Act 13:1-2 | RWP | e4.org | In the church that was there ( κατα την ουσαν εκκλησιαν ). Possibly distributed throughout the church (note "in the church" ). Now a strong organization there. Luke here begins the second part of Acts with Antioch as the centre of operations, no longer Jerusalem. Paul is now the central figure instead of Peter. Jerusalem had hesitated too long to carry out the command of Jesus to take the gospel to the whole world. That glory will now belong to Antioch. Prophets and teachers ( προφητα κα διδασκαλο ). All prophets were teachers, but not all teachers were prophets who were for-speakers of God, sometimes fore-speakers like Agabus in . The double use of τε here makes three prophets (Barnabas, Symeon, Lucius) and two teachers (Manaen and Saul). Barnabas heads the list ( ) and Saul comes last. Symeon Niger may be the Simon of Cyrene who carried the Saviour's cross. Lucius of Cyrene was probably one of the original evangelists ( ). The name is one of the forms of Luke, but it is certainly not Luke the Physician. Manaen shows how the gospel was reaching some of the higher classes (home of Herod Antipas). Foster-brother ( συντροφος ). Old word for nourished with or brought up with one collactaneus (Vulgate). These are clearly the outstanding men in the great Greek church in Antioch.

‏ Acts 13:1-2

In the church that was there ( κατα την ουσαν εκκλησιαν ). Possibly distributed throughout the church (note "in the church" 11:26). Now a strong organization there. Luke here begins the second part of Acts with Antioch as the centre of operations, no longer Jerusalem. Paul is now the central figure instead of Peter. Jerusalem had hesitated too long to carry out the command of Jesus to take the gospel to the whole world. That glory will now belong to Antioch.

Prophets and teachers ( προφητα κα διδασκαλο ). All prophets were teachers, but not all teachers were prophets who were for-speakers of God, sometimes fore-speakers like Agabus in 11:28. The double use of τε here makes three prophets (Barnabas, Symeon, Lucius) and two teachers (Manaen and Saul). Barnabas heads the list (11:22) and Saul comes last. Symeon Niger may be the Simon of Cyrene who carried the Saviour's cross. Lucius of Cyrene was probably one of the original evangelists (11:20). The name is one of the forms of Luke, but it is certainly not Luke the Physician. Manaen shows how the gospel was reaching some of the higher classes (home of Herod Antipas).

Foster-brother ( συντροφος ). Old word for nourished with or brought up with one collactaneus (Vulgate). These are clearly the outstanding men in the great Greek church in Antioch.

As they ministered to the Lord ( λειτουργουντων αυτων το κυριω ). Genitive absolute of λειτουργεω, old verb, used of the Attic orators who served the state at their own cost λεως or λαος, people, and εργον, work or service). Common in the LXX of the priests who served in the tabernacle (Ex 28:31, 39) like λειτουργια (Lu 1:23) which see. So in Heb 10:11. In Ro 15:27 of aiding others in poverty. Here of worship (prayer, exhortation, fasting). The word liturgy grows out of this use.

And fasted ( κα νηστευοντων ). Genitive absolute also. Christian Jews were keeping up the Jewish fast (Lu 18:12). Note fasting also in the choice of elders for the Mission Churches (Ac 14:23). Fasting was not obligatory on the Christians, but they were facing a great emergency in giving the gospel to the Gentile world.

Separate me ( αφορισατε δη μο ). First aorist active imperative of αφοριζω, old verb to mark off boundaries or horizon, used by Paul of his call (Ro 1:1; Ga 1:15). The Greek has δη, a shortened form of ηδη and like Latin jam and German doch, now therefore. It ought to be preserved in the translation. Cf. Lu 2:15; Ac 15:36; 1Co 6:20. Μο is the ethical dative. As in verse 1 Barnabas is named before Saul. Both had been called to ministry long ago, but now this call is to the special campaign among the Gentiles. Both had been active and useful in such work.

Whereunto ( ο ). Here εις has to be repeated from εις το εργον just before, "for which" as Jesus sent the twelve and the seventy in pairs, so here. Paul nearly always had one or more companions.