Acts 13 · Verse 2

Acts 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.
Acts 13:2, King James Version

Acts 13:2 in other translations

BSBWhile 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.”
WEBAs they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
ASVAnd as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
YLTand in their ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Separate ye to me both Barnabas and Saul to the work to which I have called them,'
DARBYAnd as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
BBEAnd while they were doing the Lord's work, and going without food, the Holy Spirit said, Let Barnabas and Saul be given to me for the special work for which they have been marked out by me.
WebsterAs they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate for me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.

What does Acts 13:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. 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 said--through some of the prophets mentioned in Ac 13:1. Separate me--So Ro 1:1. for the work whereunto I have called them--by some communication, perhaps, to themselves: in the case of Saul at least, such a designation was indicated from the first (Ac 22:21). Note.--While the personality of the Holy Ghost is manifest from this language, His supreme divinity will appear equally so by comparing it with He 5:4.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. As 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" denotes, 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 this specific work.

For the work whereunto I have called them. Not the apostolic office, for Saul was called to that by the express revelation of Jesus Christ, Gal 1:12, and Barnabas was not an apostle. The "work" to which they were now set apart was that of preaching the gospel in the regions round about Antioch. It was not any permanent office in the church, but was a temporary designation to a missionary enterprise in extending the gospel especially through Asia Minor and the adjacent regions. Accordingly, when, in the fulfillment of this appointment, they had travelled through Seleucia, Cyprus, Paphos, Pamphylia, Pisidia, etc., they returned to Antioch, having fulfilled the work to which they were separated. See Acts 14:26,27.

Whereunto I have called them.

This proves that they received their commission to this work directly from God the Holy Spirit. It is possible that Paul and Barnabas had been influenced by the Spirit to engage in this work, but they were to be sent forth by the concurrence and designation of the church.

(b) "Separate me" Gal 1:13 (c) "for the work" 1Timm 2:7 (+) "whereunto" "To which"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 As 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, λειτουργουντων, signifies performing the office of praying, supplicating, rendering thanks, etc.: hence the word λειτουργια, liturgy, the work of prayer, etc., from λιτη, supplication, according to some; or rather from λειτος, common, and εργον, work, the common or public work, in which all the people were engaged. The Holy Ghost said - A revelation of the Divine will was made to some person then present; probably to either Simeon, or Lucius, or Manaen, mentioned before. Separate me Barnabas and Saul - Consecrate, or set them apart, for the particular work whereunto I have called them. How this was done, we find in the next verse.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:1-3

What an assemblage was here! In these names we see that the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life; and zeal for his glory induces men to give up flattering connexions and prospects to promote his cause. It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are…

Read the full comment on Acts 13:1-3 →

Acts 13:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

λειτουργούντωνleitourgountōnAs were ministeringG3008
δὲdenowG1161
αὐτῶνautōntheyG846
τῷtōto theG3588
κυρίῳkuriōLordG2962
καὶkaiandG2532
νηστευόντωνnēsteuontōnfastingG3522
εἶπενeipensaidG2036
τὸtotheG3588
πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
τὸto<the>G3588
ἅγιον·hagionHoly;G40
ἀφορίσατεaphorisatedo set apartG873
δήdēthenG1211
μοιmoito MeG3165
τὸνton<the>G3588
ΒαρναβᾶνBarnabanBarnabasG921
καὶkaiandG2532
ΣαῦλονSaulonSaulG4569
εἰςeisforG1519
τὸtotheG3588
ἔργονergonworkG2041
ὃhoto whichG3739
προσκέκλημαιproskeklēmaiI have calledG4341
αὐτούς.autousthem.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:2

  • Galatians 1:15

    But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

  • Acts 9:15

    But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

  • 1 Corinthians 12:11

    But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

  • Romans 1:1

    Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

  • 2 Timothy 1:11

    Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

  • Acts 14:26

    And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

  • Daniel 9:3

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

  • 1 Timothy 2:7

    Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

  • Acts 22:21

    And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

  • Acts 8:29

    Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

  • Matthew 6:16

    Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  • Galatians 2:8-9

    (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
6:4; De 10:8; 1Sa 2:11; 1Ch 16:4,37-43; Ro 15:16; Col 4:17; 2Ti 1:11
2Ti 4:5,11
fasted.
3; 10:30; Da 9:3; Mt 6:16; 9:14,15; Lu 2:37; 1Co 7:5; 2Co 6:5; 11:27
the Holy.
10:19; 16:6,7; 1Co 12:11
Separate.
22:21; Nu 8:11-14; Ro 1:1; 10:15; Ga 1:15; 2:8,9; 2Ti 2:2
the work.
9:15; 14:26; Mt 9:38; Lu 10:1; Eph 3:7; 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 1:11; Heb 5:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 13:1

    Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

  • Acts 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.

  • Acts 13:3

    And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ministrando pues éstos al Señor, y ayunando, dijo el Espíritu Santo: Apartadme á Bernabé y á Saulo para la obra para la cual los he llamado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme ils servaient le Seigneur et jeûnaient, l’Esprit Saint dit: Mettez-moi maintenant à part Barnabas et Saul, pour l’œuvre à laquelle je les ai appelés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Während sie aber dem Herrn dienten und fasteten, sprach der Heilige Geist: Sondert mir nun Barnabas und Saulus zu dem Werke aus, zu welchem ich sie berufen habe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ministrantibus autem illis Domino, et jejunantibus, dixit illis Spiritus Sanctus: Segregate mihi Saulum et Barnabam in opus ad quod assumpsi eos.