Acts 13:2
What does Acts 13:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 13:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 13:2 means
While the leaders of the Antioch church were engaged in devoted worship and fasting, the Holy Spirit distinctly intervened to give a specific command. He instructed them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specialized work to which He had already called them. This wasn't a human decision or a strategic plan developed by the church leaders, but a direct, divine commission. It illustrates the Holy Spirit's active guidance in the early church's outreach, initiating a new phase of missionary expansion driven by God's sovereign purpose rather than human initiative. The church's posture of worship made them receptive to this divine directive.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and 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,'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And 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.
Context
Following the introduction of Antioch's diverse spiritual leadership in verse 1, this verse immediately reveals the Holy Spirit's decisive command while the church was ministering and fasting. This direct divine communication marks the official launch of the church's first expansive missionary endeavor. The immediate response and obedience of the church, detailed in the following verse, demonstrate their alignment with God's will, understanding that this call was not merely to human service but to a work specifically ordained by the Holy Spirit.
v.1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that wasthere, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
v.2This passage
v.3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Timothy 1:11
whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.
- 2 Timothy 4:5
But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
- Acts 10:30
And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,
- Luke 10:1
Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.
- Numbers 8:11
and Aaron shall offer the Levites before Jehovah for a wave-offering, on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of Jehovah.
- Acts 6:4
But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.
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