3548 - Simon and Simeon by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 5, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 35.

3548 — Simon and Simeon

By Editor

Is it true that James' reference to Simeon in Acts 15:14 refers to Simon Peter, or does it not refer to Simeon of Luke 2:25? And is it true that "Simeon" is the Hebrew of Peter's name? L. H.

The Simeon of Acts 15:14 refers to the Peter of verse 7. Peter had just given his experience, and to this James himself refers. It is true that the Simeon of Acts 2:25 referred to the work of Christ among the Gentiles, but James' reference is evidently to Peter's speech made on that very occasion. The regular Hebrew term is "Simeon," the name of one of the twelve tribes, from the word "shama," "to hear." The Standard Bible Dictionary gives this as an alternate form of "Simon." This was the regular Hebrew name of Peter. The name "Peter" was given to him by our Lord. It would be very natural for James to speak of Peter as Simeon, a name doubtless by which he had known him from the time that he was a young man, or a child.