13:1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: 1 Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, 2 Lucius the Cyrenian, 3 Manaen (a close friend of Herod 4 the tetrarch 5 from childhood 6 ) and Saul.
1 sn Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).
2 sn Simeon may well have been from North Africa, since the Latin loanword Niger refers to someone as “dark-complexioned.”
3 sn The Cyrenian refers to a native of the city of Cyrene, on the coast of northern Africa west of Egypt.
4 sn Herod is generally taken as a reference to Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee from 4
5 tn Or “the governor.”
6 tn Or “(a foster brother of Herod the tetrarch).” The meaning “close friend from childhood” is given by L&N 34.15, but the word can also mean “foster brother” (L&N 10.51). BDAG 976 s.v. σύντροφας states, “pert. to being brought up with someone, either as a foster-brother or as a companion/friend,” which covers both alternatives. Context does not given enough information to be certain which is the case here, although many modern translations prefer the meaning “close friend from childhood.”
7 sn The proconsul was the Roman official who ruled over a province traditionally under the control of the Roman senate.
8 tn Grk “This one”; the referent (the proconsul) is specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Grk “summoning Barnabas and Saul, wanted to hear.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
10 sn The proconsul…wanted to hear the word of God. This description of Sergius Paulus portrays him as a sensitive, secular Gentile leader.