Barsabbas

Two persons of this name appear in the Book of Acts.

1. Acts 1:23 reports a man named Joseph "called Barsabba (also known as Justus)" who, together with Matthias, whose names were put forward by the disciples to replace Judas Iscariot as a member of the team who "have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." The lot fell to Matthias. We hear no more of Barsabbas. That his name was proposed at all indicates he must have been a man of considerable credibility.

2. Also known as Judas, the second Barsabbas was elected by the elders of the Church in Jerusalem, together with Silas, to serve as their envoys with the letter that the Jerusalem Council had decided to write to all the Gentile Churches informing them of the decision that had been made by the Council (Acts 15:22). They were "to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: . . ." (vv27-28). Gifted as a prophet as well, Barsabbas-Judas and Silas would turn out to be a great encouragement to the church in Antioch where they delivered the letter (v32), after which he returned to Jerusalem, and we hear no more of him.