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Acts Part 20: Sent

Acts 12:25-13:3 NIV

25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.2 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.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

12:25

  1. Their mission: To bring aid to Jerusalem in the midst of the famine prophesied by Agabus (cf. 11:27-30).
  2. John, also called Mark: The son of Mary, in whose house the disciples were meeting (cf. 12:12). John Mark would be the young assistant to the two apostles in their upcoming missionary journey.

13:1

  1. The Church in Antioch: The Church in Syrian Antioch where Gentiles converts were first embraced and where “the disciples were first called Christians” (cf. 11:19-30).
  2. Prophets and Teachers: The eldership of Antioch were known by their fivefold giftings (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).
  3. Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul: The eldership of Antioch were also ethnically and culturally diverse, resembling the melting pot demographics of the city itself.

13:2

  1. Worshipping the Lord: The church in Antioch performed the priestly duty (leitourgeō) of praise and worship to the Lord (cf. Hebrews 13:5). The context suggests that the worship involved the operation of spiritual gifts (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:26).
  2. The Holy Spirit said: The Holy Spirit directed the entire group by a prophetic message. We have an example of a rhema word, God speaking to His people by the Spirit in the moment to a particular situation.
  3. Set Apart: Barnabas and Saul had been called from their mother’s wombs (cf. Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15), but it was time for them to leave Antioch to do the work the Holy Spirit had prepared for them (cf. Ephesians 2:10).

13:3

  1. Fasted and prayed: Twice we are told the church fasted, both in ministering to the Lord and in preparation to send Barnabas and Saul. Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food so as to draw closer to God. Jesus Himself fasted 40 days in preparation for His public ministry.
  2. Placed their hands on them: Impartation of authority, giftings and assignments came by the laying on of hands (cf. Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6).
  3. Sent: Apolyō, “released” from their duties to the local church in Antioch that they may pursue the work to which the Holy Spirit was calling them.

A Spirit-filled Church…

…is a Spiritually Gifted Church!

…is a Spirit led Church!

…is a sending Church!