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Selected Verse: Acts 13:2 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 13:2 |
Strong Concordance |
As [1161] they [846] ministered [3008] to the Lord [2962], and [2532] fasted [3522], the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] said [2036], [1211] Separate [873] me [3427] [5037] Barnabas [921] and [2532] Saul [4569] for [1519] the work [2041] whereunto [3739] I have called [4341] them [846]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
As they ministered to the Lord--The word denotes the performance of official duties of any kind, and was used to express the priestly functions under the Old Testament. Here it signifies the corresponding ministrations of the Christian Church.
and fasted--As this was done in other cases on special occasions (Act 13:3, Act 13:14, Act 13:23), it is not improbable that they had been led to expect some such prophetic announcement at this time.
the Holy Ghost said--through some of the prophets mentioned in Act 13:1.
Separate me--So Rom 1:1.
for the work whereunto I have called them--by some communication, perhaps, to themselves: in the case of Saul at least, such a designation was indicated from the first (Act 22:21). Note.--While the personality of the Holy Ghost is manifest from this language, His supreme divinity will appear equally so by comparing it with Heb 5:4. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
As they ministered to the Lord - It is probable that this took place on some day set apart for fasting and prayer. The expression "ministered to the Lord" means as they were engaged in prayer to the Lord, or as they were engaged in divine service. The Syriac thus renders the passage.
The Holy Ghost said - Evidently by direct revelation.
Separate me - Set apart to me, or for my service. It does not mean to ordain, but simply to designate, or appoint to this specific work.
For the work whereunto I have called them - Not the apostolic office, for Saul was called to that by the express revelation of Jesus Christ Gal 1:12, and Barnabas was not an apostle. The "work" to which they were now set apart was that of preaching the gospel in the regions round about Antioch. It was not any permanent office in the church, but was a temporary designation to a missionary enterprise in extending the gospel, especially through Asia Minor, and the adjacent regions. Accordingly, when, in the fulfillment of this appointment, they had traveled through Seleucia, Cyprus, Paphos, Pamphylia, Pisidia, etc., they returned to Antioch, having fulfilled the work to which they were separated. See Act 14:26-27. "Whereunto I have called them." This proves that they received their commission to this work directly from God the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas had been influenced by the Spirit to engage in this work, but they were to be sent forth by the concurrence and designation of the church. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Ministered (λειτουργούντων)
See on the kindred noun ministration, Luk 1:23. This noun has passed through the following meanings: 1. A civil service, especially in the technical language of Athenian law. 2. A function or office of any kind, as of the bodily organs. 3. Sacerdotal ministration, both among the Jews and the heathen (see Heb 8:6; Heb 9:21). 4. The eucharistic services. 5. Set forms of divine worship (Lightfoot, "On Philippians," ii., 17). Here, of the performance of Christian worship. Our word liturgy is derived from it.
Separate
The Greek adds δή, now, which is not rendered by A. V. or Rev. It gives precision and emphasis to the command, implying that it is for a special purpose, and to be obeyed at the time. Compare Luk 2:15; Act 15:36; Co1 6:20. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them - This was not ordaining them. St. Paul was ordained long before, and that not of men, neither by man: it was only inducting him to the province for which our Lord had appointed him from the beginning, and which was now revealed to the prophets and teachers. In consequence of this they fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, a rite which was used not in ordination only, but in blessing, and on many other occasions. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted - On Mondays and Thursdays it was usual with the more pious Jews to attend the public service in their synagogues, and to fast: the former is what we are to understand by ministering to the Lord. On the Sabbaths they attended the service in the synagogue, but did not fast. The Greek word, λειτουργουντων, signifies performing the office of praying, supplicating, rendering thanks, etc.: hence the word λειτουργια, liturgy, the work of prayer, etc., from λιτη, supplication, according to some; or rather from λειτος, common, and εργον, work, the common or public work, in which all the people were engaged.
The Holy Ghost said - A revelation of the Divine will was made to some person then present; probably to either Simeon, or Lucius, or Manaen, mentioned before.
Separate me Barnabas and Saul - Consecrate, or set them apart, for the particular work whereunto I have called them. How this was done, we find in the next verse. |
4 And [2532] no [3756] man [5100] taketh [2983] this honour [5092] unto himself [1438], but [235] he that is called [2564] of [5259] God [2316], as [2509] [2532] was Aaron [2].
21 And [2532] he said [2036] unto [4314] me [3165], Depart [4198]: for [3754] I [1473] will send [1821] thee [4571] far hence [3112] unto [1519] the Gentiles [1484].
1 Paul [3972], a servant [1401] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], called [2822] to be an apostle [652], separated [873] unto [1519] the gospel [2098] of God [2316],
1 Now [1161] there were [2258] in [2596] the church [1577] that was [5607] at [1722] Antioch [490] certain [5100] prophets [4396] and [2532] teachers [1320]; as [5037] Barnabas [921], and [2532] Simeon [4826] that was called [2564] Niger [3526], and [2532] Lucius [3066] of Cyrene [2956], and [5037] Manaen [3127], which had been brought up [4939] with Herod [2264] the tetrarch [5076], and [2532] Saul [4569].
23 Of [575] this man's [5127] seed [4690] hath [1453] God [2316] according [2596] to his promise [1860] raised [1453] unto Israel [2474] a Saviour [4990], Jesus [2424]:
14 But [1161] when they [846] departed [1330] from [575] Perga [4011], they came [3854] to [1519] Antioch [490] in Pisidia [4099], and [2532] went [1525] into [1519] the synagogue [4864] on the sabbath [4521] day [2250], and sat down [2523].
3 And [5119] when they had fasted [3522] and [2532] prayed [4336], and [2532] laid [2007] their hands [5495] on [2007] them [846], they sent them away [630].
26 And thence [2547] sailed [636] to [1519] Antioch [490], from whence [3606] they had been [2258] recommended [3860] to the grace [5485] of God [2316] for [1519] the work [2041] which [3739] they fulfilled [4137].
27 And [1161] when they were come [3854], and [2532] had gathered [4863] the church [1577] together [4863], they rehearsed [312] all [3745] that God [2316] had done [4160] with [3326] them [846], and [2532] how [3754] he had opened [455] the door [2374] of faith [4102] unto the Gentiles [1484].
12 For [1063] I [1473] neither [3761] received [3880] it [846] of [3844] man [444], neither [3777] was I taught [1321] it, but [235] by [1223] the revelation [602] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].
20 For [1063] ye are bought [59] with a price [5092]: therefore [1211] glorify [1392] God [2316] in [1722] your [5216] body [4983], and [2532] in [1722] your [5216] spirit [4151], which [3748] are [2076] God's [2316].
36 And [1161] some [5100] days [2250] after [3326] Paul [3972] said [2036] unto [4314] Barnabas [921], [1211] Let us go again [1994] and visit [1980] our [2257] brethren [80] in [2596] every [3956] city [4172] where [1722] [3739] we have preached [2605] the word [3056] of the Lord [2962], and see how [4459] they do [2192].
15 And [2532] it came to pass [1096], as [5613] the angels [32] were gone away [565] from [575] them [846] into [1519] heaven [3772], [2532] the shepherds [444] [4166] said [2036] one [240] to [4314] another [240], Let us [1330] now [1211] go [1330] even unto [2193] Bethlehem [965], and [2532] see [1492] this [5124] thing [4487] which is come to pass [1096], which [3739] [3588] the Lord [2962] hath made known [1107] unto us [2254].
21 Moreover [1161] [3668] he sprinkled [4472] with blood [129] both [2532] the tabernacle [4633], and [2532] all [3956] the vessels [4632] of the ministry [3009].
6 But [1161] now [3570] hath he obtained [5177] a more excellent [1313] ministry [3009], by how much [3745] also [2532] he is [2076] the mediator [3316] of a better [2909] covenant [1242], which [3748] was established [3549] upon [1909] better [2909] promises [1860].
23 And [2532] it came to pass [1096], that, as soon as [5613] the days [2250] of his [846] ministration [3009] were accomplished [4130], he departed [565] to [1519] his own [846] house [3624].