Manaen, Man of Mystery

I first published this piece on Manaen several years ago. Since that time, I have not learned anything else about him. Manaen still remains a mysterious person in the New Testament, but an intriguing one.

I came across an intriguing name in Acts 13:1– Manaen. As far as I know, this man is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible except in this one place. He was in the church at Antioch and was a prophet or teacher, but he was brought up with Herod Antipas.  That’s the amazing part! He was a Christian, but he was brought up with Herod Antipas, the one who ordered John the Baptist beheaded? Talk about divergent paths! So, of course I, who love a good mystery, began weaving possible scenarios. What had caused one to come to believe in Jesus, the Son of God while the other followed a far different path? In Luke 13:32, the Lord refers to Herod as “that fox”; yet in Acts 13, Herod’s long ago friend Manaen is listed among the prophets and teachers of Jesus.

What caused such a chasm to separate these two men, Herod and Manaen? Was Herod merely a victim of being born into a malicious ruling family? Was he forced to make the deadly decisions he would be known for? Or did he have a choice? Maybe it was the influence of their parents. Perhaps Herod was never taught right from wrong and made his political ambitions his god. I wonder.

I would like to know more about Manaen and why he chose to follow a road that went away from Herod and toward Christ. Many times what children are taught becomes the inner light that guides them in later life. The plot I’m weaving involves Manaen’s mother who loved him and told him not to be influenced by his royal peer. So, let’s suppose that Manaen knew the truth. Even knowing that, he still had choices. Did he have to decide between a position in the king’s court and the uncertain life of a Christ-follower? One choice might have given him power and wealth with a final destination of eternal death. The other, the one Manaen chose, led to being numbered with those who were often persecuted but whose final destination was eternal life.

So, that brief mention of a man of firm convictions leads me to wonder about him, his early life, when he decided to follow Christ, and what happened to him as a believer. Perhaps his legacy to us is an example of standing firm against evil; of daring to say No. He fades into obscurity but his name is inscribed in Scripture. Manaen, man of mystery.