The Acts of Barnabas is one of several traditional stories about Barnabas, who was a companion of the apostle Paul. This story connects Barnabas with the island of Cyprus. The full title of this work is The Journeyings and Martyrdom of Saint Barnabas the Apostle. The author probably wrote it from Cyprus at the end of the fifth century or the start of the sixth century AD.
The story is told by John Mark, who explains what happened. In the story, John Mark says he left the apostles in Perga to sail to the West but was stopped (see Acts 13:13). When he tried to join Paul and Barnabas again in Antioch, Paul did not allow him. As a result, and after some dispute, John Mark and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus.
After preaching and healing many people, Barnabas met his old enemy, Bar-Jesus, who convinced the Jews to capture him. They led Barnabas out of the city of Salamis, formed a circle around him, and burned him alive. John Mark and other disciples escaped with his ashes. They buried them in a cave with scriptures Barnabas had received from Matthew. John Mark then went to Alexandria to minister there.