The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Simeon called Niger
fl. c. 46 (death unrecorded) · Prophet and teacher of Antioch · Antioch
The Apostolic Age
Who Simeon called Niger was
Named second among the five prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch who, fasting and worshipping, heard the Spirit say “Separate me Barnabas and Saul” — the commissioning of the first missionary journey. His Latin surname Niger, “the black,” has since antiquity suggested African origin; older conjecture linking him with Simon of Cyrene remains only conjecture. He belongs to the small college that governed the first Gentile-mission church.
Named once, Acts 13:1; no later source distinguishes him again.
Common questions
When was Simeon called Niger active?
Simeon called Niger is dated fl. c. 46 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Simeon called Niger in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Simeon called Niger?
Simeon called Niger is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Luke. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Simeon called Niger from?
The archive associates Simeon called Niger with Antioch.
Who were Simeon called Niger’s contemporaries?
The archive links Simeon called Niger to 4 other figures, including Barnabas of Cyprus, Paul of Tarsus, Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Acts 13:1
c. AD 85Now 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…Luke · read ↗
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Simeon called Niger.