of Saul to assist him. Saul returned with him to Antioch and laboured with
him for a whole year (Acts 11:25, 26). The two were at the end of this
period sent up to Jerusalem with the contributions the church at Antioch
had made for the poorer brethren there (11:28-30). Shortly after they
returned, bringing John Mark with them, they were appointed as
missionaries to the heathen world, and in this capacity visited Cyprus and
some of the principal cities of Asia Minor (Acts 13:14). Returning from
this first missionary journey to Antioch, they were again sent up to
Jerusalem to consult with the church there regarding the relation of
Gentiles to the church (Acts 15:2: Galatians 2:1). This matter having been
settled, they returned again to Antioch, bringing the decree of the council
as the rule by which Gentiles were to be admitted into the church.
When about to set forth on a second missionary journey, a dispute arose
between Saul and Barnabas as to the propriety of taking John Mark with
them again. The dispute ended by Saul and Barnabas taking separate
routes. Saul took Silas as his companion, and journeyed through Syria and
Cilicia; while Barnabas took his nephew John Mark, and visited Cyprus
(Acts 15:36-41). Barnabas is not again mentioned by Luke in the Acts.
- BARREL a vessel used for keeping flour (1 Kings 17:12, 14, 16). The
same word (cad) so rendered is also translated “pitcher,” a vessel for
carrying water (Genesis 24:14; Judges 7:16). - BARREN For a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment
among the Jews (Genesis 16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Samuel 1:6, 27; Isaiah 47:9;
49:21; Luke 1:25). Instances of barrenness are noticed (Genesis 11:30;
25:21; 29:31; Judges 13:2, 3; Luke 1:7, 36). - BARSABAS son of Saba, the surname (1) of Joseph, also called Justus
(Acts 1:23), some identify him with Barnabas; (2) of Judas, who was a
“prophet.” Nothing more is known of him than what is mentioned in Acts
15:32. - BARTHOLOMEW son of Tolmai, one of the twelve apostles (Matthew
10:3; Acts 1:13); generally supposed to have been the same as Nathanael.
In the synoptic gospels Philip and Bartholomew are always mentioned
together, while Nathanael is never mentioned; in the fourth gospel, on the
other hand, Philip and Nathanael are similarly mentioned together, but
nothing is said of Bartholomew. He was one of the disciples to whom our
Lord appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection (John 21:2). He