What Does Acts 13:1 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
This assembly holds people with different origins and ties to power in one company, without erasing the stories that distinguish them.
THE MEANING
You encounter a living assembly where people marked by region, name, and proximity to power share one company. Manaen, shaped by an upbringing alongside Herod, stands among Saul, Simeon, Lucius, and Barnabas, with each person’s distinct story still visible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You do not need the same background or social standing as others to belong among people who serve together.
THE ROOT
ἐκκλησίᾳ
ekklēsia
GROWS FROM
καλέω
kaleō
to call or summon
“church” in this verse is ekklēsia. The Greek term means an assembly, and its form is related to calling or summoning. The word points to people gathered together; the names in this verse keep their different stories visible within that gathering.
ALSO GROWS
kaleō: to call, summon
καλέω
This is the calling word in the family associated with the term for assembly.
ekklēsia: assembly, gathering
ἐκκλησία
This is the word translated as “church” in the verse, naming the gathered company.
parakaleō: to comfort or urge
παρακαλέω
This related word shows the family reaching from calling into an appeal or encouragement directed to someone.
σύντροφος
syntrophos
GROWS FROM
τρέφω
trephō
to nourish or rear
“brought up with” in this verse is syntrophos. Manaen’s connection to Herod is described through shared upbringing: a bond formed by being reared together. Since this word family also names nourishment, his court-connected history reads as shared formation carried into the Antioch assembly.
ALSO GROWS
trephō: to nourish, rear
τρέφω
This is the root verb behind the language of being brought up together.
trophē: food, nourishment
τροφή
This branch shows the root’s connection to what sustains and forms a growing person.
syntrophos: one reared together; a companion from shared upbringing
σύντροφος
This is the word describing Manaen’s tie to Herod.
THE PATTERN
The scriptural assembly gathers people across differences of origin and standing into shared belonging.
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;THE THREAD
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.The Greek word rendered “church” here is rendered “assembly” in Acts 19:32. That use makes the word’s core sense visible: people gathered together, while their shared purpose and conduct shape the character of the assembly.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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