Barnabas was a Levite of Cyprus, not one of the original Twelve, whose gift for encouragement made him one of the most important men in the early church. The apostles gave him his name, which means "son of encouragement," and he earned it: he gave away his property, he vouched for the convert Saul when everyone else was afraid of him, and he gave a second chance to the young John Mark after others had given up on him. His feast is June 11.