Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Study Helps
Interpretation
What an assemblage was here! In these names we see that the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life; and zeal for his glory induces men to give up flattering connexions and prospects to promote his cause.
Glossary
- Antioch Place
- Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Antioch on the Orontes.
- Barnabas Person
- Son of consolation, the surname of Joses, a Levite ( Acts 4:36 ). His name stands first on the list of prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch (13:1). Luke speaks of him as a “good man” (11:24).
- Cyrene Place
- Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Cyrene.
- Saul Person
- Asked for. (1. ) A king of Edom ( Gen. 36:37 , 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48 .
- Simeon Person
- Hearing. (1. ) The second son of Jacob by Leah ( Gen. 29:33 ). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26).
- Tetrarch Person
- Strictly the ruler over the fourth part of a province; but the word denotes a ruler of a province generally ( Matt. 14:1 ; Luke 3:1 , 19; 9:7; Acts 13:1 ).