Acts 13:1

Church at Antioch. See Acts 11:26. With chapter thirteen the center of the narrative shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch, as anticipated in Acts 11:19–30. From Antioch Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, set out on his three great missionary tours. The record of these journeys takes up most of the remaining chapters of Acts. It is proper that the focal point of the narrative now shifts to Antioch, where for the first time Gentiles had come in large numbers into the church.

Prophets and teachers. This is the first time those exercising particular gifts of the Spirit are seen functioning administratively in the church. No specific indication is given regarding formal church organization at Antioch, though it doubtless existed. The men of the Spirit were functioning actively. The New Testament treats such men as a recognizable group, though not organized as an official class. A man was recognized as such not merely by piety but by possessing a functioning gift of the Holy Spirit. Later, in the 2nd century Christian literature, these men emerged as a class known as pneumatikoi, “spiritual men.” Eventually they disappeared, discredited by the appearance of false prophets (1 John 4:1) and pressure from elected officers, elders or bishops.

The different connections and activities of the men mentioned indicate that the church at Antioch enjoyed a cosmopolitan leadership. Barnabas was a Cypriote; Lucius, a Cyrenian; Manaen, apparently a Palestinian aristocrat; and Saul, a rabbi from Tarsus in Cilicia.

Barnabas. See Acts 4:36; cf. Acts 9:27; 11:22.

Simeon. His first name indicates Jewish origin. His second name, a Latin adjective meaning “black,” may have been assumed or given because of a dark complexion. Jews often had Gentile names in addition to Jewish ones, e.g., John Mark, Simon Peter, Joses Barnabas, and Saul “who also is called Paul” (see v. 9). This second name may have distinguished him from others named Simeon.

Lucius of Cyrene. Coming from Cyrene suggests he may have been one of the Jews abundant in that province and among the first to evangelize Gentiles in Antioch (Acts 11:20). He may be the Lucius mentioned in Romans 16:21. Some writers have identified him with Luke the physician, author of Acts, but such identifications must be accepted with reserve since Lucius was a common Roman name.

Manaen. A Greek form of the Hebrew name Menahem.

Brought up. The Greek word suntrophos may mean Manaen was a foster brother of Herod, reared with him, or connected with Herod’s court. “Herod the tetrarch” must be Herod Antipas (Matt. 14:1; Luke 3:19; 23:7-12), the ruler Jesus called “that fox” (Luke 13:32). Josephus mentions an Essene named Menahem or Manaen who foretold Herod the Great’s kingship. The Talmud also knows a Menahem in Herod the Great’s service. The name became favored among those in Herodian favor. Both Herod Antipas and his brother Archelaus were educated at Rome, and Manaen may have accompanied them. How or when he believed in Jesus is unknown. His activity as a Christian teacher contrasts strikingly with Herod Antipas, who slew John the Baptist, mocked Jesus, and was later exiled in disgrace.

Herod the tetrarch. See above on “brought up.”

Saul. Saul of Tarsus is here “among the prophets” with better results than Saul the king a millennium before (1 Sam. 10:11, 12). Saul’s name comes last in the list. The Greek construction suggests, but does not necessitate, that the first three men were prophets and the last two teachers. Saul may not yet have exercised the prophetic gift.