Ananias of Adiabene (/ˌænəˈnaɪəs/; c. 15 BCE – c. 30 CE) was a Jewish merchant and mendicant proselytizer, probably of Hellenistic origin, who, in the opening years of the Christian common era, was prominent at the court of Abinergaos I (Abennerig), king of Characene.
This city, the capital of Characene, was situated at the confluence of the two arms of the Tigris near the Persian Gulf and was at the time a great mercantile center.
Upon his accession (about 22), Izates, in order to show his genuine attachment to the new religion, declared his determination to undergo the rite of circumcision.
Helena opposed this, fearing that the adoption of foreign ceremonies might arouse against the young king the indignation of his pagan subjects.
Izates seemed convinced by the latter argument, until there came to his court another Jew, Eleazar, who, in contradistinction to Ananias' Hellenic leniency, was a rigorous legalist from Galilee.