Acts_of_the_Apostles_Chapter_13-3_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media)

Manahen (also Manaen or Menachem) was a teacher in the first century Christian Church at Antioch who had been 'brought up' ( gr, συντροφος, ''syntrophos'', Vulgate: ''collactaneus'') with

Herod Antipas Herod Antipas ( el, Ἡρῴδης Ἀντίπας, ''Hērǭdēs Antipas''; born before 20 BC – died after 39 AD), was a 1st-century ruler of Galilee and Perea, who bore the title of tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter") and is referred to as both "H ...

.Drum, Walter. "St. Manahen." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 4 November 2021 According to the

Acts of the Apostles The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its messag ...

, he was among those who sent Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. He was probably one of the founders of the church at Antioch.

Biblical narrative

Little is known of Manahen's life. He is said to have been 'brought up' with Herod the tetrarch. Many biblical translations describe him as Herod's 'foster brother' or as his 'life-long friend'. According to the Acts of the Apostles he was one of the prophets and teachers who, under the influence of the

Holy Spirit In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...

, laid hands upon Saul and Barnabas and sent the two apostles on the first of Paul's missionary journeys (). As

Luke People *Luke (given name), a masculine given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke (surname) (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Luke the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Luke. Also known as ...

, the assumed author of the Acts of the Apostles, was an Antiochene, it is possible that Manahen was one of the "eyewitnesses and ministers of the word" () who provided Luke details which that writer has in regard to Antipas and other members of the Herodian family ( Luke 3:1, 19, 20; 8:3; 9:7-9; 13:31, 32; 23:8-12; Acts 12). He may have become a disciple of Jesus with " Joanna, the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward" (

8:3).

Early historian references

In A.D. 39, Antipas left for Rome to gain the favor of

Caligula Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germanicu ...

, but instead received an order of perpetual exile. (Jos., "Ant.", XVIII, vii, 2). During this time, the Church of Antioch was founded by Jewish Christians, who "had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on the occasion of Stephen" and had taught the Gospel also to the Greeks of Antioch, (Acts 11:19-24). It is quite likely that St. Manahen was one of these founders of the Antiochene Church. The date of his death is unknown, but he is supposed to have died at Antioch in Syria.

Veneration

Manahen is mentioned in many of the ancient Martyrologies. His

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context d ...

is celebrated on May 23 in the Eastern Orthodox Church and on May 24May 24
. The Roman Martyrology. in the Roman Catholic Church.

References

{{Authority control Year of birth missing Year of death missing 1st-century Christian saints Early Jewish Christians Prophets of the New Testament Saints from Roman Syria

Biblical narrative

Early historian references

Veneration

See also

References