Luke the physician wrote, “there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul”, and in chapter thirteen and verse two of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, ...” Luke began with the words, “as they ministered” which means “during the time and while Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen and Saul served and performed religious and charitable functions” “to the Lord” or “toward the One to whom a person or thing belongs to which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “and fasted” which means “and abstained from food and drink as a religious exercise”, “the Holy Ghost said” or “the pure, sacred, morally blameless and ceremonially and religiously consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how the five men who were “prophets and teachers” in Antioch “served the Lord” and were “abstaining from food and drink” when the “Holy Spirit” uttered the following words.
The verse goes on to say, “... Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Luke continued with the words, “Separate me” which means “mark off, appoint and set apart to me, the Holy Spirit” “Barnabas” whose name means “son of rest” and was “the surname of Joses or Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus who was a distinguished Christian teacher and companion and colleague of Paul” “and Saul” which means “and Saul whose name means desired and was the Jewish name for Paul” “for the work” or “on behalf of the business, employment and that which one is occupied” “whereunto I have called them” which means “to which the Holy Spirit bid, summoned and invited Barnabas and Saul”. Luke shared how the “Holy Spirit” of God told the five men to “set apart” “Barnabas and Saul” to perform the “work” to which He summoned them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “the prophets and teachers” gathered together to “pray, fast and serve” the Lord, and as they were seeking Him, the Holy Spirit gave them direction to “set apart” “Barnabas and Saul” to the “business” to which He appointed them. We shall see “Barnabas and Saul” venture on their “first missionary journey” in this chapter, and as we study their activities, let us be mindful that the “salvation” of mankind is the Lord's purpose for spreading the “gospel”. Everyone who yields their life to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. This news was to be dispersed by “Barnabas and Saul”, and all who read these words are the beneficiaries of their calling by the “Holy Spirit” to this day.
Next time Luke shares how they, “laid their hands on them” and “sent them away”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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