Candace is a title used to refer to the queen of the Ethiopians mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. The name "Candace" is not a personal name but rather a dynastic title, similar to "Pharaoh" in Egypt. This title was used by the queens of the ancient African kingdom of Kush, located in what is now modern-day Sudan. The reference to Candace in the Bible is found in the Book of Acts, specifically in the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

Biblical Reference:

The primary biblical reference to Candace is found in Acts 8:27. The passage describes an encounter between Philip the Evangelist and an Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official in charge of the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. The Berean Standard Bible states:

"So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship."

This eunuch, a man of great authority under Candace, was returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was reading the book of Isaiah when Philip was led by the Holy Spirit to approach him. The eunuch's encounter with Philip led to his conversion and baptism, marking a significant moment in the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The kingdom of Kush, where Candace reigned, was a powerful and wealthy civilization known for its trade and military prowess. The queens of Kush, often referred to as "Candace," wielded significant power and influence, sometimes ruling as sole monarchs or as co-regents with their sons or husbands. The title "Candace" is believed to have been used by several queens over different periods, indicating a matrilineal or matriarchal aspect to the Kushite royal succession.

The mention of Candace in the Book of Acts highlights the far-reaching influence of the Ethiopian kingdom and its interactions with the Jewish and early Christian communities. The Ethiopian eunuch's journey to Jerusalem for worship suggests a connection between the Jewish faith and the people of Ethiopia, possibly through the Jewish diaspora or proselytes.

Theological Significance:

The account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is significant in the early Christian narrative as it demonstrates the inclusivity of the Gospel message. The conversion of the eunuch, a high-ranking official from a distant land, symbolizes the breaking down of ethnic and cultural barriers in the spread of Christianity. It underscores the fulfillment of the Great Commission, as the message of Christ reaches the "ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Furthermore, the account of Candace's eunuch serves as a testament to the sovereignty of God in orchestrating divine appointments and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers to share the Gospel. The eunuch's baptism by Philip signifies the acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian faith, paving the way for the universal mission of the Church.

Legacy:

Candace, as a title, represents the strength and authority of the queens of Ethiopia, and her mention in the Bible highlights the historical and spiritual connections between Africa and the early Christian Church. The Ethiopian eunuch's conversion is often seen as the beginning of the Christian faith in Ethiopia, a nation that would later become one of the earliest Christian states in the world. The legacy of Candace and her kingdom continues to be a point of interest for biblical scholars and historians exploring the intersection of African history and biblical narratives.Acts 8:27
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Nave's Topical Index

2582. Kandake -- Candace, a queen of Ethiopia
... Candace, a queen of Ethiopia. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Kandake
Phonetic Spelling: (kan-dak'-ay) Short Definition: Candace Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2582.htm - 6k

Exile: Appeals for a Phinehas, and a Jehu: 1554
... laws of a country. Philip the eunuch, though converted, did not drive
Queen Candace out of Ethiopia. If a tyrannous and ungodly ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter v exile appeals for.htm

Laymen Called to the Field of Missions.
... Again, the treasurer of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, seems to have been converted
on his return home, not simply out of regard to his own personal salvation ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter v laymen called to.htm

The Course Pursued by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ.
... This queen was Candace, according to the Biblical account; but Candace was the ... III.
12. 8) says that this Eunuch returned to Ethiopia and preached there. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter i the course pursued by.htm

The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch.
... "Behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of
the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xi the conversion of.htm

A Meeting in the Desert
... And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority
under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a meeting in the desert.htm

The Holy Spirit Sending Men Forth to Definite Lines of Work.
... We read in Acts 8:27-29, RV, "And he (Philip) arose and went: and behold, a man
of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xviii the holy spirit.htm

Acts viii. 26, 27
... And, behold," it says, "a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xix acts viii 26.htm

The Gospel in Samaria
... "And, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen
of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 11 the gospel in.htm

The Early History of Particular Churches.
... Matthew, the way having, perhaps, been prepared by that "man of Ethiopia," the eunuch
"under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians," of whom we read in Acts 8:27-39 ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter vii the early history.htm

The Acts of the Apostles.
... 3. Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, 8:27. Strabo mentions a queen of Mero?? in Ethiopia,
under that name, which was probably, like Pharaoh, a dynastic title. ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 85 the acts of.htm

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