Lucius of Cyrene

Biblical Record

Lucius appears only once, in Acts 13:1. This verse names five prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: "Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." A prophet is one who proclaims the will of God, and a teacher is one who instructs others in the faith. As they "ministered to the Lord, and fasted," the Holy Spirit directed them to set apart Barnabas and Saul. The church laid hands on the two men and sent them away (Acts 13:2–3), an event that marked the beginning of Paul's first missionary journey. Scripture records nothing further about the life or later activities of Lucius.

Cyrene was a city on the southern coast of the Mediterranean, in what is today eastern Libya. It was home to a Jewish community.

Significance Within Scripture

Acts 11:20 records that among those scattered by persecution, some "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" came to Antioch and "spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus." The text does not say whether Lucius was among them, but because he was from Cyrene, the two passages are often read together. The list in Acts 13:1 includes Barnabas of Cyprus, men who appear to have been of African origin, Manaen, who was connected with Herod's court, and Saul of Tarsus. The list is therefore read as a portrait of the church at Antioch, which was led jointly by people of differing backgrounds.

Interpretations and Debates

• The Lucius of Romans: In Romans 16:21, Paul conveys greetings from Lucius, whom he counts among "my kinsmen." The Korean Revised Version renders this name differently from the Lucius of Acts, but in the original language it is the same name. Whether this man is the same person as Lucius of Cyrene cannot be determined. Because Lucius was a common Roman name, many regard them as different individuals.
• Identification with Luke: Some have identified Lucius with Luke, citing the similarity of the names and an ancient tradition that Luke came from Antioch. The evidence, however, is weak, and this view is not widely accepted.
• Relationship to Simeon: Some have also speculated that "Simeon that was called Niger," who is named alongside Lucius, is to be identified with Simon of Cyrene. This, too, goes beyond what the text states.

In the Korean Church

Sermons devoted specifically to Lucius are rare. He is mentioned mainly in sermons and Bible studies on the church at Antioch, which is presented as an example of a church whose leaders, drawn from diverse backgrounds, served together and sent out missionaries.