Acts 13:2

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 Antioch community, there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (brought up since childhood with Herod the Tetrarch), and Saul. While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Ruach ha-Kodesh said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then after fasting, praying, and laying hands on them, they sent them off. 4So, sent out by the Ruach ha-Kodesh, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 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 service of the Word.”
• Deuteronomy 10:8At that time Adonai set the tribe of Levi apart to carry the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai, to stand before Adonai to serve Him and to pronounce blessings in His Name—as is the case to this day.
• 1 Samuel 2:11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, while the boy served Adonai before Eli the kohen.
• 1 Chronicles 16:4He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the Ark of Adonai, to petition, to thank and to praise Adonai, the God of Israel.
• Romans 15:16to be a servant of Messiah Yeshua to the Gentiles, in priestly service to the Good News of God—so that the offering up of the Gentiles might be pleasing, made holy by the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
• Colossians 4:17Tell Archippus, “See to it that you complete the service you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
• 2 Timothy 1:11For this Good News I was appointed a herald and an emissary and a teacher.
• 2 Timothy 4:5You, however, keep a clear mind in all things, withstand hardship, do the work of proclaiming the Good News, and fulfill your service.
• Acts 13:3Then after fasting, praying, and laying hands on them, they sent them off.
• Acts 10:30Cornelius declared, “Four days ago at this hour, I was praying minchah in my house. Suddenly, a man stood in front of me in shining clothes.
• Daniel 9:3So I set my face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
• Matthew 6:16“And whenever you fast, do not become sad-faced like the hypocrites, for they neglect their faces to make their fasting evident to men. Amen, I tell you, they have their reward in full!
• Matthew 9:14Then John’s disciples 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 age eighty-four. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayers.
• 1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive one another—except by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
• 2 Corinthians 6:5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleeplessness, in 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

• Call
• Fasting
• Gentiles
• Holy Spirit
• Minister, Christian
• Missions
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Barnabas
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Holy Ghost
• Call
• Light
• Lo
• Ordain
• Prophet
• Season

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