The name Agabus derived from the Aramaic Ḥagab, meaning "Grasshopper", which may have been a nickname or pseudonym.

The author reports that Agabus had received the gift of prophecy and predicted a severe famine, which occurred during the reign of the emperor Claudius.

[3] Also, according to Acts 21:10–12, 'a certain prophet', (Greek: τις) named Agabus met Paul the Apostle at Caesarea Maritima in AD 58.

[5] Agabus warned Paul of his coming capture; he bound his own hands and feet with Paul's belt to demonstrate what would happen if he continued his journey to Jerusalem, stating the message of the Holy Spirit: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.Paul, however, would not be persuaded to stay away.

This moved the Jews of Jerusalem to arrest him, and they tortured him by beating him severely, and putting a rope around his neck.