Is the person mentioned in Acts 1:23 the same as the person mentioned in Acts 4:36?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

No, according to the Holy Scriptures and the tradition of the Church, these are two different individuals.

In Acts 1:23, the person mentioned is Joseph called Barsabas, who was also surnamed Justus. He was one of the two candidates (alongside Matthias) proposed to fill the vacancy in the Twelve Apostles left by Judas Iscariot. He was a witness of the Lord’s ministry from the beginning, starting from the baptism of John until the Ascension.

In Acts 4:36, the person mentioned is Joseph, a Levite from the country of Cyprus, whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement." This is the same Barnabas who later became the traveling companion of St. Paul the Apostle.

Key Distinctions

1. The Surnames:

• Joseph Barsabas (Justus): His surname Barsabas (Son of Saba/the Oath) identifies him as a candidate for the Twelve.
• Joseph Barnabas: His surname Barnabas was specifically given to him by the Apostles because of his character and his act of selling his land to give the proceeds to the Church.

1. Their Roles:

• Joseph Barsabas was among the wider group of disciples (likely the seventy) who had been with Christ during His earthly ministry.
• St. Barnabas is traditionally recognized as one of the Seventy Apostles whom the Lord chose (Luke 10). While Joseph Barsabas was also likely among the seventy, St. Barnabas is distinguished by his later missionary work in Antioch and with St. Paul.

1. Biblical Context:

• In Acts 1, common tradition suggests that because Barsabas was not chosen by lot (as Matthias was), he continued to serve the Lord faithfully as a witness of the Resurrection.
• In Acts 4, Barnabas is introduced as a model of the communal life of the early Church, showing the selflessness required of the faithful.

Therefore, they are distinct figures in the history of the early Church. One was a candidate for the Twelve, and the other was the "Son of Encouragement" who became a central figure in the Gentile mission.