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Acts 13

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

But God raised him from the dead:

And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

What does Acts 13:2 mean?

Explanation

Acts 13:2 contains a significant event in the early Christian church: the calling and setting apart of two key leaders, Barnabas and Saul (who is also known as Paul), for a specific work by the Holy Spirit.

In this verse, we see a group of church leaders engaged in worshiping God and fasting, practices that were integral to the spiritual life of the early church.

During this time of spiritual commitment and seeking, the Holy Spirit speaks to them, commanding that Barnabas and Saul be set apart for a special mission.

This indicates that the early church leaders listened for and valued direct guidance from the Holy Spirit in making decisions, particularly those regarding missionary work and the spread of the gospel.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 13:2 occurs during the first missionary journey of Paul.

This event takes place in Antioch of Syria, one of the early centers of Christianity outside of Jerusalem.

The church in Antioch was diverse and had leaders from different backgrounds.

Fasting and prayer were common practices in the Jewish tradition and continued to be a part of Christian piety.

It reflects an era where the Christian movement was expanding its reach beyond the Jewish community, guided by a sense of divine mission and purpose.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse exemplifies the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the church's mission.

It highlights the fact that missionary work is not merely a human endeavor but one that is divinely appointed and empowered.

Different Christian traditions may interpret the nature of the guidance of the Holy Spirit in various ways, ranging from a charismatic viewpoint that emphasizes direct communication from God, to a more cessationist perspective that sees such direct guidance as less common today.

Practical Applications

This verse inspires believers to be attuned to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives, especially when engaged in spiritual disciplines such as prayer and fasting.

It also serves as a model for churches in making decisions, suggesting that important actions and directions should be sought through communal prayer and listening for God's guidance rather than relying solely on human wisdom.

Cross-References

Acts 9:15 - "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:"
Acts 14:26 - "And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled."
Acts 15:28 - "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;"
Romans 1:1 - "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
Galatians 1:15-16 - "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "separate me" can be translated as "aphorizein moi" (ἀφορίσατε μοι), where "aphorizein" means to set apart, mark off boundaries, or to separate for a purpose.

"Moi" refers to 'for me' indicating the instruction is from the Holy Spirit.

The Greek word for "work" is "ergon" (ἔργον), which often refers to work, employment, task, or deed.

This implies a divine assignment or mission.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The practice of setting apart certain individuals for a divine purpose is not unique to Christianity.

In various ancient cultures and religions, there were ceremonies and rituals for consecrating individuals for service to the gods or for a sacred task.

For example, in Judaism, the Levites were set apart for service in the temple.

In this Christian context, however, the setting apart is through the direct communication of the Holy Spirit rather than a hereditary or institutionalized system.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse itself does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, as it deals with spiritual practice and divine calling.

However, contemporary research in psychology and the social sciences might explore how religious experiences, like the one described in Acts 13:2, impact individuals and groups, their decision-making processes, and the psychological states associated with spiritual practices like fasting and worship.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 13:2 emphasize various aspects of the verse:

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible points out the context of worshipping and fasting as prerequisites for receiving guidance from the Holy Spirit, underlining the solemnity and dedication of the early church leaders.
Matthew Henry's Commentary concludes that the Holy Spirit can make use of ministers as he pleases and that the church should actively seek His direction.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the role of the Antioch church as a pioneering missionary church and how the Holy Spirit was instrumental in the spread of Christianity through Paul and Barnabas.
Adam Clarke's Commentary offers insight into the means by which the Holy Spirit might have communicated this message, suggesting it could have been through prophecy or a strong inward persuasion.

Each of these commentaries underscores the importance of the passage in understanding the missionary impulse of the early church and the role of the Holy Spirit in directing the church's efforts.

Acts 13

Acts 13

What does Acts 13:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 13:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?