Christian Standard Bible
Acts 13:2
2As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
- New King James Version (NKJV)As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Context of Acts 13:2
1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they were worshiping 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 after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. 4So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Read all of Acts 13Acts 13:2 word by word
λειτουργούντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ νηστευόντων εἶπεν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον· ἀφορίσατε δή μοι τὸν Βαρναβᾶν καὶ Σαῦλον εἰς τὸ ἔργον ὃ προσκέκλημαι αὐτούς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Asδέde · thenG1161
- theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ministeredλειτουργέωleitourgeō · to ministerG3008
- to the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- to the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- fastedνηστεύωnēsteuō · to fastG3522
- the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Separateἀφορίζωaphorizō · to separateG873
- ·δήdē · soG1211
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- ·τεte · and/bothG5037
- BarnabasΒαρνάβαςBarnabas · BarnabasG921
- SaulΣαῦλοςSaulos · SaulG4569
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the workἔργονergon · workG2041
- whereuntoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- I have calledπροσκαλέωproskaleomai · to call to/summonG4341
Cross-references for Acts 13:2
- Acts 6:4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- Deuteronomy 10:8“At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to pronounce blessings in his name, as it is today.
- 1 Samuel 2:11Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4David appointed some of the Levites to be ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate the Lord God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to him.
- Romans 15:16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- Colossians 4:17And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”
- 2 Timothy 1:11For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher,
- 2 Timothy 4:5But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Acts 13:3Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.
- Acts 10:30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing stood before me
- Daniel 9:3So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
- Matthew 6:16“Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
- Matthew 9:14Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
- Luke 2:37and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.
- 1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive one another — except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
- 2 Corinthians 6:5by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,
Commentaries on Acts 13:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2As 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, , signifies performing the office of praying, supplicating, rendering thanks, etc.: hence the word , liturgy, the work of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2As 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3prophets and teachers: these leaders of the church at Antioch spent a lot of time in worship and prayer. They had an intense desire to do the Lord's will, and they fasted to spiritually prepare themselves to receive guidance from God. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The church set apart Barnabas and Saul, recognizing God's clear call for them to do a special work in his name. The inner journey these Christians took to pray and listen to God…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. 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 (Ac 13:3, 14, 23), it is not improbable that they had been led to expect some such prophetic announcement at this time. the Holy Ghost…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 13:2
In the dictionaries
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
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