Acts 13:1-3
1 Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Sending of Barnabas and Saul (4)
Sending of missionaries
“Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (1) Barnabas and Saul were officially commissioned as missionaries. The three leaders fasted, prayed, and laid hands on the two of them. With this, Barnabas and Saul were formally sent out as missionaries from the Antioch church. The Antioch church now had the responsibility to support them through prayer and financial means, while the two had the obligation to return and report back on their missionary work. Both parties were mutually accountable to one another. (2) Through these two men, the work of the Antioch church would extend over 620 miles (1,000 km). The situation had drastically changed since Peter received the vision in Joppa regarding the mission to the Gentiles.
Itinerary of the first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-14:28)
The itinerary for this missionary journey includes the following locations: (1) Antioch (Acts 13:1-3), (2) Seleucia (Acts 13:4), (3) Salamis on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:5), (4) Paphos on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:6-12), (5) Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13), (6) Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14-52), (7) Iconium (Acts 14:1-7), (8) Lystra (Acts 14:8-19), (9) Derbe (Acts 14:20), (10) Returning to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 14:21-23), (11) Perga and Attalia in Pamphylia (Acts 14:24-25), (12) Returning to Antioch (Acts 14:26-28).
Consecration of Paul
(1) Looking ahead, in Acts 13:9, Saul’s name is changed to Paul: “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him.” As the mission to the Gentiles begins, Paul, a Roman (Latin) name, starts to be used. (2) The verb “set apart” (Greek: aphorizo) appears three times in relation to Saul being set apart. (a) Galatians 1:15-17: “But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased…” Paul was set apart from birth. (b) Romans 1:1: “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” Paul was set apart for the gospel at the time of his conversion. (c) Acts 13:2: Paul was set apart at the Antioch church for the mission to the Gentiles. This was a consecration for a specific calling. We, too, are called as disciples of Christ. What is the specific calling given to you? Let’s meditate on this.
Today's prayer
Holy God, You have also called me for a specific mission. Please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I may fulfill that mission. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.