Niger
Summary
Niger was the surname of Simeon, one of the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch who laid hands on Barnabas and Saul before their first missionary journey.
☩Teacher at Antioch
Simeon called Niger is listed among the five prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch who ministered to the Lord and fasted before laying hands on Barnabas and Saul, setting them apart for missionary work. He is mentioned second in the list, suggesting he had some prominence among them. The Latin surname 'Niger' means 'black,' and while some have speculated that this indicates he was an African proselyte, possibly from the region of Cyrene (since he is named alongside Lucius of Cyrene), others note that the name was common among Romans and does not necessarily indicate complexion. His Hebrew name Simeon shows he was of Jewish extraction.
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Niger," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Niger," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Niger," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).