Act 13:1 | NETfull | STEP | Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood ) and Saul.

Acts 13:1

1 Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: ^{▼▼ Antioch was a city in Syria (not Antioch in Pisidia).} ^{▼▼ For location see Journey of Paul map 1-F2; Journey of Paul map 2-F2; Journey of Paul map 3-F2; Journey of Paul map 4-F2.} Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, ^{▼▼ Simeon may well have been from North Africa, since the Latin loanword Niger refers to someone as “dark-complexioned.”} Lucius the Cyrenian, ^{▼▼ The Cyrenian refers to a native of the city of Cyrene, on the coast of northern Africa west of Egypt.} Manaen (a close friend of Herod ^{▼▼ Herod is generally taken as a reference to Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee from 4 b.c. to a.d. 39, who had John the Baptist beheaded, and who is mentioned a number of times in the gospels.} the tetrarch ^{▼▼ Or “the governor.”} ^{▼▼ A tetrarch was a ruler with rank and authority lower than a king, who ruled only with the approval of the Roman authorities. This was roughly equivalent to being governor of a region. Several times in the NT, Herod tetrarch of Galilee is called a king (Matt 14:9, Mark 6:14–29), reflecting popular usage.} from childhood ^{▼▼ 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.”} ) and Saul.