Fasting, Prayer, Hands Laid On and Sent Away - Acts 13:3

The physician Luke 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. 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”, and in chapter thirteen and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared how they, “laid their hands on them” and “sent them away” where we read:

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

The verse begins, “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they had fasted” which means “and at the time and moment the prophets and teachers abstained from food and drink for religious reasons” “and prayed” or “and made orations, supplicated and worshiped God”, “and laid their hands on them” which means “and placed, put and set their physical hands upon Barnabas and Saul”. Luke shared how the “prophets and teachers” within the church in Antioch “fasted, prayed and laid their hands” upon Barnabas and Saul.

The verse continues, “... they sent them away.” Luke added the words, “they sent them” which means “the prophets and teachers dispatched and assigned Barnabas and Saul” “away” or “to depart and leave from them”. Luke shared how

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “prophets and teachers” in Antioch continued their “fasting and prayer” after the “Holy Spirit” told them to set apart “Barnabas and Saul”, and they “placed their hands upon them” before sending them out to carry out the Lord's mission. God separated special ministers, “Barnabas and Saul”, from the church in Antioch because they were to spread the gospel to areas who had not heard about Jesus' salvation. This might be called, the “blessed subtraction” as the numbers of “prophets and teachers” within the church in Antioch was reduced so the purpose of God to spread the “good news” of Jesus Christ would be fulfilled. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”, (See John 3:16), and anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who carefully examine this “blessed subtraction” of “Barnabas and Saul” realize the Holy Spirit did this so many others would know about His “saving grace” through Jesus.

Next time Luke shares how Barnabas and Saul, “departed unto Seleucia; and from there, they sailed to Cyprus”, 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".