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Nicanor

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âš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)

Nicanor was one of the seven assistants selected by the early Jerusalem church to manage the distribution of food. His name is derived from the Greek word for 'conqueror'.

What is the meaning of Nicanor in the Bible?

Nicanor was one of the seven assistants selected by the early Jerusalem church to manage the distribution of food. His name is derived from the Greek word for 'conqueror'.

SIGNIFICANCE

His appointment reflects the early community's effort to resolve ethnic tensions between Hebraic and Hellenistic Jewish members. He represents the administrative shift toward organized social welfare in the first-century church.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Genealogy & Community Insight: When reading, notice how the lineage and actions of Nicanor reveal God's preservation of family clans and community records across generations.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Nicanor in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Nicanor clarify?

Source Attribution & Provenance

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.

How to Cite This Entry

"Nicanor." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/nicanor/
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