Interview 4

St. Barnabas [no picture available]
Barnabas (originally Joseph), styled an Apostle in Holy Scripture, b. of Jewish parents in the Island of Cyprus about the beginning of the Christian Era. 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, surnamed him Barnabas, a name then interpreted as meaning "son of exhortation" or "consolation".
Paul the Apostle, made his first visit (dated variously from A.D. 33 to 38) to Jerusalem after his conversion, Barnabas stood sponsor for him and had him received by the Apostles, as the Acts relate (9:27), Paul went to his house at Tarsus to live in obscurity for some years, while Barnabas appears to have remained at Jerusalem. The event that brought them together again and opened to both the door to their lifework was an indirect result of Saul's own persecution. In the dispersion that followed Stephen's death, some Disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene, obscure men, inaugurated the real mission of the Christian Church by preaching to the Gentiles. They met with great success among the Greeks at Antioch in Syria, reports of which coming o the ears of the Apostles, Barnabas was sent thither by them to investigate the work of his countrymen. He saw in the conversions effected the fruit of God's grace and, though a Jew, heartily welcomed these first Gentile converts. His mind was opened at once to the possibility of this immense field. It is a proof how deeply impressed Barnabas had been by Paul that he thought of him immediately for this work, set out without delay for distant Tarsus, and persuaded Paul to go to Antioch and begin the work of preaching. Despite opposition and persecution, Paul and Barnabas made many converts on this journey and returned by the same route to Perge.
Paul and Barnabas decided to revisit their missions. Barnabas wished to take John Mark along once more, but on account of the previous defection Paul objected. A sharp contention ensuing, the Apostles agreed to separate. Barnabas sailed with John Mark to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas and revisited the churches of Asia Minor. Little is known of the subsequent career of Barnabas. [Catholic Encyclopedia]

Questions: A) How hard was it for you to see Paul surpass you in leadership of the early Church?
B) What would have happened if you had not split off from Paul on the second missionary journey? C) Did you write the book of Hebrews?