Judas Barsabbas
Judas Barsabbas
Info
- #coworker #prophet
- Home:: Jerusalem
- Other Locales:: Antioch
- References:: Acts 15#15:22, Acts 15#15:27, Acts 15#15:32-33
Notes
- Sent with Silas to deliver the Jerusalem Council's decree to Antioch
- Called a "leading man among the brothers" and a prophet
Summary
Judas Barsabbas was a respected leader in the Jerusalem church chosen alongside Silas to carry the Jerusalem Council's decree to Gentile believers in Antioch. Luke identifies both as "leading men among the brothers" (andras hēgoumenous en tois adelphois, Acts 15#15:22) and as "prophets" (Acts 15#15:32).
The Jerusalem Council (c. 49 AD) resolved the most explosive controversy of the early church: whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic law. The council's letter addressed "the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia" (Acts 15#15:23) and required authorized bearers who could confirm its contents orally: "We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth" (Acts 15#15:27). Judas was chosen because his standing in Jerusalem gave the letter credibility.
In Antioch, Judas and Silas "encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words" (Acts 15#15:32). After spending time there, Judas was "sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them" (Acts 15#15:33), meaning he returned to Jerusalem, while Silas remained and eventually became Paul's partner on the second equipping servant journey.
His patronymic "Barsabbas" ("son of Sabbas/the Sabbath") is shared with Joseph Barsabbas, one of two candidates to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1#1:23), leading some to speculate they were brothers.
References
- wrightChallengeActsRediscovering2024 - Wright's study of Acts as theological history, covering Judas Barsabbas's role in Acts 15:22-33.
- polhillActs1992 - Polhill's Acts commentary covering Judas Barsabbas in Acts 15:22-33.
- paoActsIsaianicNew2002 - Pao's study of Acts through the lens of Isaiah's new exodus, providing theological context for Judas Barsabbas's narrative in Acts 15:22-33.
- addisonActsMovementGod2023 - Addison examines the Acts narrative as a movement model, including Judas Barsabbas's contribution in Acts 15:22-33.
- Acts 15:22 Commentaries - BibleHub
- Judas Barsabbas - Wikipedia