Acts 13:1 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.
Acts 13:1 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.
Acts 13:1 niv
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.
Acts 13:1 esv
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Acts 13:1 nlt
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 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 13:2 | "While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”" | Holy Spirit's direct call for ministry |
| 1 Corinthians 12:28 | "And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues." | God's appointment of roles within the church |
| Romans 12:6-8 | "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in generosity; he who makes ruling, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." | Exhortation to use diverse gifts |
| Ephesians 4:11 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ," | Jesus' gifting of leaders for the church's growth |
| Acts 1:13 | "When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying..." | Believers gathering in unity |
| Acts 2:1, 4 | "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all in one accord in one place... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." | The infilling of the Holy Spirit |
| Acts 11:22 | "The news of them came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch." | Barnabas' prior ministry to Antioch |
| Acts 15:35 | "But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Their ministry continued." | Paul and Barnabas' ongoing ministry |
| 1 Timothy 1:18 | "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies beforehand that they might hold them fast." | Prophecies guiding ministry |
| Galatians 1:15-16 | "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood," | Paul's calling independent of human input |
| John 14:16 | "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever," | The promised presence of the Holy Spirit |
| Luke 4:18-19 | "“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”" | Jesus' ministry empowered by the Spirit |
| Matthew 16:18 | "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." | The church built by Christ |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." | Overseers appointed by the Holy Spirit |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace:" | Stewardship of God's grace |
| Colossians 1:1 | "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother," | Paul's apostolic calling |
| 2 Peter 1:20-21 | "knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." | The origin of prophecy |
| Hebrews 1:1 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke in times past to our fathers by the prophets," | God speaking through prophets |
| Philippians 2:1-2 | "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." | Unity and love among believers |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | The Great Commission empowerment |
Acts 13 verses
Acts 13 1 Meaning
This verse introduces the leadership and prophetic roles within the church at Antioch, highlighting key individuals. It signifies the transition and gifting of believers for ministry, indicating God's empowering of His people for specific functions within the body of Christ.
Acts 13 1 Context
This verse is located in Acts chapter 13, which marks a pivotal moment in the early church's history – the commencement of the Apostle Paul's first missionary journey. The church in Antioch, established by believers fleeing persecution in Jerusalem, had become a vibrant center of Gentile Christianity. Prior to this verse, Acts 11 details how Barnabas was sent to Antioch and later sought out Paul in Tarsus to help with the growing ministry there. This chapter begins by setting the scene for Paul's significant outward mission. The surrounding context in Acts 11 shows Barnabas recognizing the grace of God upon Paul and bringing him into leadership at Antioch. The church in Antioch was functioning with a plurality of recognized leaders and prophets, indicating a mature and Spirit-led community.
Acts 13 1 Word Analysis
- "Now": A conjunction indicating sequence and a connection to previous events or statements. It signifies that what follows is a continuation or development.
- "in": A preposition denoting presence within a location or community.
- "the": The definite article, pointing to a specific entity.
- "church": The Greek word is "ekklēsia" (ἐκκλησία), referring to a called-out assembly, the body of believers, specifically the Christian community at Antioch.
- "that": A relative pronoun introducing a description of the church.
- "was": Past tense verb indicating the state of being.
- "at": Preposition indicating location.
- "Antioch": The specific city where the church was located. Antioch was a major Hellenistic city in Syria, north of Jerusalem, and became a crucial center for early Christianity, particularly for Gentile converts.
- "certain": The Greek word is "tines" (τινές), an indefinite pronoun meaning "some" or "certain ones." It suggests not all members, but specific individuals.
- "prophets": The Greek word is "prophētēs" (προφήτης). This refers to individuals gifted by God to speak His message, often involving forth-telling (proclaiming God's truth) and sometimes foretelling (predicting future events).
- "and": Conjunction connecting the preceding and following elements.
- "teachers": The Greek word is "didaskaloi" (διδάσκαλοι). These were individuals gifted in instruction, responsible for expounding and applying God's word.
Words-group by words-group Analysis
- "in the church that was at Antioch": This phrase identifies the specific community where the action takes place. Antioch was the first significant Gentile church, a melting pot of cultures and people, making its role in missions foundational.
- "certain prophets and teachers": This group highlights the divinely appointed leadership structure within the Antiochian church. The presence of both prophets (receiving and conveying direct revelation) and teachers (expounding established truth) signifies a balanced ministry focused on both divine utterance and biblical understanding. This diversity of gifts demonstrates the Spirit's work in equipping the church for effective ministry and growth, echoing the provisions described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.
Acts 13 1 Bonus Section
The pairing of "prophets and teachers" in this context is significant. Prophets typically spoke forth the Word of God under the immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit, guiding and sometimes correcting. Teachers then took these foundational truths, or the established apostolic doctrine, and expounded upon them, ensuring believers understood and lived by them. This dynamic ensured that ministry was both inspired and rooted in sound doctrine, preventing errors and promoting healthy growth. This dual focus on fresh revelation and careful instruction is a model for effective ministry throughout the ages. Furthermore, Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were in this community, but they are not explicitly listed as prophets or teachers here, implying they were recognized as being among the leaders, possibly even being part of this group, or distinctively called to an apostolic ministry, as subsequent verses reveal.
Acts 13 1 Commentary
This verse establishes the setting and key personnel in Antioch just before a significant missionary undertaking. It points to the normalcy of diverse spiritual gifts like prophecy and teaching operating within the early church. The leadership at Antioch was composed of men appointed by God, not by human selection alone. This signifies the organic, Spirit-led growth of the church. The distinction between "prophets" and "teachers" shows functional diversity in ministry, both receiving divine guidance and imparting sound doctrine. It underscores the foundational nature of prophecy and teaching for the church’s mission and edification. The selection of Antioch as a base highlights the expansion of the gospel beyond its Jewish origins.