Candace: The queen of the Ethiopians whose "eunuch" or chamberlain was
converted to Christianity by the instrumentality of Philip the
evangelist
(Acts 8:27) The country which she ruled was called by the
Greeks Meroe, in Upper Nubia. It was long the centre of commercial
intercourse between Africa and the south of Asia, and hence became
famous for its wealth
(Isaiah 45:14) It is somewhat singular that female
sovereignty seems to have prevailed in Ethiopia, the name Candace
(compare "Pharaoh," "Ptolemy," "Caesar") being a title common to
several successive queens. It is probable that Judaism had taken root
in Ethiopia at this time, and hence the visit of the queen's
treasurer to Jerusalem to keep the feast. There is a tradition that
Candace was herself converted to Christianity by her treasurer on his
return, and that he became the apostle of Christianity in that whole
region, carrying it also into Abyssinia. It is said that he also
preached the gospel in Arabia Felix and in Ceylon, where he suffered
martyrdom.
