Prophets and Teachers in the Church
“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 KJV
Acts 13:1 gives us a remarkable picture of the early church at Antioch. This was not simply a congregation gathering for worship; it was a Spirit-active church containing recognized prophets and teachers. From this community, the Holy Ghost would soon separate Barnabas and Saul for the missionary work to which He had called them.
Acts 13 therefore becomes an important turning point in the book of Acts. The gospel, already spreading beyond Jerusalem, is about to move outward through an intentional missionary work that will carry the message of Jesus Christ farther into the Gentile world.
“Now There Were in the Church”
Luke begins:
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch…”
These gifts operated within the church.
The prophets and teachers were not presented as independent personalities disconnected from the body of believers. They were part of an identifiable local congregation.
This reminds us that spiritual gifts are given for the benefit and edification of the body of Christ.
Paul later writes:
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” — 1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV
Spiritual gifts are not primarily given to create personal platforms.
They are given for God's purposes and the strengthening of His people.
“At Antioch”
Antioch had become an important center for the expanding church.
Acts 11:26 tells us:
“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
The Antioch church included Jewish and Gentile believers and became especially significant in the spread of the gospel to the nations.
Jerusalem remained enormously important in the early chapters of Acts, but Antioch emerges as an important missionary center.
Acts 13 shows a church prepared not merely to receive ministry but also to send ministers.
“Certain Prophets and Teachers”
Luke specifically identifies:
“certain prophets and teachers…”
These are distinct ministry functions within the early church.
A prophet spoke under the operation of the Holy Ghost, communicating what God gave according to His purpose.
A teacher instructed believers in truth, helping them understand and live according to the Word of God.
The New Testament recognizes both ministries.
Paul writes:
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers…” — 1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV
And Ephesians 4:11 says:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
Acts 13:1 therefore provides a practical example of spiritual ministries functioning in the church.
Prophecy and Teaching Working Together
There is something instructive about seeing prophets and teachers together.
Prophecy and teaching are not enemies.
The Spirit of God and the Word of God are not in competition.
The prophetic ministry should never become an excuse to abandon Scripture, and teaching should never be used to deny the Holy Ghost's activity.
The early church valued both.
There was revelation and instruction.
There was spiritual ministry and biblical grounding.
And in the verses that follow, there was also prayer, fasting, worship, and obedience.
“Barnabas”
The first person named is Barnabas.
Acts 4:36 tells us:
“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,)…”
Barnabas had already demonstrated generosity and faithfulness.
He also played an important role in receiving Saul when other believers were understandably afraid of him after his former persecution of the church.
Barnabas became known as an encourager and trusted servant.
Now he stands among the prophets and teachers at Antioch.
“Simeon That Was Called Niger”
Next Luke names:
“Simeon that was called Niger…”
The Latin term Niger means black or dark. The text does not provide enough information to establish Simeon's precise ethnicity or geographical origin solely from this nickname, but the designation itself indicates that he was known by this descriptive name.
His presence among Antioch's prophets and teachers contributes to the picture of a church whose leadership included people from varied backgrounds.
The gospel was crossing cultural and geographic boundaries.
“Lucius of Cyrene”
Luke then names:
“Lucius of Cyrene…”
Cyrene was located in North Africa, in the region of present-day Libya.
Acts had already mentioned men of Cyrene in connection with the spread of the gospel.
Acts 11:20 says:
“And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.”
The connection is significant.
People connected with Cyrene were among those participating in the gospel's expansion at Antioch.
The early Christian movement was never confined to Europe.
Africa appears within the biblical story and within the expansion of the early church itself.
“Manaen”
Next comes:
“Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch…”
Manaen's background is particularly interesting.
He had been associated from youth with Herod Antipas, the ruler connected with the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist and later involved in the events surrounding Jesus' trial.
Yet Manaen's life took a dramatically different direction.
Two men could grow up around the same social environment and still choose very different paths.
Herod became associated with political power and opposition to God's servants.
Manaen became associated with the church and ministry.
Background does not determine destiny.
“And Saul”
The final name is:
“and Saul.”
This is the man who had once persecuted the church.
Acts 8:3 says:
“As for Saul, he made havock of the church…”
But Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus.
The persecutor became a disciple.
The enemy of the church became a minister within the church.
And now Acts 13:1 places Saul among the prophets and teachers at Antioch.
God had transformed his life.
Soon Saul—better known throughout the later narrative as Paul—would be sent into a much broader apostolic missionary work.
The Church Was Preparing Before the Sending
Acts 13:1 becomes even more powerful when we continue into verse 2:
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” — Acts 13:2 KJV
Notice what they were doing when direction came.
They were:
ministering to the Lord
and fasting.
They were not simply developing their own ministry plans.
They were seeking God.
Then:
“the Holy Ghost said…”
The missionary work that follows originates with the Holy Ghost.
“Whereunto I Have Called Them”
The Holy Ghost says:
“Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
God had already called them.
The church was now recognizing and responding to that calling.
This establishes an important pattern.
Calling originates with God.
The Holy Ghost directs.
The church recognizes.
The servants obey.
The ministry goes forward.
A Diverse Leadership Serving One Lord
Acts 13:1 brings together an extraordinary group.
Barnabas came from Cyprus.
Simeon was called Niger.
Lucius came from African Cyrene.
Manaen had connections with the household or upbringing of Herod.
Saul had been a Pharisee and former persecutor of Christians.
Different backgrounds.
Different histories.
Different experiences.
Yet they were serving in one church under one Lord.
The gospel had brought people together who might otherwise have occupied very different social and cultural worlds.
Their unity was not based upon having identical backgrounds.
Their unity was centered in Jesus Christ.
Gifts Should Lead to Service
Acts 13 also teaches us that spiritual gifts are not decorations.
The prophets and teachers were serving.
Then Barnabas and Saul were sent.
Their gifts were connected with work.
The Holy Ghost said:
“Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work…”
Calling requires service.
Anointing requires responsibility.
Gift requires stewardship.
God does not give gifts merely so that people can carry titles.
He gives gifts so that His purposes can be accomplished.
Personal Application
Acts 13:1 challenges the church to make room for the ministries God places within His body.
There were prophets.
There were teachers.
There were people from different backgrounds.
There were mature servants.
There were people whose lives had been dramatically transformed.
And they were serving together.
The passage also reminds us not to judge someone's future solely by their past.
Saul had persecuted the church.
Yet grace transformed him.
Manaen's background connected him with Herod's world.
Yet his life became connected with the ministry of Christ.
God can call people from unexpected places.
The question is not merely:
“What is my title?”
The better question is:
“What work has the Lord called me to do?”
Acts 13:1 shows us a church in which spiritual gifts were functioning, believers were ministering to the Lord, and servants were being prepared for greater work.
And from that atmosphere came the command of the Holy Ghost:
“Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
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