Agabus is a prophet mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Acts of the Apostles. He is recognized for his role in the early Christian church as a bearer of divine messages, particularly those concerning future events. Agabus is noted for his prophetic accuracy and is considered a significant figure among the early Christians.

Biblical References:

1. Acts 11:27-28 : Agabus first appears in the context of a group of prophets who came from Jerusalem to Antioch. "During this time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)" This prophecy is significant as it demonstrates the early church's reliance on prophetic insight for guidance and preparation. The famine mentioned by Agabus is historically corroborated, occurring during the reign of Emperor Claudius, around A.D. 44-48.

2. Acts 21:10-11 : Agabus makes another appearance when Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. "After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, 'The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’'" This dramatic prophecy served as a warning to Paul about the impending challenges he would face in Jerusalem. Agabus's method of delivering the prophecy—using a physical demonstration—was reminiscent of Old Testament prophetic actions, which often included symbolic acts to convey God's message.

Role and Significance:

Agabus's role as a prophet highlights the continuation of prophetic ministry in the early church, a gift that was vital for the edification and direction of the Christian community. His prophecies were not only predictive but also served to prepare and strengthen the believers for upcoming trials. The accuracy of his prophecies, as recorded in Acts, underscores the authenticity and divine inspiration attributed to his messages.

Agabus's interactions with the apostles, particularly with Paul, illustrate the interconnectedness of the early Christian leaders and the reliance on spiritual gifts for guidance. His prophecies were taken seriously by the early church, indicating the respect and authority he held as a prophet.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, Agabus's ministry affirms the belief in the active work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. His prophecies are seen as a testament to God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, providing assurance to believers that God is in control of history and the unfolding of His divine plan. Agabus's presence in the New Testament narrative serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual discernment and the role of prophecy in the life of the church.

Agabus's life and ministry, though briefly mentioned, offer valuable insights into the function and impact of prophetic gifts in the early Christian community. His contributions to the church's understanding of God's will and future events remain a significant aspect of biblical history and theology.Agabus

a locust; the father's joy or feast

Agabus

(a locust), a Christian prophet in the apostolic age, mentioned in (Acts 11:28) and Acts 21:10 He predicted, (Acts 11:28) that a famine would take place in the reign of Claudius. Josephus mentions a famine which prevailed in Judea in the reign of Claudius, and swept away many of the inhabitants. (In (Acts 21:10) we learn that Agabus and Paul met at Caesarea some time after this.)

Agabus

"A prophet" of the early church, perhaps one of "the seventy" disciples of Christ. He foretold the famine, of which Suetonious and others speak, in the days of Claudius, A. D. 44. It was very severe in Judea; and aid was sent to the church at Jerusalem from Antioch, Acts 11:27. Many years after, Agabus predicted the sufferings of Paul at the hands of the Jews, Acts 21:10.

A "prophet," probably one of the seventy disciples of Christ. He prophesied at Antioch of an approaching famine (Acts 11:27, 28). Many years afterwards he met Paul at Caesarea, and warned him of the bonds and affliction that awaited him at Jerusalem should he persist in going thither (Acts 21:10-12). AGABUS

ag'-a-bus (Agabos): A Christian prophet of Jerusalem, twice mentioned in Acts.

(1) In Acts 11:27, we find him at Antioch foretelling "a great famine over all the world," "which," adds the historian, "came to pass in the days of Claudius." This visit of Agabus to Antioch took place in the winter of 43-44 A.D., and was the means of urging the Antiochian Christians to send relief to the brethren in Judea by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Two points should be noted.

(a) The gift of prophet's here takes the form of prediction. The prophet's chief function was to reveal moral and spiritual truth, to "forth-tell" rather than to "foretell"; but the interpretation of God's message sometimes took the form of predicting events.

(b) The phrase "over all the world" (practically synonymous with the Roman Empire) must be regarded as a rhetorical exaggeration if strictly interpreted as pointing to a general and simultaneous famine. But there is ample evidence of severe periodical famines in various localities in the reign of Claudius (eg. Suet Claud. 18; Tac. Ann. xii.43), and of a great dearth in Judea under the procurators Cuspius Fadus and Tiberius Alexander, 44-48 A.D. (Ant., XX, ii, 6; v, 2), which probably reached its climax circa 46 A.D.

(2) In Acts 21:10 we find Agabus at Caesarea warning Paul, by a vivid symbolic action (after the manner of Old Testament prophets; compare Jeremiah 13:1; Ezekiel 3; Ezekiel 4) of the imprisonment and suffering he would undergo if he proceeded to Jerusalem.

(3) In late tradition Agabus is included in lists of the seventy disciples of Christ.

D. Miall Edwards

13. Agabos -- Agabus, a Christian prophet
... Agabus, a Christian prophet. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Agabos
Phonetic Spelling: (ag'-ab-os) Short Definition: Agabus Definition: Agabus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/13.htm - 6k

Paul in Jerusalem.
... for some time with Philip the Evangelist. "There came down from Judea a
certain Prophet named Agabus. And, when he was come to us ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxv paul in jerusalem.htm

Acts xx. 32
... And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy." (v.9.) But it
is not these that foretell to Paul, though they were prophetesses; it is Agabus ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xlv acts xx 32.htm

The Famine which Took Place in the Reign of Claudius.
... [327] And thus the prediction of Agabus recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, [328 ...
This famine is without doubt the one referred to by Agabus in Acts 11:28. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter viii the famine which took.htm

Book 20 Footnotes
... But of this terrible famine itself in Judea, take Dr. Hudson's note here:""This [
says he ] is that famine foretold by Agabus, Acts 11:28, which happened ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 20 footnotes.htm

The Doctrine of Christ Soon Spread Throughout all the World.
... 4. And Agabus, one of the prophets who was with them, uttered a prophecy concerning
the famine which was about to take place, [290] and Paul and Barnabas were ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iii the doctrine of christ.htm

Drawing Nearer to the Storm
... And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet,
named Agabus.11. ... We have heard of the prophet Agabus before (chap, xi.28). ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/drawing nearer to the storm.htm

Acts XXI
... (10) "And while we were remaining several days, there came down from Jerusalem a
certain prophet named Agabus; (11) and he came to us, and took Paul's girdle ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

Miltiades and his Works.
... Neither can they boast of Agabus, [1608] or Judas, [1609] or Silas, [1610] or the
daughters of Philip, [1611] or Ammia in Philadelphia, or Quadratus, or any ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xvii miltiades and his works.htm

An Exposition of the Chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.
... Antioch. Q. The prophecy of Agabus respecting the famine in the world, [1374]
and the liberal relief sent to the brethren in Jerusalem. ...
/.../pamphilus/the writings of pamphilus/an exposition of the chapters.htm

Now, Then, the Epistles of the Apostles Also are Well Known. ...
... When Agabus, making use of corresponding action too, had foretold that bonds awaited
Paul, the disciples, weeping and entreating that he would not venture upon ...
/.../scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter xv now then the.htm

Agabus (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AGABUS. ... (3) In late tradition Agabus is included
in lists of the seventy disciples of Christ. D. Miall Edwards. ...
/a/agabus.htm - 9k

Ag'abus (2 Occurrences)
Ag'abus. Agabus, Ag'abus. Agade . ... (See RSV). Acts 21:10 As we stayed there some
days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. (See RSV). ...
/a/ag'abus.htm - 6k

Famine (99 Occurrences)
... 17, etc.). A famine was predicted by Agabus (Acts 11:28). Josephus makes
mention of the famine which occurred AD 45. Helena, queen ...
/f/famine.htm - 49k

During (182 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there
should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the ...
/d/during.htm - 35k

Claudius (3 Occurrences)
... with whom Paul became associated at Corinth (Acts 18:2). With the reign of Claudius
is also associated the famine which was foretold by Agabus (Acts 11:28). ...
/c/claudius.htm - 15k

Lengthy (4 Occurrences)
... strengthened them. (See NAS). Acts 21:10 and during our somewhat lengthy stay
a Prophet of the name of Agabus came down from Judaea. (WEY). ...
/l/lengthy.htm - 7k

Inhabited (64 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:28 and one from among them, by name Agabus, rose up and signified by the
Spirit that there was going to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth ...
/i/inhabited.htm - 26k

Indicate (5 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there
should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the ...
/i/indicate.htm - 8k

Indicated (4 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there
should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the ...
/i/indicated.htm - 7k

Instructed (80 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:28 one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly
predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. ...
/i/instructed.htm - 29k

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