Acts 13:1

There were five prominent prophets and teachers in the Antioch church at this time. The Greek construction suggests that Barnabas, Simeon, and Lucius were prophets (forthtellers and perhaps foretellers), and Manaen and Saul were teachers (Scripture expositors). The particle te occurs before Barnabas and before Manaen in this list dividing the five men into two groups.

"A teacher’s ministry would involve a less-spontaneous declaration and preaching than that of the prophets, including instruction and the passing on to others of the received apostolic teaching (. . . 1 Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11). This was how the church taught its doctrine before the use of the books that later became a part of the NT." [Note: Bock, Acts, p. 439.]

Barnabas (cf. Acts 4:36-37; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22-30) seems to have been the leader among the prophets and teachers. The priority of his name in this list, as well as other references to his character qualities, suggests this. Simeon is a Jewish name, but this man’s nickname or family name, Niger, is Roman and implies that he was dark skinned, possibly from Africa. The Latin word niger means black. Some people think this Simeon was Simon of Cyrene (in North Africa), who carried Jesus’ cross (Luke 23:26). There is not enough information to prove or to disprove this theory. Lucius was a common Roman name; Luke was his Greek name. He was from North Africa (cf. Acts 11:20). It seems unlikely that he was the Luke who wrote this book. Since Luke did not even identify himself by name as a member of Paul’s entourage, it is improbable that he would have recorded his own name here. Some scholars believe that this Luke was the writer, however. [Note: E.g., John Wenham, "The Identification of Luke," Evangelical Quarterly 63:1 (1991):32-38.] Herod the tetrarch refers to Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist and tried Jesus (Mark 6:14-19; Luke 13:31-33; Luke 23:7-12). Saul was evidently the newcomer (cf. Acts 7:58 to Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1-30; Acts 11:25-30). This list of leaders shows that the church in Antioch was cosmopolitan and that God had gifted it with several speakers who exhorted and taught the believers.

"There in that little band there is exemplified the unifying influence of Christianity. Men from many lands and many backgrounds had discovered the secret of ’togetherness’ because they had discovered the secret of Christ." [Note: Barclay, p. 105.]