Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 4:36

"And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race," — Acts 4:36 (ASV)

Luke uses the generosity of Barnabas as “Exhibit A” to illustrate the type of extraordinary social concern mentioned in v.34. Joseph was this man’s Hebrew name, used at home, in the synagogue, and among Jews generally. To this the apostles added the descriptive nickname Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement,” in order to distinguish him from others of the same name (cf. 1:23). His family came from Cyprus, and he may have had ancestral property there. John Mark was his cousin (cf. Colossians 4:10).