Acts 4:36 (DBY)

Passage

And Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, Cyprian by birth,

Nearby Context

Acts 4:34 For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold

Acts 4:35 and laid it at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each according as any one might have need.

Acts 4:36 And Joseph, who had been surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being interpreted, Son of consolation), a Levite, Cyprian by birth,

Acts 4:37 being possessed of land, having sold [it], brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 35's "and laid it at the feet of..." into verse 37's "being possessed of land having sold it...", so "joseph" and "been" 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 "been" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.