Manaen

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

MANAEN (= Menahem). One of the Christian prophets and teachers at Antioch, and ‘foster-brother’ of Herod Antipas (  Acts 13:1 ). Although individual non-official Christians prophesied (  Acts 2:17 f.,   Acts 21:9 ,   1 Corinthians 14:31 ), yet there was in NT a class of official prophets (  Ephesians 2:20;   Ephesians 3:5 ,   Revelation 18:20 , perhaps   1 Thessalonians 2:15 ); and so in the Didache ( c [Note: circa, about.] . a.d. 120?) the prophets formed an official class above the local ministry. Manaen was clearly an official at Antioch. The phrase ‘foster-brother of Herod’ is thought by Deissmann to be a mere title of honour, like ‘the king’s friend’ in   1 Chronicles 27:33 , but more probably represents a literal fact. An older Manaen had been befriended by Herod the Great as having foretold his advancement; this one might be his grandson, brought up with Antipas. Another instance of the circle of Herod being reached by Christianity is Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward (  Luke 8:3 ); and Antipas himself was touched by the Baptist’s preaching (  Mark 6:20 ).

A. J. Maclean.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Menahem, consoler ( 2 Kings 15:17). One of the teachers and prophets at Antioch when Saul and Barnabas were "separated" to missionary work, A.D. 44 ( Acts 13:1-3). Brought up with Herod Antipas, who beheaded John Baptist. Of the six named, four were to stay at Antioch, two to itinerate. Home work is no excuse for neglecting Christ's missionary command; missionary work is no plea for neglecting home duties. It was common for persons of rank to associate other children with their own, to share their studies and amusements, and thereby to promote emulation. Herod adopted the usage from the Romans, whom he was fond of imitating.

Or the Greek ( Suntrofos ) may mean "foster brother," Mahaen's mother being thus Herod's nurse. As Archelaus was brought up with Herod Antipas at Rome, and Mahaen is mentioned in this relation with Antipas alone, perhaps "foster brother" is the true sense; he may have been brought up with Antipas also. Herod the Great favored highly a Manaen an Essene, who in early life foretold Herod's royal greatness (Josephus, Ant. 15:10, sec. 5); possibly our Mahaen was son of that Manaen and adopted by Herod the Great, and made a companion to one of his sons. Chuza, another connecting link between Christ and Herod Antipas.) (See Chuza .) Mahaen probably personally knew and was a secret disciple of the Lord. How naturally Herod turned to his "servants" for information as to Christ ( Matthew 14:1)!

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(Heb. M e naḥçm )

As St. Luke prefaces his account of the Church of Jerusalem (Acts 1-5) by giving a list of the apostles who were its chiefs and leaders (1:23), so he prefaces his account of the Church of Antioch, and the missionary activity of which it was the centre, by a list of the most noted prophets and teachers who were connected with it: they were Barnabas, and Symeon called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (13:1). What brought Manaen to Antioch we do not know. As foster-brother or playmate of Herod Antipas (for the Greek term bears either meaning) he must have been brought up mainly at Jerusalem. The connexion between Manaen and the Herod family seems to have been hereditary. Josephus tells ( Ant. XV. x. 5) the story of an elder Manaen, father or uncle of the present one, a noted Essene, who made a prophecy to Herod the Great that he would become king of Judaea; and when the prophecy was fulfilled Herod treated Manaen, and the Essene sect to which he belonged, with great consideration. If, as tradition asserts, St. Luke was a native of Antioch and a resident there, he may well have known Manaen personally and have learnt from him the many details respecting the Herod family which he has introduced into both his Gospel and the Acts. Of Manaen’s subsequent career we know nothing.

W. A. Spooner.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Acts 13:1 syntrophos   2 Samuel 9:10-13 2 Samuel 19:28 1 Kings 2:7 2 Kings 25:29 Nehemiah 5:17 syntropoi   1 Maccabees 1:6 2 Maccabees 9:29 Acts 13:1 syntrophoi   1 Kings 12:24

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Man'aen. (Comforter). Manaen is mentioned in  Acts 13:1 as one of the teachers and prophets in the church at Antioch, at the time of the appointment of Saul and Barnabas, as missionaries to the heathen. He is said to have been brought up with Herod Antipas. He was probably his foster-brother.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A foster-brother of Herod Antipas, but unlike him in character and end: Manaen was a minister of Christ at Antioch; Herod was guilty of the blood of both Christ and his forerunner,  Acts 13:1 . "One shall be taken, and another left."

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

He was one of those with Barnabas and Saul at Antioch, w hen the Holy Ghost sent those servants out to the work of the ministry. (See  Acts 13:1)

Morrish Bible Dictionary

One of the prophets or teachers at Antioch who had been 'brought up' with Herod Antipas, that is, was his foster brother, as in the R.V.  Acts 13:1 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 13:1

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

man´a - en ( Μαναήν , Manaḗn , Greek form of Hebrew name "Menahem," meaning "consoler"): Manaen is mentioned, with Barnabas, Saul and others, in   Acts 13:1 , as one of the "prophets and teachers" in the recently rounded Gentile church at Antioch, at the time when Barnabas and Saul were "separated" by Divine call for their missionary service. He is further described as "the foster-brother ( súntrophos ) of Herod the tetrarch" (i.e. Herod Antipas (which see)). He was probably brought up and educated with this Herod and his brother Archelaus. An earlier glimpse of Christian influence in Herod's court is afforded by Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuzas, among the holy women who ministered to Jesus ( Luke 8:3 ). Manaen may have been related to the older Manaen, the Essene, who, Josephus tells us, foretold the greatness of Herod the Great, and was afterward treated by Herod as his friend ( Ant. , XV, x, 5). His position in the church at Antioch was evidently an influential one, whether he himself ranked among the "prophets," or perhaps only among the "teachers."

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Man´aen, a Christian teacher at Antioch, who had been foster-brother of Herod Antipas . He is supposed to have been one of the seventy disciples, but this is uncertain, as no particulars of his life are known.