Acts 13:2 · Bible study
Acts 13:2 Commentary: Holy Spirit's Call to Separate Barnabas and Saul
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Acts 13:2 where the Holy Spirit speaks to the church at Antioch, commanding them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work.
Research Summary
- Meaning: While the church at Antioch worships and fasts, the Holy Spirit commands them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a specific missionary work already ordained by God.
- Key words: λειτουργούντων (ministering, public worship), ἀφορίσατε (set apart), δή (now, emphasizing urgency), προσκέκλημαι (I have called, perfect tense indicating a completed action with ongoing results).
- Main debate: Does this "setting apart" constitute ordination to the apostolic office, or is it a temporary commissioning for a specific journey? Most commentators argue for the latter.
- Theological theme: The Trinity in mission: the Holy Spirit speaks with divine authority, calling workers to a work that belongs to God, and the church responds in worship and obedience.
- Best use: A template for understanding guidance and sending in the local church: worship leads to listening, the Spirit initiates, and the community confirms and releases.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and 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,'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And 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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And 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.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Ministrando pues éstos al Señor, y ayunando, dijo el Espíritu Santo: Apartadme|strong="G0873, G3427" á Bernabé y á Saulo para la obra para la cual los he llamado.
E tendo eles prestado serviço ao Senhor, e jejuado, o Espirito Santo disse: Separai-me a Barnabé e a Saulo, para a obra para a qual eu os tenho chamado.
Pendant qu’ ils servaient le Seigneur dans leur ministère et qu’ ils jeûnaient, le Saint-Esprit dit: Mettez-moi à part Barnabas et Saul pour l’ œuvre à laquelle je les ai appelés.
Da sie aber dem HERRN dienten und fasteten, sprach der heilige Geist: Sondert mir aus Barnabas und Saulus zu dem Werk, dazu ich sie berufen habe.
En als zij den Heere dienden, en vastten, zeide de Heilige Geest: Zondert Mij af beiden Barnabas en Saulus tot het werk, waartoe Ik hen geroepen heb.
E mentre celebravano il culto del Signore e digiunavano, lo Spirito Santo disse: Mettetemi a parte Barnaba e Saulo per l’opera alla quale li ho chiamati.
A gdy oni służbę Pańską jawnie odprawiali i pościli, rzekł im Duch Święty: Odłączcie mi Barnabasza i Saula do tej sprawy, do którejm ich powołał.
Когда они служили Господу и постились, Дух Святый сказал: отделите Мне Варнаву и Савла на дело, к которому Я призвал их.
他們 事奉 主、 禁食的時候，聖 靈 說：「 要為我 分派 巴拿巴 和 掃羅，去 做我召 他們 所做 的工。」
And 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.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 13:2
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions find clear agreement on the basic meaning of this verse. Barnes, Wesley, and the Cambridge Bible all note that the verb "ministered" (λειτουργούντων) refers to public worship and prayer, not priestly sacrifice, as Calvin emphatically argues. The Holy Spirit spoke "by direct revelation" (Barnes), likely through one of the prophets named in verse 1. Gill and Vincent point out the Greek particle δή ("now"), which gives the command immediate force: this setting apart is for a specific purpose and is to be obeyed at once. On the crucial question of ordination, the consensus is striking. Wesley states plainly, "This was not ordaining them." Barnes adds that the "work" is not the apostolic office but a temporary missionary journey through Asia Minor. Cambridge concurs: it is "a solemn act of devotion" in prospect of a particular task. The Spirit's words, "Separate me... for the work to which I have called them", show that God had already chosen Paul and Barnabas; the church simply recognizes and sends. Across these sources, the Holy Spirit is seen as a divine person who initiates and directs mission, and the church responds with obedient worship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Direct revelation through a prophet: Commentators such as Calvin, Barnes, and Gill see the Holy Spirit speaking through one of the prophets mentioned in verse 1.
- Internal impulse or collective discernment: Some understand the Spirit's leading as a deep conviction shared among the leaders, though the text itself describes it as 'the Holy Spirit said' (direct speech).
What is clear: The Holy Spirit initiated the mission; the church responded in worship, fasting, and obedient action to send Barnabas and Saul.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| How the Holy Spirit spoke | The Holy Spirit communicated the divine will to the church at Antioch, supernatural communication is affirmed. | Some commentators believe the Spirit spoke through a specific prophet (e.g., Simeon or Lucius), while others allow for an inward impulse or articulate voice. |
| Meaning of 'ministered to the Lord' | The phrase refers to public Christian worship including prayer and teaching. | Calvin and others reject any sacrificial interpretation, opposing later Roman Catholic readings that saw the term as supporting the sacrifice of the Mass. |
| Nature of the setting apart | Barnabas and Saul were set apart by the church under the Spirit's direction for a specific work. | Wesley, Barnes, and Cambridge argue this is not ordination to a permanent office (Saul was already an apostle), while some traditions see the laying on of hands as conferring apostolic authority. |
| The role of fasting | Fasting accompanied the worship and was part of the church's preparation to hear from God. | Some emphasize fasting as a necessary discipline for receiving guidance; others see it as a cultural practice of the time that may not be required for every decision. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Antioch in Syria was the first major center of Gentile Christianity, where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). The church's leadership included "prophets and teachers" (v.1), men of varied backgrounds, Barnabas the encourager, Simeon who may have been African, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who grew up with Herod, and Saul. Their gathering for "ministry to the Lord" (λειτουργούντων) draws on a rich background. The word originally described any public service; the Greek Old Testament used it for the Levitical priests serving in the temple (Numbers 8:11, 14; Deuteronomy 10:8). But here it points to Christian worship, prayer, teaching, and praise (Cambridge, Gill).
Fasting accompanied this worship. Jewish custom prescribed fasts on Mondays and Thursdays (Clarke, Gill), and Daniel had "set his face to the Lord by prayer and petitions with fasting" (Daniel 9:3). The Antioch Christians may have been seeking God's direction for an impending famine (Acts 11:28) or for the spread of the gospel. In this posture of dependence, the Holy Spirit spoke.
The Spirit's command echoes the separation of the Levites in Numbers 8:14: "Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine." Paul and Barnabas are to be "set apart" (ἀφορίσατε) for a work the Spirit has already called them to. This is not a human initiative. The church then fasts again, prays, and lays hands on them, an act of blessing and commission, not ordination to a new office (Wesley). The pattern shows that mission flows from worship, that guidance comes through a praying community, and that God's call precedes the church's recognition.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Acts 13:2. The particle δή appears in the Greek text and is included in translations like the YLT ("separate ye to me both Barnabas and Saul"), but many English versions (including WEB and KJV) leave it untranslated. Vincent notes its force as giving "precision and emphasis to the command."
Reception History
From the early church through the Reformation, Acts 13:2 was read as a key text on the Spirit's role in mission and the nature of Christian worship. The term λειτουργία (liturgy) eventually came to describe formal Eucharistic worship, but writers such as Calvin insisted the passage described prayer and preaching, not sacrifice. In the modern missionary movement, this verse has been cited as a pattern for Spirit-led commissioning: the church in worship discerns the Spirit's call and sends workers with prayer and fasting. The verse continues to shape how many traditions understand the relationship between God's calling and the community's confirmation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Worship and fasting create space for hearing God. The church was not in a business meeting but in active ministry and self-denial. This posture opens the door for the Spirit to speak.
- The Spirit takes the initiative. The Holy Spirit does not wait to be invited. He speaks with authority: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul." Mission begins in God, not human strategy.
- The church responds in obedient action. Through continued fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, the community confirms and sends. Their role is not to call but to recognize and release.
Five-point outline
- The context: The church at Antioch, diverse in leadership, engaged in communal worship and fasting.
- The speaker: "The Holy Spirit said", whether through a prophetic voice or inner conviction, the message is clear and carries divine authority.
- The command: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." The work is God's, and the call came before this moment.
- The workers: Paul and Barnabas are already known and proven. The setting apart is a commissioning, not an ordination to a new office.
- The response: After more fasting and prayer, the church lays hands on them and sends them out. The sending is a partnership, not a dismissal.
Illustration hooks
- A church staff spends months praying about a new church plant. In a season of focused prayer, the same name keeps coming up. The leaders present it to the congregation, who then commission the couple with blessing.
- During a week of prayer and fasting, a youth leader feels a clear nudge to work with refugees. They share it with elders, who then seek confirmation and eventually send them in partnership with a mission agency.
- A missionary candidate meets with a mission board. The board recognizes the Spirit has already been at work preparing him. The interview becomes a celebration of God's call rather than a vetting process.
Questions your congregation is asking
- "If the Holy Spirit spoke that clearly to the early church, why don't we hear him that way today?"
- "How can we be sure a call is from the Spirit and not just a good idea?"
- "What is the difference between God's individual calling and the church's corporate confirmation?"
Leading a Discussion
This passage shows the early church making a major decision not through committee vote but through worship, fasting, and listening to the Spirit. As you study Acts 13:2 together, consider how your own community might create space for God to speak.
Discussion questions
- What does the phrase "ministered to the Lord" suggest about the atmosphere when the Spirit spoke?
- Why do you think fasting accompanied their worship? What might fasting do for our ability to hear from God?
- The Holy Spirit said "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." What does this reveal about who initiates missionary work?
- Barnabas and Saul had already been active in ministry for some time. Why did they need to be "set apart" again? What does this say about the role of the church in confirming callings?
- How does the laying on of hands function here? Is it ordination, commissioning, or something else?
- In what ways does this pattern of worship, listening, and sending apply to the decisions your group faces today?
- What practical steps can you take to be more attentive to the Spirit's direction in your church's life?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 8:11 | and Aaron shall offer the Levites before Yahweh for a wave offering on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of Yahweh. |
| Numbers 8:14 | Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. |
| Deuteronomy 10:8 | At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to stand before Yahweh to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day. |
| I Samuel 2:11 | Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest. |
| I Chronicles 16:4 | He appointed some of the Levites to minister before Yahweh’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: |
| I Chronicles 16:37 | So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; |
| I Chronicles 16:43 | All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house. |
| Daniel 9:3 | I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the Greek word behind "ministered," explaining it as the public work of prayer and supplication, related to liturgy. He also notes the Holy Spirit likely spoke to a particular person present, and that "separate" means consecrate or set apart for God's specific calling.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that the Spirit's command to set apart Barnabas and Saul was not an ordination to a permanent office. It was a temporary designation for a specific missionary work in the regions around Antioch, and after completing that task they returned to the church that sent them.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that "ministering to the Lord" in this verse does not mean offering a sacrifice like the Catholic mass, as some claim. Rather, it refers to public worship and spiritual sacrifice: believers offer themselves to God, and ministers bring souls to God through the gospel, with prayers as spiritual offerings.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Nowe as they ministred to the Lord, and fasted, the holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the worke whereunto I haue called them.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the Spirit says "separate me," not "separate them to the Lord," showing He is a divine person with authority to call and claim servants for Himself. The Spirit commanding the very separation for His own service demonstrates His equality with God.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes the interplay of divine and human agency in the sending of Barnabas and Saul. The Holy Spirit initiated the call, but the Antioch congregation actively responded through fasting, prayer, and laying on of hands. In this way, the church publicly confirmed and made effective the internal call already given by Christ himself.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights that the prophets and teachers at Antioch held a dual role: they were both divinely inspired on special occasions and appointed as regular teachers who opened Scripture to the church. For such a large Christian community, Christ provided ministers fully qualified for every aspect of service.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent traces the Greek word behind "ministered" through its range of meanings, from civil service to Christian worship, noting that here it refers specifically to the performance of worship. He also highlights an
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley insists this passage describes a commissioning, not an ordination. Paul was already ordained directly by Christ, not by any human authority. The laying on of hands here is an act of blessing and recognition for a specific assignment, not a ritual that confers spiritual office.