Now {1} 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 {a} Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

(1) Paul with Barnabas is again the second time appointed apostle of the Gentiles, not of man, neither by man, but by an extraordinary commandment of the Holy Spirit.

(a) This was the same Antipas who put John the Baptist to death.

People's New Testament

13:1 The Era of Gentile Missions

SUMMARY OF ACTS 13:

Fasting and Prayer at Antioch. The Holy Spirit Directs Paul and Barnabas to Be Sent Forth. Their Ordination. They Preach the Word in Cyprus. Elymas Rebuked. The Proconsul Converted. The Missionaries Sail to Perga. The Gospel Preached in Antioch of Pisidia. The Persecution Raised by the Jews. The Departure to Iconium.

The church that was at Antioch. For description of Antioch and account of the founding of the church in that city (see notes on Ac 11:19,26). This was the mother church of Gentile Christendom. It was at this period the most important city of Asia, and the third city of the world. For description, see notes on Ac 11:22.

Prophets and teachers. These offices were not identical, though the first included the last (Eph 4:11). A prophet was an inspired teacher, not necessarily one who predicted the future, but one who spoke God's message by inspiration.

Barnabas. One of the prophets. See notes on Ac 11:22

Simeon that was called Niger. Nothing more is known of him. As Niger means black, some have fancied that he was an African, but Niger was as common a Roman surname as Black is now.

Lucius of Cyrene. The men who planted the church at Antioch were of Cyprus and Cyrene. See PNT Ac 11:20. Lucius was probably one of these. The name occurs again in Ro 16:21.

Manaen. His mother was probably the nurse of Herod when the latter was a babe. Herod Antipas, the husband of Herodias, the murderer of John the Baptist, is meant. He was now dethroned and an exile in Gaul.

Saul. The greatest of these men is named last. His greatness was not yet demonstrated.

Wesley's Notes

13:1 Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod - His foster brother, now freed from the temptations of a court.

King James Translators' Notes

which...: or, Herod's foster brother

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin Herod

See margin ref., See Scofield Note: "Mt 14:1".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 13

PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY: In Company with Barnabas. Ac 13:1-14:28.

Ac 13:1-3. Barnabas and Saul, Divinely Called to Labor among the Gentiles, Are Set Apart and Sent Forth by the Church at Antioch.

The first seven chapters of this book might be entitled, The Church among the Jews; the next five (chapters eight through twelve), The Church in Transition from Jews to Gentiles; and the last sixteen (chapters thirteen through twenty-eight), The Church among the Gentiles [Baumgarten]. "Though Christianity had already spread beyond the limits of Palestine, still the Church continued a stranger to formal missionary effort. Casual occurrences, particularly the persecution at Jerusalem (Ac 8:2), had hitherto brought about the diffusion of the Gospel. It was from Antioch that teachers were first sent forth with the definite purpose of spreading Christianity, and organizing churches, with regular institutions (Ac 14:23)" [Olshausen].

1. there were . certain prophets-(See on [2000]Ac 11:27).

and teachers; as Barnabas, &c.-implying that there were others there, besides; but, according to what appears the true reading, the meaning is simply that those here mentioned were in the Church at Antioch as prophets and teachers.

Simeon . Niger-of whom nothing is known.

Lucius of Cyrene-(Ac 2:20). He is mentioned, in Ro 16:21, as one of Paul's kinsmen.

Manaen-or Menahem, the name of one of the kings of Israel (2Ki 15:14).

which had been brought up with-or, the foster brother of.

Herod the tetrarch-that is, Antipas, who was himself "brought up with a certain private person at Rome" [Josephus, Antiquities, 17.1,3]. How differently did these two foster brothers turn out-the one, abandoned to a licentious life and stained with the blood of the most distinguished of God's prophets, though not without his fits of reformation and seasons of remorse; the other, a devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus and prophet of the Church at Antioch! But this is only what may be seen in every age: "Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight.' If the courtier, whose son, at the point of death, was healed by our Lord (Joh 4:46) was of Herod's establishment, while Susanna's husband was his steward (Lu 8:3), his foster brother's becoming a Christian and a prophet is something remarkable.

and Saul-last of all, but soon to become first. Henceforward this book is almost exclusively occupied with him; and his impress on the New Testament, on Christendom, and on the world is paramount.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:1-3 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. It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father. They are separated to take pains, and not to take state. A blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their present undertaking was sought for, and that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost in their work. Whatever means are used, or rules observed, the Holy Ghost alone can fit ministers for their important work, and call them to it.