Acts 4:36 (WEB)

Passage

Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,

Nearby Context

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

Acts 4:35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.

Acts 4:36 Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), 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 "called", "joses", "apostles", "barnabas", "interpreted", "encouragement", "levite", and "cyprus". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "joses", 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 "called" and "joses" 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 "called" and "joses" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.