Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 13

CHAPTER 13

The church that was at Antioch.

Certain prophets.

And teachers. Teachers are mentioned several times in the New Testament as an order of ministers (1 Corinthians 12:28–29; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Peter 2:11).

Their precise rank and duty are not known. It is probable that those mentioned here as prophets were the same persons as the teachers. They might discharge both offices: predicting future events and instructing the people.

As Barnabas. Barnabas was a preacher (Acts 4:35–36; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22, 26), and it is likely that the names "prophets and teachers" here simply designate the preachers of the gospel.

Simeon that was called Niger. Niger is a Latin name meaning black. Why this name was given is not known. Nothing more is known of him than what is mentioned here.

Lucius of Cyrene. Cyrene was in Africa.

He is later mentioned as being with the apostle Paul when he wrote the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:21).

And Manaen. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament.

Which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch. This refers to Herod Antipas, not Herod Agrippa. Herod was tetrarch of Galilee (Luke 3:1).

The Greek word translated "which had been brought up"—suntrofov—denotes one who is educated or nourished at the same time as another. It is not used elsewhere in the New Testament.

Manaen might have been connected with the royal family. Being nearly the same age as Herod Antipas, he would have been educated with him by Herod's father. He was therefore a man of rank and education, and his conversion shows that the gospel's influence was not entirely confined to the poor.

And Saul. Saul was an apostle, yet he is mentioned here among the "prophets and teachers." This shows that these words denote ministers of the gospel in general, without reference to any particular order or rank.

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 that they were engaged in prayer to the Lord, or that they were engaged in divine service. The Syriac renders the passage this way.

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. This was 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 around 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 travelled through Seleucia, Cyprus, Paphos, Pamphylia, Pisidia, etc., they returned to Antioch, having fulfilled the work to which they were separated .

Whereunto I have called them.

This proves that they received their commission to this work directly from God the Holy Spirit. It is possible that 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.

And when they had fasted. They were fasting when they were commanded to set them apart. Yet this probably refers to an appointed day of prayer, with reference to this very purpose. The first formal mission to the Gentiles was an important event in the church; and they engaged in this appointment with deep solemnity and with humbling themselves before God.

And prayed. This enterprise was a new one. The gospel had been preached to the Jews, to Cornelius, and to the Gentiles at Antioch. But there had been no solemn, and public, and concerted plan of sending it to the Gentiles, or of appointing a mission to the heathen. It was a new event and was full of danger and hardships. The primitive church felt the need of Divine direction and aid in the great work. Two missionaries were to be sent forth among strangers, to be exposed to perils by sea and land; and the commencement of the enterprise demanded prayer. The church humbled itself, and this primitive missionary society sought, as all others should do, the Divine blessing to attend the labours of those employed in this work. The result showed that the prayer was heard.

And laid their hands on them. That is, those who are mentioned in Acts 13:1. This was not to set them apart to the apostolic office. Saul was chosen by Christ himself, and there is no evidence that any of the apostles were ordained by the imposition of hands (see the comments on Acts 1:26; Matthew 10:1; Luke 6:12–16).

And Barnabas was not an apostle in the original and peculiar sense of the word. Nor is it meant that this was an ordination to the ministry, to the office of preaching the gospel. For both had been engaged in this before. Saul received his commission directly from the Saviour, and began at once to preach (Acts 9:20; Galatians 1:11–17). Barnabas had preached at Antioch, and was evidently recognized as a preacher by the apostles (Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22–23).

It follows, therefore, that this was not an ordination in the doctrinal sense of this term, either Episcopal or Presbyterian, but was a designation to a particular work—a work of vast importance; strictly a missionary appointment by the church, under the authority of the Holy Ghost. The act of laying hands on any person was practised, not only in ordination, but in conferring a favour, and in setting apart for any purpose (see Leviticus 3:2, 8, 13; 4:4, 29; 16:21; Numbers 8:12; Mark 5:23; Mark 16:18; Matthew 21:46).

It means, in this case, that they appointed them to a particular field of labour, and by laying hands on them they implored the blessing of God to attend them.

They sent them away. The church by its teachers sent them forth under the direction of the Holy Ghost. All missionaries are thus sent by the church; and the church should not forget its ambassadors in their great and perilous work.

Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost. Having been called to this work by the Holy Spirit, and being under his direction.

Departed unto Seleucia. This city was situated at the mouth of the river Orontes, where it falls into the Mediterranean. Antioch was also built on this river, some distance from its mouth.

They sailed to Cyprus. An island in the Mediterranean, not far from Seleucia. See Barnes on Acts 4:36.

And when they were at Salamis. This was the principal city and seaport of Cyprus. It was situated on the southeast part of the island and was afterwards called Constantia.

In the synagogues of the Jews. Jews were living in all the countries adjacent to Judea, and in those countries they had synagogues. The apostles uniformly preached first to them.

And they had also John to their minister. John Mark, Acts 12:12. He was their attendant; he was with them as a companion, yet not pretending to be equal to them in office. They had been specifically designated to this work. He was with them as their friend and traveling companion, perhaps also employed in making the necessary arrangements for their comfort and for the supply of their needs in their travels.