Acts 13:1

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Translations

Acts 13:1 - Amplified Bible

NOW IN the church (assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - American Standard Version

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - Bible in Basic English

Now there were at Antioch, in the church there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon who was named Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, a relation of Herod the king, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - Darby Bible

Now there were in Antioch, in the assembly which was [there], prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen, foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - English Standard Version

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - King James Version

Acts 13:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

En la iglesia que estaba en Antioquìa habìa profetas y maestros: Bernabé, Simòn llamado Niger, Lucio de Cirene, Manaén, que se habìa criado con Herodes el tetrarca, y Saulo.

Acts 13:1 - The Message

The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers:

   Barnabas,
   Simon, nicknamed Niger,
   Lucius the Cyrenian,
   Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod,
   Saul.
One day as they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do."

Acts 13:1 - New American Standard Bible

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was {there,} prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

En la iglesia que estaba en Antioquìa habìa profetas y maestros: Bernabé, Simòn llamado Niger, Lucio de Cirene, Manaén, que se habìa criado con Herodes (Antipas, hijo de Herodes el Grande) el tetrarca, y Saulo.

Acts 13:1 - World English Bible

Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 13:1 - Young's Living Translation

And there were certain in Antioch, in the assembly there, prophets and teachers; both Barnabas, and Simeon who is called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen also -- Herod the tetrarch`s foster-brother -- and Saul;

Acts 13:1 - Additional Comments

This was Antioch in Syria, on the north east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. About Antioch:
" One of 16 Antiochs, founded about 300 BC by Seleucus, named in honor of his father, Antiochus the Great
" It became the capital of the Romance province of Syria.
" It was the 3rd largest city of the Roman Empire
" A free city. All born there, even Jews, were considered Roman citizens
" Influence upon Rome was greater than Jerusalem's
" Heathenism's tempting influences were stronger than in Judea
" Antioch became the center from which the Gospel spreads (as we see in this chapter)
" Disciples first called Christians in Antioch - 11:26
Prophets are ones who proclaim the revelation of God, either revealed or new.
Teachers are those who explain God's revealed revelation.
These 5 were leaders in the Christian church in Antioch.
- Barnabas was originally named Joses or Joseph (Acts 4:36), but was renamed, to a name that means Son of Encouragement. He must have been an encourager. He was a Levite from Cyprus. He was influential in bringing Saul (Paul) from Tarsus to Antioch, and for having the Jews in Jerusalem accept him. He went with Paul on his first missionary trip, and was intending to go on the second, but separated from Paul over a dispute whether to take his nephew Mark on the trip. But, the friendship continued, for Paul speaks warmly of Barnabas in his letters.
- Simeon was also know as Niger, which may have meant he was black. He was a well-known leader in the Christian community at Antioch. Some speculate he may have been the Simon who carried Jesus' cross (Matt 27:32). If so, he was from Cyrene, a city in northern Libya, where Lucius was from.
- Lucius was also from Cyrene, so he may have been black as well as Simeon, and was a leader in the church.
- Manaen was raised at the royal court with Herod Antipas, probably because he had an older relative name Manaen, who was a famous Essene who was held in high respect at the court of Herod the Great. He probably supplied many details of the Herods to Luke, author of Acts.
- Saul was soon known as Paul (13:9). Here he is listed last, as also in 13:2, but soon he becomes the leader (13:13).

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