Act 13:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 13:1-3: 13:1-3 The prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch spent significant time in worship and prayer, earnestly seeking the Lord’s will as they fasted and opened themselves to divine direction. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, and they set apart Barnabas and Saul in clear recognition of God’s call for them to carry out a special work in his name. The believers’ inward journey in prayer and listening to God is matched by their outward journey in service, evangelism, and mighty works of healing and salvation. 13:1 prophets and teachers: See thematic note for The Gift of Prophecy at end of chapter; see also 1 Cor 12:28-29 ; Eph 4:11 . • The name Simeon suggests a Jewish background (see Gen 29:33 ; Luke 2:25 ; 3:30 ); he is also called “the black man” —he was probably of African descent. • Lucius is a Latin name; he came from Cyrene , the capital of Libya in North Africa. He was probably one of the preachers from Cyrene who had brought the Christian message to Antioch (Acts 11:20 ). • Manaen had been brought up with King Herod Antipas; he was probably Luke’s source for insight into Antipas’s thoughts and actions (see Luke 9:7-9 ). • Barnabas and Saul are prominently featured in the subsequent narrative.

a13:1-3►

b13:1►

c1 Cor 12:28-29►

dEph 4:11►

eGen 29:33►

fLuke 2:25►

g3:30►

hActs 11:20►

iLuke 9:7-9►

j13:3►

k1 Tim 5:22►

‏ Acts 13:1-3

Summary for Acts 13:1-3: 13:1-3 ^a The prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch spent significant time in worship and prayer, earnestly seeking the Lord’s will as they fasted and opened themselves to divine direction. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, and they set apart Barnabas and Saul in clear recognition of God’s call for them to carry out a special work in his name. The believers’ inward journey in prayer and listening to God is matched by their outward journey in service, evangelism, and mighty works of healing and salvation. 13:1 ^b prophets and teachers: See thematic note for The Gift of Prophecy at end of chapter; see also 1 Cor 12:28-29 ^c; Eph 4:11 ^d.

• The name Simeon suggests a Jewish background (see Gen 29:33 ^e; Luke 2:25 ^f; 3:30 ^g); he is also called “the black man”—he was probably of African descent.

• Lucius is a Latin name; he came from Cyrene, the capital of Libya in North Africa. He was probably one of the preachers from Cyrene who had brought the Christian message to Antioch (Acts 11:20 ^h).

• Manaen had been brought up with King Herod Antipas; he was probably Luke’s source for insight into Antipas’s thoughts and actions (see Luke 9:7-9 ⁱ).

• Barnabas and Saul are prominently featured in the subsequent narrative.
13:3 ^j the men laid their hands on them: This solemn act was only done after more fasting and prayer; the Pastoral Epistles warn against laying hands on a person to appoint that person as a Christian leader without due care and diligence (1 Tim 5:22 ^k). At this point, Barnabas and Saul were sent ... on their way as missionaries of the church at Antioch.