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Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
Acts 13:1 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB 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.
  • 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.
  • BSB Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
  • NKJV Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
  • NASB Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The Antioch church has prophets and teachers, a diverse group including Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul. A gifted, multiethnic leadership shepherds this thriving congregation.

Overview

Antioch's leaders span backgrounds and regions, including a man raised with Herod the tetrarch, reflecting the gospel's reach across social lines. The presence of recognized prophets and teachers shows a maturing church with ordered ministry. From this Spirit-filled, worshiping community God will launch the deliberate mission to the Gentiles.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 28

  • Acts 4:36Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,
  • Acts 15:35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
  • Acts 11:22–27The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,
  • Gal 2:9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
  • Acts 13:9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,
  • Acts 15:32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.
  • Eph 4:11He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
  • 1 Cor 14:24–25But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
  • Luke 3:1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
  • Acts 14:26–27From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.
  • Acts 21:9Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
  • Luke 23:7–11When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.
  • Luke 3:19–20but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,
  • Luke 13:31–32On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
  • Acts 19:6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
  • Gal 2:13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
  • Matt 14:1–10At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,
  • Acts 8:1–3Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
  • Rom 12:6–7Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
  • Phil 4:22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
  • Acts 11:30which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
  • 1 Cor 12:28–29God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
  • Rom 16:21Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.
  • 1 Cor 9:6Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
  • 1 Th 5:20Don’t despise prophesies.
  • Acts 11:19–20They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
  • Acts 12:25Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
  • Acts 9:1But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (8)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 13:1YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 13:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.