1. Acts 13:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Were prophets and teachers the only office bearers in the church at Antioch?

Acts 13:1 (ESV)

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

We are not told about other office bearers in Antioch. According to Paul, the Lord Jesus Christ gave numerous officers to his church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Acts 11:30 tells us that there were elders in Jerusalem (see Acts 14:23; Acts 15:1–41; Acts 20:28), and Paul’s letters to Timothy and Philippians also make reference to elders/overseers (1 Timothy 3:1–7; 1 Timothy 5:17; Philippians 1:1) and deacons (1 Timothy 3:8–13; Philippians 1:1). It is possible therefore that there were more office bearers in Antioch, in addition to the men who are explicitly mentioned.