Acts 13:3

Acts 13:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
• New International Version (NIV)So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

Context of Acts 13:3

1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets [who spoke a new message of God to the people] and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them [in approval and dedication] and sent them away [on their first journey]. 4So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5When Barnabas and Saul arrived at Salamis, they began to preach the word of God [proclaiming the message of eternal salvation through faith in Christ] in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John [Mark] as their assistant.

Acts 13:3 word by word

τότε νηστεύσαντες καὶ προσευξάμενοι καὶ ἐπιθέντες τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῖς ἀπέλυσαν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And whenτότεtote · thenG5119
• they had fastedνηστεύωnēsteuō · to fastG3522
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• prayedπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• laidἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
• handsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• on themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• they sentἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630

Cross-references for Acts 13:3

• Acts 13:2While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them.”
• Acts 6:6They brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them [to dedicate and commission them for this service].
• Acts 8:15They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
• Acts 9:17So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles].”
• Acts 14:23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed [and joyfully accepted as the Messiah].
• Numbers 27:23and Moses laid his hands on Joshua and commissioned him, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
• 1 Timothy 4:14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].
• 1 Timothy 5:22Do not hurry to lay hands on anyone [ordaining and approving someone for ministry or an office in the church, or in reinstating expelled offenders], and thereby share in the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
• 2 Timothy 1:6That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].
• 2 Timothy 2:2The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others.
• Acts 14:26From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work which they had now completed.
• Acts 15:40But Paul chose Silas [who was again in Antioch] and set out [on his second journey], commended by the brothers to the grace and favor of the Lord.
• Romans 10:15And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
• 3 John 1:6and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

Commentaries on Acts 13:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them - They fasted: this was probably done by the whole Church. They prayed, that God would bless and prosper them in their work. They land hands upon them; thus solemnly appointing them to that particular work. But was it by this fasting, praying, and imposition of hands that these men were qualified for this work? No. God had already called them to it, Acts 13:2, and he who called them had…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And when they had fasted - They were fasting when they were commanded to set them apart. Yet this probably refers to an appointed day of prayer, with reference to this very purpose. The first formal mission to the Gentiles was an important event in the church, and they engaged in this appointment with deep solemnity and with humbling themselves before God. And prayed - This enterprise was a new one. The gospel had been preached to the Jews, to Cornelius…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3they laid their hands on them: They performed this holy act only after more fasting and prayer. The Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) caution against appointing someone as a Christian leader without proper care and background checks (1 Timothy 5:22). At this point, the church at Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul as its representatives for the mission.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. laid their hands on them--(See on Ac 6:6)--"recommending them to the grace of God for the work which they had to fulfil" (Ac 14:26). sent them away--with the double call--of the Spirit first, and next of the Church. So clothed, their mission is thus described: "They being sent forth by the Holy Ghost." Have we not here for all time the true principle of appointment to sacred offices?Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 13:3

• Call
• Church
• Fasting
• Minister, Christian
• Missions
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Fast
• Light
• Lo
• Ordain
• Prophet
• Season
• Simeon
• Stock
• Abstinence
• Acts of the Apostles

Commentaries on Acts 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings