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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Acts 13:2

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."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Call;   Fasting;   Gentiles;   Holy Spirit;   Minister, Christian;   Missions;   Paul;   Thompson Chain Reference - Association-Separation;   Associations;   Barnabas;   Call, Divine;   Co-Operation;   Companionship;   Divine;   Fasting;   God;   Holy Spirit;   Invitations, Divine;   Invitations-Warnings;   Leadership;   Ministers;   Missionary Journeys;   Missions, World-Wide;   Paul;   Paul's;   Self-Indulgence-Self-Denial;   Spirit;   Unity-Strife;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fasting;   Holy Spirit, the, Is God;   Holy Spirit, the Personality of;   Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the;   Ministers;   Missionary Work by Ministers;   Trinity, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Barnabas;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Acts, book of;   Antioch in syria;   Apostle;   Barnabas;   Church;   Cyprus;   Fasting;   Gifts of the spirit;   Gospels;   Guidance;   Holy spirit;   Inspiration;   Mission;   Paul;   Prophecy, prophet;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elect, Election;   Fast, Fasting;   Leadership;   Prayer;   Sanctification;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Call;   Simeon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Antioch;   Apostle;   Barnabas;   Bishop;   Cyprus;   Holy Spirit, the;   Manaen;   Minister;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Antioch;   Call, Calling;   Christ, Christology;   Church;   Ephesians, Book of;   Fasting;   Holy;   Luke;   Mission(s);   Offices in the New Testament;   Ordination, Ordain;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Spirit;   Syria;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Bible;   Canon of the New Testament;   Fasting;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Mark (John);   Minister;   Paul the Apostle;   Power of the Keys;   Presbytery;   Stephen;   Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Apostle;   Baptism;   Call, Called, Calling;   Church Government;   Excommunication;   Gentiles;   God;   Gospels (2);   Holy Spirit;   Inspiration;   Inspiration and Revelation;   Manaen (2);   Minister Ministry;   Minister, Ministration;   Ordination;   Possession;   Priest;   Work;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Barnabas ;   Fast, Fasting;   Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit;   Trinity;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Iconium;   Jeremiah;   Paul;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Acts of the apostles;   Antioch;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Bar'nabas;   Tim'othy;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Fast;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Priest;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abstinence;   Apostle;   Hebrews, Epistle to the;   Junias;   Ordain;   Simeon (2);   Timothy;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Antioch;   Barnabas;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
One day these cowboys were all fasting and praising God, and the Holy Spirit said, "Turn loose Barnabas and Saul. I got something special for them to do."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Legacy Standard Bible
And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Bible in Basic English
And 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.
Darby Translation
And 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.
New King James Version
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."
Christian Standard Bible®
As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to."
World English Bible
As 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."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And as they were ministring to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them.
Weymouth's New Testament
While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me, now at once, Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have called them."
King James Version (1611)
As they ministred to the Lord, and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke whereunto I haue called them.
Literal Translation
And while they were doing service to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, So then separate both Barnabas and Saul to Me, for the work to which I have called them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As they serued ye LORDE, and fasted, the holy goost sayde: Separate me out Barnabas and Saul for the worke, where vnto I haue called them.
Mace New Testament (1729)
as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them.
Amplified Bible
While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them."
American Standard Version
And 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.
Revised Standard Version
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."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
As they mynistred to the Lorde and fasted the holy goost sayde: separate me Barnabas and Saul for ye worke where vnto I have called them.
Update Bible Version
And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
Webster's Bible Translation
As 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.
Young's Literal Translation
and 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,'
New Century Version
They were all worshiping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them."
New English Translation
While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Contemporary English Version
While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them."
Complete Jewish Bible
One time when they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Ruach HaKodesh said to them, "Set aside for me Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul for the work to which I have called them."
English Standard Version
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."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe as they ministred to the Lord, and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke whereunto I haue called them.
George Lamsa Translation
As they fasted and prayed to God, the Holy Spirit said to them, Appoint for me Saul and Bar''na-bas for the work to which I have called them.
Hebrew Names Version
As they served the Lord and fasted, the Ruach HaKodesh said, "Separate Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul for me, for the work to which I have called them."
International Standard Version
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work for which I called them."Numbers 8:14; Matthew 9:38; Acts 9:15; 14:26; 22:21; Romans 1:1; 10:15; Galatians 1:15; 2:9; Ephesians 3:7-8; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11; Hebrews 5:4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And as they fasted and supplicated Aloha, the Spirit of Holiness said to them, Separate to me Shaol and Bar Naba for the work to which I have called them.
Murdock Translation
And while they were fasting and making supplication to God, the Holy Spirit said to them: Separate to me Saul and Barnabas, for the work to which I have called them.
New Living Translation
One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them."
New Life Bible
While they were worshiping the Lord and eating no food so they could pray better, the Holy Spirit said, "Let Barnabas and Saul be given to Me for the work I have called them to."
English Revised Version
And 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 Revised Standard
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."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, as they were publicly ministering unto the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said - Separate forthwith unto me, Barnabas and Saul, unto the work whereunto I have called them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
And while they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As they ministred to the Lorde and fasted, the holy ghost sayde: Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke wherunto I haue called them.
Easy-to-Read Version
These men were all serving the Lord and fasting when the Holy Spirit said to them, "Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for me. They are the ones I have chosen to do it."
New American Standard Bible
While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them."
Good News Translation
While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne thei mynystriden to the Lord, and fastiden, the Hooli Goost seide to hem, Departe ye to me Saul and Barnabas, in to the werk to which Y haue takun hem.

Contextual Overview

1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood companion of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. 2While 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."3So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they: Acts 6:4, Deuteronomy 10:8, 1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Chronicles 16:4, 1 Chronicles 16:37-43, Romans 15:16, Colossians 4:17, 2 Timothy 1:11, 2 Timothy 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:11

fasted: Acts 13:3, Acts 10:30, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 6:16, Matthew 9:14, Matthew 9:15, Luke 2:37, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 11:27

the Holy: Acts 10:19, Acts 16:6, Acts 16:7, 1 Corinthians 12:11

Separate: Acts 22:21, Numbers 8:11-14, Romans 1:1, Romans 10:15, Galatians 1:15, Galatians 2:8, Galatians 2:9, 2 Timothy 2:2

the work: Acts 9:15, Acts 14:26, Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:1, Ephesians 3:7, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11, Hebrews 5:4

Reciprocal: Exodus 31:6 - I have given Numbers 8:10 - General Numbers 16:5 - even him Numbers 16:9 - separated 1 Chronicles 23:13 - separated Nehemiah 9:1 - children Ecclesiastes 4:9 - are Matthew 17:21 - but Mark 2:20 - and Luke 5:35 - and Luke 10:2 - the Lord John 14:26 - Holy Ghost Acts 1:24 - they Acts 6:3 - whom Acts 8:29 - General Acts 9:27 - Barnabas Acts 11:12 - the Spirit Acts 11:26 - that Acts 14:4 - apostles Acts 15:7 - God Acts 19:6 - the Holy Ghost Acts 20:28 - over Acts 21:11 - Thus Romans 1:14 - debtor Romans 11:13 - the apostle 1 Corinthians 9:1 - I not an 1 Corinthians 9:6 - Barnabas Galatians 2:1 - Barnabas Ephesians 3:2 - the dispensation 1 Timothy 4:1 - the Spirit Hebrews 1:14 - ministering

Cross-References

Genesis 13:1
So Abram went up out of Egypt into the Negev-he and his wife and all his possessions-and Lot was with him.
Genesis 13:3
From the Negev he journeyed from place to place toward Bethel, until he came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been pitched,
Genesis 13:9
Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left."
Genesis 13:10
And Lot looked out and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan, all the way to Zoar, was well watered like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
Genesis 13:12
Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
Genesis 24:35
"The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
Deuteronomy 8:18
But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1 Samuel 2:7
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
Job 1:3
and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As they ministered to the Lord,.... That is, the five prophets and teachers before mentioned; and whose ministry lay in preaching the Gospel, teaching the people the doctrines of it, and expounding prophecies, and also in prayer; to which latter the Syriac version restrains their ministry, rendering it, "as they prayed to God"; but the phrase seems to be more extensive: "and fasted"; which the Jews were much used to, and the believing ones had not yet left it off; their custom was to fast on Mondays and Thursdays: :-. Whether it was on one of those days, that these men were ministering and fasting, is not certain; but this we may be sure of, it was not on the Jewish sabbath, for on that day they never fasted; very likely that this was a fast appointed and fixed among themselves, on some particular occasion; it may be on account of the famine, which was at this time, Acts 11:28.

The Holy Ghost said; either with an articulate voice, or by an internal impulse, upon the minds of three of the prophets:

separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them; the work which the Holy Ghost had appointed, and called them to before this, was to go and preach the Gospel among the Gentiles, distinct from the Jews, of which we read in the latter part of this chapter; and now he would have them be separated from their brethren, as Aaron and his sons were from theirs, and be sent forth from hence directly, upon that work: this shows the Spirit to be a person, since speaking and commanding in an authoritative way, and calling to a work, are ascribed unto him; and that he is a divine person, and truly God, and equal with God, since calling to a sacred office is attributed to him; and a separation to it is ordered for himself, for his service, honour, and glory; he does not say separate them to the Lord, or to God, but to me.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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” 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 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 Galatians 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 traveled 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. 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 13:2. 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, c.: hence the word λειτουργια, liturgy, the work of prayer, c., 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.


 
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