Saint Agabus
Saint Agabus (also known as Agabos or Hagabus; 1st century AD) was a Christian prophet mentioned twice in the Acts of the Apostles, making him one of the few named Christian prophets of the apostolic generation. He is venerated as a saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, and his feast day in the Western Church is February 13; in the Eastern Church, April 8.
Agabus appears in Acts 11:27–28, where he prophesied at Antioch that a great famine would afflict the whole world — a famine which Luke notes took place during the reign of Emperor Claudius (41–54 AD). This prophecy prompted the church at Antioch to send relief to the brothers in Judaea, carried by Barnabas and Paul. Agabus appears again in Acts 21:10–11, at the house of the evangelist Philip in Caesarea Maritima, where he dramatically bound his own hands and feet with Paul's belt and prophesied that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles — a prophecy that was fulfilled when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem shortly afterwards. Beyond these two appearances in Acts, no further biographical information about Agabus is given in the New Testament.
Tradition holds that Agabus was one of the Seventy Disciples sent out by Jesus (Luke 10:1–24). He is venerated as a confessor in the Catholic tradition and as a saint among the Seventy in the Orthodox tradition.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Agabus
| Saint Agabus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 13 |
| Profession | Prophet; one of the Seventy Disciples |
| Rel. Affiliation | Early Christianity; Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Patronage | Prophets |
| Attributes | Scroll (prophecy); bound hands (symbol of Paul's arrest prophecy) |
| Birthplace | Judaea or Palestine (1st century) |
| Death Place | Unknown |
| Cause of Death | Unknown; tradition suggests martyrdom |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in the General Roman Calendar |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Birth
No birth date or birthplace for Saint Agabus is recorded in the New Testament or in reliable early Christian sources. He was probably of Jewish or Palestinian origin, as he was active in the early Jerusalem church community and in Antioch.
Early Life
No details of the early life of Saint Agabus are preserved in available sources. Christian tradition identifies him as one of the Seventy Disciples — the larger group of disciples sent out by Jesus in Luke 10:1–24, beyond the Twelve Apostles.
Occupation
Agabus exercised the charismatic gift of prophecy in the early Church. In the New Testament, he appears as a recognized prophet moving between the communities of Antioch and Judaea. The two prophecies attributed to him in Acts — the famine prophecy and the prophecy of Paul's arrest — are presented as divinely inspired predictions that were historically fulfilled.
Vocation
Saint Agabus's vocation was that of a New Testament prophet — one of a recognized category of charismatic ministers in the early Church (alongside apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; cf. Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28) who received and communicated divine revelation for the guidance of the community.
His second prophecy (Acts 21:10–11) — in which he bound himself with Paul's belt and declared "Thus says the Holy Spirit: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" — is one of the most vivid prophetic actions in the New Testament, explicitly modeled on the symbolic actions of the Old Testament prophets (cf. Isaiah 20; Ezekiel 4–5).
Death
The manner of death of Saint Agabus is not recorded in the New Testament. Tradition suggests he died as a martyr, though this is not confirmed by historical sources.
Significant events
- Identified as one of the Seventy Disciples sent out by Jesus (Luke 10).
- Prophesied the famine under Claudius at Antioch (Acts 11:27–28); prophecy fulfilled.
- Prompted the first organized famine relief effort in the early Church — from Antioch to Jerusalem.
- Prophesied Paul's arrest at Jerusalem in Caesarea Maritima (Acts 21:10–11); prophecy fulfilled.
- Feast day: February 13 (Catholic); April 8 (Orthodox).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location: Site of his first prophecy (Acts 11:27–28) — the coming famine under Claudius (Antioch (Antakya), Hatay Province, Turkey)
Notable location: Site of his prophecy of Paul's arrest (Acts 21:10–11) (Caesarea Maritima, Israel)
Notable location: Destination of the famine relief sent after his prophecy (Jerusalem, Israel)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Agabus have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
List of shrines
No shrines formally dedicated to Saint Agabus have been identified in available sources.
Canonization
Servant of God
Recognized by ancient tradition from the apostolic period.
Venerable
Not applicable.
Beatification
Not applicable.
Canonization
Recognized through ancient tradition; included in the Roman Martyrology and the Eastern Orthodox calendar.
Miracles
Prophetic miracles
- Prophecy of the famine under Claudius, fulfilled c. 46–47 AD.
- Prophecy of Paul's arrest at Jerusalem, fulfilled shortly afterwards (Acts 21).
Miracle for beatification
Not applicable (ancient tradition).
Miracle for canonization
Not applicable.
Patronage
Saint Agabus is venerated as a patron of prophets.
Feast day
February 13 (Catholic); April 8 (Eastern Orthodox)
Veneration
Saint Agabus is venerated in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions as a New Testament prophet and one of the Seventy Disciples. He is commemorated on February 13 in the Roman Martyrology and on April 8 in the Byzantine calendar.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.
External links
References
- Acts of the Apostles 11:27–28; 21:10–11 (New Testament).
- Roman Martyrology (Martyrologium Romanum). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.
- Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S.J. The Acts of the Apostles. Anchor Bible vol. 31. New York: Doubleday, 1998.