Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 13:1 - 13:3
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_13:1-3
1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Act_13:1 "Antioch" See note at Act_11:19.
▣ "the church" See Special Topic at Act_5:11.
▣ "prophets and teachers" These two gifts of the Spirit are listed in 1Co_12:28 and Eph_4:11. The grammatical construction is such that it is uncertain whether the five men listed were both prophets and teachers or if the first three are prophets and the last two are teachers.
The problem with this term is, "How is the NT gift of prophecy related to OT prophets?" In the OT prophets are writers of Scripture. In the NT this task is given to the original twelve Apostles and their helpers. As the term "apostle" is retained as an ongoing gift (cf. Eph_4:11), but with a changed task after the death of the Twelve, so too, is the office of prophet. Inspiration has ceased; there is no further inspired Scripture. New Testament prophets' primary task is proclamation of the gospel, but also a different task, possibly how to apply NT truths to current situations and needs. See Special Topic at Act_11:27.
The gift of teacher is mentioned in Act_13:1 in combination with prophecy, but in Eph_4:11 it is linked with pastors. In 2Ti_1:11 Paul says he is a preacher, apostle, and a teacher. Here it seems to stand independently, as it does in Rom_12:7. It is also discussed separately in Jas_3:1 ff. This implies that these leadership gifts can be combined in different ways in different believers to meet the need of the church in that day or area. Each of these gifted leaders (cf. Eph_4:11) proclaimed the gospel, but in different ways (ordering, preaching, instructing).
hyperlink
hyperlink
▣ "Simeon who was called Niger" The term niger is Latin for dark or black. Some commentators try to relate this Simon to Mar_15:21.
▣ "Lucius of Cyrene" Possibly this is one of the Hellenistic Jews that preached to the Gentiles in Antioch (cf. Act_11:20). He is probably not the Lucius mentioned in Rom_16:21.
▣ "Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch" Manaen is a Greek form of the Hebrew Manahem, which means "comforter." This man was either a foster brother (Greek literature) of Herod Antipas (see Introduction to Acts 12) or he grew up with him (Koine papyri). Luke probably got much of his information about Herod Antipas (the Tetrarch) from conversations with this man.
Act_13:2
NASB "ministering"
NKJV "ministered"
NRSV "worshiping"
TEV "serving"
NJB "offering worship"
This is the Greek term leitourgia (a compound from "public" and "work") from which we get the English term liturgy. Originally it referred to someone who did public service at their own expense. In this context it implies a period of seeking God's will during a worship service. The verb could refer to the entire church or just the five men listed.
▣ "had fasted" In the OT there is only one fast day a year, the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16. However, during the first century, rabbinical Judaism had developed two fasts a week. Although fasting is not required of believers, many times it is helpful in discerning God's will (cf. Act_14:23).
hyperlink
▣ "the Holy spirit said" This is another biblical evidence for the personality of the Holy Spirit (see Special Topic at Act_1:2). Whether it was audible or intuitive is uncertain (cf. Act_8:29; Act_10:19; Act_11:12; Act_20:23; Act_21:11). It is obvious that this was a very specific message (cf. Act_16:6-7), probably given through one of the prophets.
▣ "Set apart" This is an aorist active imperative. The term aphorizô has the same connotation as "holy" (hagiazô). It implies set apart and equipped for an assigned divine task (cf. Rom_1:1; Gal_1:15).
▣ After "set apart" in the Greek text is the particle dç, which denotes intensity (cf. Luk_2:15; 1Co_6:20). It gives an earnestness to the Spirit's call. There is a parallel in Paul's statement of Act_15:36.
▣ "the work to which I have called them" This is a perfect middle (deponent) indicative. It is the Spirit who calls and equips for ministry tasks (cf. 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11).
Act_13:3 The verse has three aorist participles describing the spiritual preparations to send out the first missionaries from the church at Antioch.
1. fasted
2. prayed
3. laid hands on them
This seems to be the united actions of the whole congregation, not just the other prophets and teachers. The whole church should be involved in Great Commission activities!
▣ "laid their hands on them" This particular verse is one of the ambiguous texts on which our modern practice of ordination is based. However, it is inappropriate as a biblical foundation for our modern denominational practices. There are many physical examples of "laying on of hands" in the Bible.
1. in the OT for the purpose of
a. sacrificial identification (cf. Lev_1:4; Lev_3:2; Lev_4:4; Lev_16:21)
b. a blessing (cf. Gen_48:13 ff; Mat_19:13; Mat_19:15)
c. the commissioning of a successor (cf. Num_27:23; Deu_34:9)
2. In the NT the background is equally as varied
a. for healing (cf. Luk_4:40; Luk_13:13; Act_9:17; Act_28:8)
b. dedication or commissioning to a task (cf. Act_6:6; Act_13:3)
c. connected with receiving the Holy Spirit or spiritual gifts (cf. Act_8:17; Act_19:6; 1Ti_4:14; 2Ti_1:6)
d. a reference to the basic teachings of Judaism or the church (cf. Heb_6:2)
This laying on of hands was not an inaugurating experience. These men were already called, gifted, functioning leaders. It is not a new ministry they are called to, but an expansion of what they were already doing.
Ordination tends to encourage a distinction among believers. It gives credence to the clergy-laity dichotomy. The Greek word cleros (to inherit by lot) and laos (Greek word for people), when used in the NT, always refers to the entire group of believers. All believers are called, gifted, full time ministers of the gospel (cf. Eph_4:11-12). There is no biblical evidence for separating believers into hierarchal groups. All believers are gifted for ministry to the body of Christ (cf. 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11).