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.
• New International Version (NIV)So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
• 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.

Context of Acts 13:3

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. 2While 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.” Then 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. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as a 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 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.”
• Acts 6:6They placed these men before the emissaries; and after praying, they laid hands on them.
• Acts 8:15They came down and prayed for them to receive the Ruach ha-Kodesh.
• Acts 9:17So Ananias left and entered into the house. Laying hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Yeshua, the One who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—has sent me, so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”
• Acts 14:23When they had handpicked elders for them in every community, and prayed with fasting, they placed them in the care of the Lord—in whom they had put their trust.
• Numbers 27:23Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him just as Adonai had spoken, by Moses’ hand.
• 1 Timothy 4:14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands of the elders.
• 1 Timothy 5:22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily or take part 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 what you have heard from me among many witnesses, entrust to faithful people who will be capable to teach others also.
• Acts 14:26From there they sailed back to Antioch (where they had been entrusted to the gracious care of God for the work now completed).
• Acts 15:40But Paul selected Silas and went out, being entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the gracious care of the Lord.
• Romans 10:15And how shall they proclaim unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!”
• 3 John 1:6They have testified to your love before Messiah’s community. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of 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