What race were these men?

[Pastor_Bob]

Now 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, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Acts 13:1

Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene. I've heard arguments that these men were black men, and I've also heard arguments that they were Jews. Any thoughts?

 

[dwmoeller1]

I've heard arguments that these men were black men, and I've also heard arguments that they were Jews. Any thoughts?

Couldn't one be both?

 

[bapmom]

my first thought was "they were of the human race".

There were Ethiopian Jews then, too.

 

[LadyEagle]

Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene

Probably Greek.

 

[npetreley]

Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene. I've heard arguments that these men were black men, and I've also heard arguments that they were Jews. Any thoughts?

I don't know what race they were, but I've got $5 on Simeon to win and $10 on Lucius to place.

 

[johnp.]

I don't know what race they were, but I've got $5 on Simeon to win and $10 on Lucius to place.

You lost your dosh man, Able crossed the line first.


john.

 

[reformedbeliever]

If I were a betting man...........

 

[Pastor_Bob]

My reason for asking this question is that those who hold to a "biblical" segregation philosophy dogmatically state that these men were not descendants of Ham. If they were, it would destroy their segregation views.

 

[rbell]

Bigots will find a proof-text, no matter how bad their hermeneutic, to justify their hatred.

 

[Bro. James Reed]

Niger, pronounced Neeger (according to Strong's), literally means black.

That could mean he was a black man, or it could mean he had black hair, or it could mean that he wore black cloth(which would be really hot), or any other number of things.

Personally, I think he was probably a black man, but I don't know for sure. He is not referred to as Ethiopian, as other black men are in scripture, so we do not know.

In any event, whatever "color" he appeared to men, I think that God saw him only as spotless white, made so by the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

[Bro. James Reed]

fyi,

My name is James. In highschool, most people knew me simply as Big Red. Does that mean I am literally a red man? No. The name comes from my size and from my hair.

Just thought I'd throw that in.