Joseph of Joseph, the shepherd

Shepherd of Bethlehem (of Sheba). Orphan, son of Joseph, one of the shepherds of the Nativity killed during the massacre of the innocents while saving himself and his mother. Faced with the worries of the apostles James and Jude, cousins of Jesus, about their father Alphaeus, he is "astonished, in his fate as an orphan, ignorant that a father could be a cause of grief":

"I believed I was the most unhappy, because I had no father. But I realize it is better to weep death than enemy."

One of the seventy-two disciples. Companion of Levi and Elijah. He enjoys a special status: without being counted among the apostles, he receives the training reserved for them:

"I take this son (and he points to Joseph) because I delegate to him the task of carrying my words to his companions, so that there may form a solid nucleus that not only announces me by making known my existence, but also the most essential characteristics of my doctrine."

Character and appearance

A common face that takes on a nobility, a beauty, which comes from an inner light.

"Joseph. Do you know this young man promises a lot?" said Thaddaeus.

- "Yes. Isaac is an angel but his strength is entirely spiritual. But Joseph is strong, even physically. He is our age."

- "And he learns easily. Did you hear what Hermas said? 'If he had studied, he would be a rabbi as well as a righteous.' And Hermas knows what he is talking about."

Apostolic journey

Witness to the Crucifixion - the Resurrection and Pentecost.

Disciple of John the Baptist, he is one of the three servants with him at Machaerus through the intercession of Manaen. He is commissioned by Jesus for evangelization:

"I delegate to him the task of carrying my words to his companions, so that there may form a solid nucleus that not only announces me by making known my existence, but also the most essential characteristics of my doctrine."

Wounded in the throat at the Kidron with Elijah, he was almost killed by a stone to the head; they are the first victims of the emerging persecutions. He finds refuge in the house of Solomon where Jesus heals him.

"I take pride in having shed blood for You, as my father once did. I bless you for deeming me worthy!"

Presented for the twelfth apostle position to replace Judas, but Matthias is elected.

His name

Joseph means "May God add!". Historical reference: the eleventh son of Jacob whom he had by Rachel. This preferred son was sold by his brothers and became Pharaoh’s steward. The nickname Barsabbas (son of his father) comes from his personal story.

Where is he mentioned in the work?

EMV 75 EMV 76 EMV 77 EMV 79 EMV 81 EMV 82 EMV 86 EMV 87 EMV 88 EMV 89 EMV 90 EMV 91 EMV 92 EMV 93 EMV 94 EMV 95 EMV 96 EMV 97 EMV 98 EMV 99

EMV 100 EMV 102 EMV 103 EMV 104 EMV 105 EMV 108 EMV 136 EMV 164 EMV 198

EMV 208 EMV 209 EMV 210 EMV 270 EMV 271 EMV 272 EMV 273 EMV 274 EMV 275 EMV 276 EMV 280

EMV 333 EMV 334 EMV 348 EMV 349 EMV 350 EMV 387

EMV 404 EMV 418 EMV 446 EMV 466 EMV 467 EMV 488

EMV 502 EMV 519 EMV 538

EMV 608 EMV 609 EMV 623 EMV 624 EMV 626 EMV 639

Learn more about this character

The Church celebrates Saint Joseph Barsabbas on July 20.

Joseph Barsabbas and Joseph Barnabas: one or two people?

When it was decided to find a replacement for Judas, Luke tells us:

"They presented two: Joseph called Barsabbas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias."

Then a little further on, he recounts the generous gift of a disciple:

"Joseph also called Barnabas by the Apostles - which means son of consolation - a Cypriot Levite by birth."

The same first name, two almost similar surnames, and probably some unfortunate scribal errors, it was enough to raise the question. Are these two different individuals, or one and the same disciple? Opinions are divided among biblical scholars, and no one has managed to convince all their colleagues.

Maria Valtorta distinguishes two persons

For Maria Valtorta, the question does not even arise. The companion of Matthias, one of those men who accompanied the apostles during all the time that the Lord Jesus went to and fro among them (according to Acts 1:21), is the shepherd Joseph, whom Jesus specially chose as a disciple as early as summer 27, saying:

"I take this son (and he points to Joseph) because I delegate to him the task of carrying my words to his companions, so that there may form a solid nucleus that not only announces me by making known my existence, but also the most essential characteristics of my doctrine."

In "The Gospel as it was revealed to me," he cannot be confused with Joseph Barnabas, the Levite, faithful disciple of Gamaliel, and future companion of Saint Paul, officially received as a disciple at the last moment, just before the Passion:

"you, Barnabas, who left your companions today to follow me"

(Excerpts from "The Valtorta Enigma" - Jean-François Lavère)

The Vulgate and tradition confirm Maria Valtorta

The Vulgate describes the two persons as follows:

• "et statuerunt duos Ioseph qui vocabatur Barsabban qui cognominatus est Iustus et Matthiam" (Acts 1:21)
• "Ioseph autem qui cognominatus est Barnabas ab apostolis quod est interpretatum Filius consolationis Levites Cyprius genere"

If we compare these two data, two distinct persons clearly emerge:

Name	Appellation (vocare)	Surname (Cognomen)	Remarks
Ioseph	Barsabbas	Iustus	Barsabbas: This is a usual appellation
Ioseph	-	Barnabas	Barnabas: This is a surname

Saint John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (4th century), in his "Homily on the Acts of the Apostles," clearly separates Joseph Barnabas from Joseph the Just.

According to Anne-Catherine Emmerich

Anne-Catherine Emmerich mentions Joseph the Just as the first bishop of Eleutheropolis: He "was consecrated in Antioch as the first bishop of Eleutheropolis. He had a very scattered flock and was crucified on a tree during a persecution".

Eleutheropolis is the name given by the Romans to Beth Lehi.