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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Context of Acts 13:3

1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 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.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

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 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 6:6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
• Acts 8:15When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
• Acts 9:17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 14:23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
• Numbers 27:23Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.
• 1 Timothy 4:14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
• 1 Timothy 5:22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
• 2 Timothy 1:6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
• 2 Timothy 2:2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
• Acts 14:26From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
• Acts 15:40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.
• Romans 10:15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
• 3 John 1:6They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors 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