New King James Version
Acts 13:2
2As 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.”
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 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 in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 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 give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- Deuteronomy 10:8At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear 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 to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.
- 1 Chronicles 16:4And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel:
- Romans 15:16that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
- 2 Timothy 1:11to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
- 2 Timothy 4:5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- Acts 13:3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
- Acts 10:30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
- Daniel 9:3Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
- Matthew 6:16“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
- Matthew 9:14Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
- Luke 2:37and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
- 1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
- 2 Corinthians 6:5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries