The First Missionary Sending
Acts 13:1-3
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Acts.13.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- Αντιοχεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ουσαν: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,f
- εκκλησιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- προφηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- διδασκαλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τε: CONJ
- Βαρναβας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Συμεων: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- καλουμενος: PART,pres,mp,nom,sg,m
- Νιγερ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Λουκιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Κυρηναιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Μαναην: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τε: CONJ
- Ηρωδου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τετρααρχου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- συντροφος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Σαυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 11:22-26 (structural): Background to the Antioch church: Barnabas is sent to Antioch, brings Saul (Paul), and together they teach the new community—setting the scene for the list of leaders in 13:1.
- Acts 13:2 (structural): Immediate sequel: the prophets and teachers named in 13:1 are present when the Holy Spirit speaks, linking the leadership list to the commissioning of missionary work.
- Ephesians 4:11 (thematic): Paulic summary of church offices—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers—parallels Acts 13:1's mention of 'prophets and teachers' as recognized roles in the congregation.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 (thematic): Lists God-appointed ministries including prophets and teachers; echoes the functional ministries present in the Antioch church described in Acts 13:1.
- Galatians 2:9 (allusion): Names Barnabas alongside Paul as acknowledged leaders—correlates with Barnabas' prominent place in the Antioch leadership roster of Acts 13:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
- Now in Antioch there were many disciples, and there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Acts.13.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λειτουργουντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- νηστευοντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αγιον·Αφορισατε: ADJ,nom,sg,n+VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- δη: PART
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Βαρναβαν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Σαυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εργον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προσκεκλημαι: VERB,perf,mp,part,acc,sg,n
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 6:3-5 (structural): The Jerusalem church selects and sets apart individuals for a specific ministry (the seven); parallels the community context of prayer/fasting and the appointment of Barnabas and Saul for mission.
- Acts 9:15 (thematic): God’s word to Ananias that Saul is a chosen instrument to carry God’s name to the Gentiles echoes the Holy Spirit’s setting apart of Paul (Saul) for mission in Acts 13:2.
- Luke 4:18-19 (quotation): Jesus reads Isaiah and declares the Spirit has anointed him to proclaim good news and freedom—a model of Spirit-empowered commissioning similar to the Holy Spirit’s command to set apart workers for mission.
- Matthew 28:18-20 (thematic): The Great Commission—Jesus sending his followers to make disciples—parallels the sending/appointing motif in Acts 13:2 where the church and Spirit send Barnabas and Saul into mission.
- Galatians 2:7-9 (verbal): Paul’s own account that he was entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles and that the Jerusalem apostles recognized his calling parallels the Spirit’s designation of Barnabas and Saul for the work to which they were called.
Alternative generated candidates
- While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
- While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts.13.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- νηστευσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- προσευξαμενοι: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επιθεντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- χειρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- απελυσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 13:2 (structural): Same Antioch setting: fasting/prayer precede the decision to set apart Barnabas and Saul—13:2 gives the Spirit’s directive, 13:3 records the church’s fasting/prayer, imposition of hands, and sending.
- Acts 14:23 (thematic): Local churches appoint and commission leaders with prayer and fasting—echoes the ritual context of commissioning seen in Acts 13:3.
- Acts 6:6 (verbal): Uses the same phrase 'laid their hands on them' in the context of appointing/deploying servants (the deacons), paralleling the imposition of hands in 13:3.
- Acts 8:17 (verbal): Apostles 'laid hands on' Samaritans so they might receive the Holy Spirit—links the imposition of hands with commissioning/empowerment as in 13:3.
- 2 Timothy 1:6 (allusion): Paul exhorts Timothy to 'fan into flame' the gift 'through the laying on of my hands,' reflecting the early Christian practice of conveying or acknowledging spiritual gifts by imposition of hands (cf. Acts 13:3).
Alternative generated candidates
- Then, after they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them off.
- Then, after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen—who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch—and Saul.
While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Then, after they had fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them off.