Acts 4:36 (ASV)

Passage

And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

Nearby Context

Acts 4:34 For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

Acts 4:35 and laid them at the apostles` feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.

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 4:37 having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles` feet.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "joseph", "apostles", "surnamed", "barnabas", "interpreted", "exhortation", "levite", and "cyprus". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "joseph" and "apostles", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 35's "and laid them at the apostles feet..." into verse 37's "having a field sold it and brought...", so "joseph" and "apostles" belong inside that flow. In Acts context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "joseph" and "apostles" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.