Learn more about Candace

Introduction to Candace

The name “Candace” appears in the New Testament and refers not to a personal name but to a dynastic title used for the queens of the ancient African kingdom of Meroë, located in what is now Sudan. The title is akin to "Pharaoh" in Egypt or "Caesar" in Rome, signifying royal authority rather than an individual’s proper name. The biblical reference to Candace is found in the book of Acts and connects the figure to one of the earliest Gentile conversions to Christianity.

Candace Pronunciation

“Candace” is pronounced as KAN-dus, with emphasis on the first syllable.

Candace in the Bible

The name Candace is mentioned specifically in the New Testament in connection with the Ethiopian eunuch encountered by Philip the Evangelist:

• Acts 8:27 – “So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, had come to Jerusalem to worship.”

This passage introduces Candace as the reigning queen under whom the Ethiopian eunuch served. The eunuch, described as a high-ranking official in charge of the treasury, was a devout seeker of God who traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home when he encountered Philip.

Though the queen herself does not appear in person in the narrative, her role is crucial in identifying the eunuch's position and prestige, emphasizing the international reach of early Christianity and the sovereignty of the Meroitic kingdom. The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch is often seen as a fulfillment of the spread of the gospel to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Historical Context of Candace

The title “Candace” (more properly transliterated as “Kandake”) was used by the queens of the Cushite (or Nubian) kingdom of Meroë, which flourished from about 800 BC to 350 AD. Greek and Roman historians, such as Strabo and Pliny the Elder, also reference these powerful African queens, sometimes noting their martial prowess and their role in ruling over the kingdom. Meroë was known for its wealth, iron production, and strategic position along the Nile River.

Interestingly, the title “Candace” was sometimes used for queens who ruled in their own right, even when a king existed. The Meroitic queens often wielded considerable authority, and archaeological evidence has uncovered royal pyramids and inscriptions affirming their importance.

Related Themes and Meanings to Candace

• Gentile Inclusion: The eunuch’s conversion highlights the opening of the gospel to non-Jews and symbolizes the universality of the Christian message.
• Women in Power: Candace represents a unique case in antiquity where women held sovereign political power, challenging many assumptions about gender roles in ancient leadership.
• Geographical Reach of the Gospel: Candace's reference ties the biblical story to Africa, emphasizing the early spread of Christianity beyond the traditional borders of the Roman Empire and Jewish territories.

Trivia and Interesting Facts about Candace

• The kingdom of Meroë, ruled by queens titled Candace, was one of the great civilizations of the ancient African world, blending African and Egyptian religious, political, and artistic traditions.
• Some scholars suggest that the Ethiopian eunuch may have played a pivotal role in introducing Christianity to Ethiopia, making this biblical passage foundational to the history of the Ethiopian Church.
• While modern readers often assume “Candace” is a personal name, it is more accurately understood as a royal title, making the passage in Acts 8 a rare instance where the Bible directly mentions a specific African kingdom and its ruling structure.
• Strabo, a Greek geographer writing in the 1st century BC, mentions a “Candace” who led armies and was considered fierce and competent—a possible contemporary of the Acts narrative or a historical forerunner.

Conclusion

Candace serves as a powerful symbol in biblical literature—a queen of a distant land whose servant seeks the God of Israel and finds fulfillment in Christ. This brief yet potent reference underscores the global scope of the Christian message, the historical reality of powerful African monarchies, and the vital role of women in leadership throughout history.