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MANAEN (= Menahem).—One of the Christian prophets and teachers at Antioch, and ‘foster-brother’ of Herod Antipas (Act_13:1). Although individual non-official Christians prophesied (Act_2:17 f., Act_21:9, 1Co_14:31), yet there was in NT a class of official prophets (Eph_2:20; Eph_3:5, Rev_18:20, perhaps 1Th_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 1Ch_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 (Luk_8:3); and Antipas himself was touched by the Baptist’s preaching (Mar_6:20).
A. J. Maclean.