English Standard Version
Acts 13:2
2While 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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
Context of Acts 13:2
1Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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." 3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and 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 10:8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
- 1 Samuel 2:11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. And the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
- Romans 15:16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord."
- 2 Timothy 1:11for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,
- 2 Timothy 4:5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Acts 13:3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
- Acts 10:30And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
- Daniel 9:3Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
- Matthew 6:16"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- Matthew 9:14Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
- Luke 2:37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
- 1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
- 2 Corinthians 6:5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries