Lucius

Lucius of Cyrene was a prophet and teacher in the church at Antioch who was involved in sending Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

Lucius of Cyrene is mentioned in Act 13:1 as one of the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch, alongside Barnabas, Simeon (called Niger), Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul (later known as Paul). Cyrene was a city in modern-day Libya, North Africa, indicating that Lucius may have been of African origin. As a prophet and teacher, Lucius would have been involved in proclaiming God's word and instructing the believers in Antioch. It was during a time of worship and fasting that the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to be set apart for the work of spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. Lucius, along with the other leaders, laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them off on their first missionary journey, which marked a significant expansion of the early Christian church. Additionally, Lucius is mentioned in Rom 16:21 as a companion of Paul who sends greetings to the church in Rome, further indicating his involvement in the ministry of the early church.

Of Cyrene, a Christian teacher at Antioch (Acts 13:1), and Paul’s kinsman (Rom. 16:21). His name is Latin, but his birthplace seems to indicate that he was one of the Jews of Cyrene, in North Africa.