word.

If I’m correct, you’ll find Timothy is referred to as an apostle, as well as even Apollos.
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According to ACTS, only those who had seen and traveled with the Lord, for His whole ministry, were eligible to take the place of Judas. … only two qualified, only one was selected,

So, actually St Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, and chosen by the Lord, would not have qualified to be just like the original 12.

.
 
MrS said:
According to ACTS, only those who had seen and traveled with the Lord, for His whole ministry, were eligible to take the place of Judas. … only two qualified, only one was selected,

So, actually St Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, and chosen by the Lord, would not have qualified to be just like the original 12.

.
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True, that why Paul often refers to them as “The Twelve”. But why were Matthias and the other guy selected? Because they had been witnesses. Didn’t Paul declare himself a witness after his little “enlightenment” on the road to Damascus? Paul called himself an Apostle, not the original 12, but an Apostle on equal ground, if I understand him correctly.
 
NotWorthy said:
True, that why Paul often refers to them as “The Twelve”. But why were Matthias and the other guy selected? Because they had been witnesses. Didn’t Paul declare himself a witness after his little “enlightenment” on the road to Damascus? Paul called himself an Apostle, not the original 12, but an Apostle on equal ground, if I understand him correctly.
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ACTS 1:20ff reports:

`His office let another take.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab’bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi’as

so: Paul would NOT have qualified to be the same as the 12

.
 
Paul calls himself and apostle, but one “born out of due time” or something like that. I could look it up. Maybe somebody knows off the top of the head, tho.
 
MrS said:
ACTS 1:20ff reports:

`His office let another take.’
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab’bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi’as

so: Paul would NOT have qualified to be the same as the 12

.
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OK, guys. I think ya’ll are getting muddled up on what’s happening.

First of all, at the Pentecost, the Apostles needed to be numbered at 12. This would bring in the New Israel, to reunite, so to speak, the 12 judges representing the 12 Tribes. To complete the circle, if you will. We had 12 Tribes of Israel with 12 judges at the Pentecost that brought on the Mosaic Covenant. And we have the 12 Apostles, symbollicaly representing the 12 judges of the New Covenant at this Pentecost.

Now, Apostle, means “One who is Sent”. Paul, certainly, listed himself as “One who was Sent” personally by Jesus’ command. I think Paul considered himself separate, but equal, to the 12. Notice, he normally referred to them as “the twelve”. But he also assumed a responsibility as authoritative as any one of them, other than Peter.

So there was a significance to having the original 12 Apostles. But I believe all the bishops after that, whether it was immediate or not, assumed the authoritative responsibility as the Apostles.

Of course this comes from the “Gospel of Notworthy”, and I’m not sure whether it should be considered Apochryphal or just downright fiction.
 
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