Explicit
References to Christian Prophets
In Acts 11:27-28 it is related
that prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them is mentioned by
name, Agabus. He is again referred to in Acts 21:10-11. Two other prophets are
mentioned in connection with the council meeting (Acts 15), namely Judas and
Silas. They are sent as deputies from the Jerusalem church to Antioch. These
two men were distinguished members of the church, and must have shared the view
which Paul represented. One of them, Silas, later became Paul's companion. The
text referring to Judas and Silas as prophets reads: " . . . και αυτοι προφηται οντες . . . " The words και αυτοι imply that the two men they
were to accompany, Barnabas and Paul, were prophets. This understanding is
supported by Acts 13:1 which relates that in the church in Antioch five men
served as prophets and teachers, and among them Barnabas and Paul are mentioned.
Luke gives the meaning of the name Barnabas in Acts 4:36: " . . . Barnabas
(which means 'son of Exhortation' (υιος παρακλησεως)
. . . " (4:36). This meaning of the name is not a literal translation of
Barnabas, which means "son of Prophecy," υιος προφητειας. The translation seems to fit a
Pauline understanding of a prophet's function in the church. Also Anna,
daughter of Fanuel, is called a prophetess (Lk. 2:36), and four daughters of
Philip, the evangelist, had prophetic gifts (Acts 21:9).
The New Testament also refers
explicitly to false prophets. Acts 13:6-12 speaks about a Jewish prophet,
Bar-Jesus: " . . . ευτον ανδρα τινα μαγον, ψευδοπροφητην ‘Ιουδαιοu . . ." This man has a
parallel in Simon, the magician in Samaria (Acts 8:9ff). The Book of Revelation
also refers to and warns against false prophets (Rev. 2:20-23; 19:20; 20:10).
The Gospels likewise issue warnings against false prophets, indicating that the
question of legitimate prophets and prophecy was a problem the church had to
face from the very beginning. (Nils Ivar Johan Engelsen, “Glossolalia and Other
Forms of Inspired Speech According to I Corinthians 12-14 [PhD Dissertation;
Yale University, 1970], 69-71)
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