Acts 13:1–3

 ¹ Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 

Commentary 

Vs. 1 “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” 

In the early church at Antioch there were both prophets and teachers. Now prophets they proclaim the Word of the Lord, yes, but they are sometimes also given special revelation by Him as to what He is going to do. And often this entails their encouraging others to obey what God has planed for them to do. Now in the list of Spirit gifts prophets are always placed before teachers and thus the order here (1 Cor. 12:28-31). While teachers are those who are also gifted by the Holy Spirit, and they are the men through whom God brings His Words revelations to light, and so just as the prophets expound His Word, so the teachers convey (i.e., they teach or bring to light and understanding the truths of His Word) to His people. Both of these Holy Spirit gifts (and thus gifted men) are needed to build up the house of faith. And so, it was at Antioch there were both prophets and teachers. The first being mentioned is Barnabas, the apostle Paul’s compatriot, who himself was early on in the faith, which maybe why he is mentioned first. After him is mentioned Simon who was called Niger (which means black), thus proving that the Holy Spirit is color blind when it comes to gifting us. Next mentioned is Lucius of Cyrene, he was likely one of the early evangelists who first preached Christ to the Hellenists at Antioch (see Acts 11:20). Followed up by “Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch”, what a difference then between them, though both had essentially the same rearing, only Manaen would repent and believe and become a Christian. Last then mentioned is the Saul, i.e., the apostle Paul himself, who at this point seemed only an afterthought to the church there, for he was not even then acknowledged as the apostle Paul, and yet as we know by what Christ had already spoken to him, and now by the Holy Spirit soon choosing and enabling him and Barnabas to be the principal evangelists to the Gentiles, that Saul’s yet begun evangelistic ministry would in terms of impact and importance soon surpass them all. 

Vs. 2-3 ² As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 

And so, it was that as these men were ministering to the Lord and fasting that the Holy Spirit said to them, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Thus, having established the brethren in Antioch in the faith, (and with prophets and teachers now there in place to continue on the work), the Holy Spirit now wants both Saul and Barnabas back on the mission field. And so, when their compatriots at Antioch had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, (which symbolizes their blessing them in the work God had called them to do) they sent them away, that is released them out into the mission, which is anyplace where the Gospel has not yet been preached, and the Spirit of the Lord moves one to go there and declare the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. Your mission field then starts first with whomever is nearest to you, and then you work out from there as the Holy Spirit likewise moves you. 

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.