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, 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,
The verse identifies Joses as a Levite from the country of Cyprus who owned land, whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas, which being interpreted is son of consolation. Together with the next verse it presents him as an example of noble benevolence, in that he sold his land and laid the money at the apostles' feet. That gift was to house and feed the many converts at Jerusalem who had been cut off from family, business, and homes for following Christ, and to meet the needs of believers in need.
His act was the effect of the pouring out of the Spirit of God, which made believers of one heart and soul with one common interest in the success of their mission. It showed a Spirit-filled and Spirit-inspired love for brethren and for Christ and for the cause and gospel mission they had espoused, a love far greater than love for money and possessions and earthly inheritance. In acting out faith in this way they testified that they counted the souls of men of far greater value than any earthly heritage, sacrificing possessions for the needs of others and the work of the mission.
His generous use of his resources to support Christ's cause and work, to help the poor, and to sacrifice possessions for the needs of others and the work of the mission shows him acting in keeping with the name son of consolation. His encouragement of Paul by bringing him to the apostles and affirming his testimony further shows him acting in keeping with that name. Its description of him as a native of Cyprus explains why he and Paul later visited that island on their first missionary journey.
The verse belongs to the account of believers giving their property to support the church, showing the contrast between those moved by the Holy Spirit to give all they had and Ananias and Sapphira, who falsely claimed to have given all while keeping part back. The title son of consolation means a person who brings comfort and encouragement. It applies to workers whose work is to carry a message to the sorrowing, disappointed, and brokenhearted, with God's angels with them. The church's work includes such sons of consolation alongside those who bear sharp, strong messages, with different gifts serving its varied work while the third angel's message must still be proclaimed.