Acts 13:1

"Now there were at Antioch" As noted in chapter 11, the city of Antioch was. very cosmopolitan city. It was situated geographically on some of the main travel and trade routes both by land and sea. The population of Antioch at this time was over half. million people. The church there had been established in Acts 11:19 ff. "Prophets and teachers" The prophets were inspired,. teacher may or may not be inspired. All prophets are teachers but not all teachers are prophets. Compare this verse with Ephesians 4:11. "Barnabas" Who has already been mentioned (Acts 4:35; Acts 11:22 ff; Acts 12:25). "Simeon who was called Niger" Niger (NIE jur) is. Latin name meaning black, and some feel that this means that he was. black African. Some have tried to identify him with Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21), yet he is probably called "Niger" here to distinguish him from the other Simon's mentioned in the New Testament. "Lucius of Cyrene" Cyrene was located in North Africa, and this same man appears to be mentioned in Romans 16:21. "Manaean who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch" Manaean (MAN uh en) is the Greek way of spelling the Jewish name "Menahem". Herod the tetrarch is the same man as Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great, who had John the Baptist beheaded, wanted to see. miracle from Jesus, and who by this time has been banished to Gaul. Remember, this is not the Herod who died in the previous chapter. Somehow Manaean had been connected with the Herodian family, and apparently was around the same age as Herod Antipas. He may have been educated in Rome with Herod's brother Arachaleus. What. contrast in destinies! Two boys who grew up together, one kills John the Baptist and the other becomes. faithful Christian. "Brought up with" This phrase can also be translated "foster brother" or "intimate friend". "And Saul" The apostle Paul.