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)
The phrase "ministered to the Lord" uses a term often reserved for temple priests, highlighting that this church gathering was a sacred, divinely appointed act of worship, not just a casual meeting. The command to "set apart for me" emphasizes that this mission was not merely for the church's benefit, but for the Holy Spirit's direct service and purpose.
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)
The church in Antioch, particularly its prophets and teachers, is engaged in dedicated worship and fasting. The Holy Spirit directly intervenes, issuing a clear command: to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific mission to which they have already been divinely called. This marks a pivotal moment, signaling the formal launch of their apostolic ministry, especially toward the Gentiles.
Before Barnabas and Saul were sent out, something vital happened in Antioch. It wasn't a strategy meeting or a rally, but a sacred moment of connection.
The verse describes the believers in Antioch as 'worshiping the Lord and fasting.' This wasn't just downtime; it was their primary activity before receiving a divine mandate. The word for 'worshiping' here (leitourgein) often referred to the sacred duties of priests in the Temple. It suggests that their gathering was a profound act of service to God, not merely a passive experience.
This sets a crucial precedent: God's mission often flows from His people's devoted worship. When we are deeply engaged in honoring God, we become more attuned to His voice and His purposes. Fasting amplified their spiritual focus, helping to set aside worldly distractions and concentrate on God's presence and direction.
Who decided Barnabas and Saul should go? Was it a human decision, a church committee's plan, or something else entirely?
The verse makes it abundantly clear: 'the Holy Spirit said...' The directive to set apart Barnabas and Saul came directly from the third person of the Trinity. This wasn't a suggestion; it was a divine command for a specific 'work to which I have called them.'
This underscores a vital theological truth: mission is not primarily a human endeavor that God blesses, but a divine initiative that we are invited to join. The Holy Spirit is presented as the active force, the One who calls, commissions, and directs the spread of the gospel. He spoke through prophets in the early church, acting as the authoritative voice of God. This means our involvement in God's work is always in response to His prior calling and direction.
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Barnabas and Saul weren't just being sent on a trip; they were being designated for something specific, something God had already planned.
The phrase 'for the work to which I have called them' is crucial. This wasn't a new assignment, but a formal recognition and commissioning of a calling that already existed within Barnabas and Saul. The Holy Spirit wasn't inventing a mission; He was officially setting apart individuals for a pre-ordained purpose.
The word 'separate' (aphorisate) implies a distinct setting apart, a consecration for a specific task. It means being distinguished from others and dedicated to a particular service. This highlights that God's call often aligns with the unique gifts and inclinations He has already placed within individuals. Being 'separated' means being consecrated, purified, and empowered by the Spirit for that very work.
Understand the original words
pneuma hagion · Greek Noun phrase
The third person of the Trinity, who indwells believers, empowers the church, guides into all truth, and serves as the agent of sanctification and mission.
aphorizō · Greek Verb
To devote or consecrate someone or something exclusively to God for His specific service and purpose.
ergon · Greek Noun
Acts of service, ministry, or labor done in obedience to God, specifically referring to the missionary activities of the church in spreading the Gospel.
kaleō · Greek Verb
A divine summons or invitation from God to a specific task, ministry, or lifestyle of holiness.
This verse marks a pivotal moment where the church's mission officially expands beyond its Jewish roots. The direct commissioning by the Holy Spirit to Barnabas and Saul, who had already received personal calls, emphasizes the importance of communal recognition and formal sending for the significant work of reaching the Gentiles.
c. AD 34
Conversion of Saul (Paul)
Saul, a persecutor of Christians, has a dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus and is called to be an apostle, particularly to the Gentiles.
c. AD 40-46
Paul's Ministry in Tarsus and Antioch
After his conversion and a period of reflection and teaching in Damascus and Arabia, Paul spends time ministering in his hometown of Tarsus and later in Antioch with Barnabas.
c. AD 46
Famine Relief Mission
Barnabas and Saul are sent from Antioch to Jerusalem with financial aid for the Judean churches during a widespread famine, demonstrating unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.
c. AD 47— this verse
Holy Spirit's Commissioning
While the prophets and teachers in Antioch are ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit directly commands them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific mission.
c. AD 47-49
First Missionary Journey
Barnabas and Saul embark on their first major mission, traveling through Cyprus and into Asia Minor, preaching the gospel and establishing churches among both Jews and Gentiles.
This passage speaks of a servant called from the womb, mirroring how Paul understood his own calling to the Gentiles, emphasizing a divine appointment before birth.
John 15:16Jesus tells his disciples that he appointed them to go and bear fruit, and that their fruit should remain, paralleling the Holy Spirit's action in setting apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific work.
Romans 1:1Paul himself references this calling and separation by God for the gospel, directly linking back to the event described in Acts 13 and showing its foundational importance for his ministry.
1 Corinthians 12:11This verse highlights that the Holy Spirit is the one who distributes spiritual gifts as he wills, underscoring His active role in directing and empowering believers for service, as seen in the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul.
Hebrews 13:20-21This prayer for the community speaks of the 'God of peace' who equips them with everything good for doing His will, reflecting the divine enablement and commissioning that marked the sending out of Barnabas and Saul.
ellicottActs 13:2: "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."
(2) As they ministered to the Lord. —The verb so translated ( leitourgein ) is commonly used, both in the LXX. and in the Now Testament, of the ministry of the priests and Levites in the Temple ( Luke 1:23 ; Hebrews 8:6 ; Hebrews 9:21 ). In Hebrews 1:14 , the corresponding adjective is used to distinguish the ministry of worship from that of serv…
expositorsActs 13:2: "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."
Chapter 9 ST. PAUL’S ORDINATION AND FIRST MISSIONARY TOUR. Acts 13:2-4 ; Acts 13:14 ; Acts 14:1 ; Acts 14:26 We have now arrived at what we might call the watershed of the Acts of the Apostles. Hitherto we have had very various scenes, characters, personages to consider. Henceforth St. Paul, his labours, his disputes, his speeches, occupy the ent…
The phrase "ministered to the Lord" uses a term often reserved for temple priests, highlighting that this church gathering was a sacred, divinely appointed act of worship, not just a casual meeting. The command to "set apart for me" emphasizes that this mission was not merely for the church's benefit, but for the Holy Spirit's direct service and purpose.
The church in Antioch, particularly its prophets and teachers, is engaged in dedicated worship and fasting. The Holy Spirit directly intervenes, issuing a clear command: to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific mission to which they have already been divinely called. This marks a pivotal moment, signaling the formal launch of their apostolic ministry, especially toward the Gentiles.
The church in Antioch, particularly its prophets and teachers, is engaged in dedicated worship and fasting. The Holy Spirit directly intervenes, issuing a clear command: to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific mission to which they have already been divinely called. This marks a pivotal moment, signaling the formal launch of their apostolic ministry, especially toward the Gentiles.
"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.”" — The phrase "ministered to the Lord" uses a term often reserved for temple priests, highlighting that this church gathering was a sacred, divinely appointed act of worship, not just a casual meeting.…
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Last reviewed October 2026