Act 13:1-3 | PNT | STEP | The Era of Gentile Missions SUMMARY OF ACTS 13: Fasting and Prayer at Antioch. The Holy Spirit Directs Paul and Barnabas to Be Sent Forth. Their Ordination. They Preach the Word in Cyprus. Elymas Rebuked. The Proconsul Converted. The Missionaries Sail to Perga. The Gospel Preached in Antioch of Pisidia. The Persecution Raised by the Jews. The Departure to Iconium. The church that was at Antioch . For description of Antioch and account of the founding of the church in that city (see notes on ). This was the mother church of Gentile Christendom. It was at this period the most important city of Asia, and the third city of the world. For description, see notes on . Prophets and teachers . These offices were not identical, though the first included the last ( ). A prophet was an inspired teacher, not necessarily one who predicted the future, but one who spoke God's message by inspiration. Barnabas . One of the prophets. See notes on "Ac 11:22" Simeon that was called Niger . Nothing more is known of him. As Niger means "black", some have fancied that he was an African, but Niger was as common a Roman surname as Black is now. Lucius of Cyrene . The men who planted the church at Antioch were "of Cyprus and Cyrene". See PNT . Lucius was probably one of these. The name occurs again in . Manaen . His mother was probably the nurse of Herod when the latter was a babe. Herod Antipas, the husband of Herodias, the murderer of John the Baptist, is meant. He was now dethroned and an exile in Gaul. Saul . The greatest of these men is named last. His greatness was not yet demonstrated.

Acts 13:1-3

The Era of Gentile Missions SUMMARY OF ACTS 13: Fasting and Prayer at Antioch. The Holy Spirit Directs Paul and Barnabas to Be Sent Forth. Their Ordination. They Preach the Word in Cyprus. Elymas Rebuked. The Proconsul Converted. The Missionaries Sail to Perga. The Gospel Preached in Antioch of Pisidia. The Persecution Raised by the Jews. The Departure to Iconium.

The church that was at Antioch. For description of Antioch and account of the founding of the church in that city (see notes on Ac 11:19,26). This was the mother church of Gentile Christendom. It was at this period the most important city of Asia, and the third city of the world. For description, see notes on Ac 11:22.

Prophets and teachers. These offices were not identical, though the first included the last (Eph 4:11). A prophet was an inspired teacher, not necessarily one who predicted the future, but one who spoke God's message by inspiration.

Barnabas. One of the prophets.

See notes on "Ac 11:22"

Simeon that was called Niger. Nothing more is known of him. As Niger means "black", some have fancied that he was an African, but Niger was as common a Roman surname as Black is now.

Lucius of Cyrene. The men who planted the church at Antioch were "of Cyprus and Cyrene".

See PNT Ac 11:20. Lucius was probably one of these. The name occurs again in Ro 16:21.

Manaen. His mother was probably the nurse of Herod when the latter was a babe. Herod Antipas, the husband of Herodias, the murderer of John the Baptist, is meant. He was now dethroned and an exile in Gaul.

Saul. The greatest of these men is named last. His greatness was not yet demonstrated. As they ministered. These men worshiped before the Lord, fasting, and no doubt asking for guidance in the extension of Christianity.

The Holy Ghost said. By an inspiration given to some one of these prophets. "God has spoken at sundry times and in divers manners unto the fathers by the one of these prophets" (Heb 1:1). Compare Ac 20:23.

Separate me Barnabas and Saul. Both had been tried and shown to be worthy. They are now, by Divine direction, to be formally consecrated to the work of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. From this time Antioch is the great missionary center.

For the work whereunto I have called them. God called; men separated, or formally set apart. When they had fasted and prayed. This verse shows how they were set apart. It was by fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands. They were not thus set apart to an order or rank in the kingdom, but to a work unto which they were called. They were not made priests, or bishops, but missionaries. This act did not make Paul an apostle. Christ chose him, as he had Peter, John and the others.

They sent [them] away. As the missionaries of the church at Antioch to the heathen. We find that they return to report to the church after a long missionary tour (Ac 14:27).