The Book of Acts ~ Study Forty-Three

"Blessed to Go"


Acts 13:1-3 (NLT) Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.


These three verses are fascinating and often skimmed over because they don't appear to add anything to the Book of Acts. Luke would not have put this information here if the Lord had not inspired him to do so. For this reason we will find out what they say. Let's begin by breaking it down by  place and person.

Present day Antioch

We've already learned about Antioch of Syria, but let's review it. The first Gentile Church was located here and is considered the "mother church" to the many Gentiles churces established since. It is located 300 miles north of Jerusalem. It was considered a place of great commerce and trade. The disciples were first called "Christians" here. Barnabas and Saul of Tarsus (later known as Paul) were sent here by the Apostles in Jerusalem. They stayed there a year and helped establish the leadership there. (bibleplaces.com and NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible)


Next let's look at what prophets and teachers mean. "Prophet" is "Prophetes" in Greek and means, "one who speaks openly before anyone, and is the technical term for the interpreter of a divine message." Put simply, it means a person who interprets the mysteries of God through His Holy Spirit. "Teacher" is "Didaskalos" in Greek and means,"a recognized authority in the interpretation of Scripture." God has a few things to teach us about both prophets and teachers.


Ephesians 4:10-14 (NLT) And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
   Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
   Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.


This passage tells us that prophets and teachers (along with the apostles, evangelist and pastors) are given the responsibility to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church. This is a very daunting responsibility given by God. If one of the leaders in your church is not holding up their end of the responsibilty given to them, God will hold them accountable. As a teacher, I respect the position He has given me. I've let Him down before and I cling to His mercy and grace in my failings. All I want to do is honor Him.


James 3:1-2 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 


Do you know your spiritual gift? Are you being faithful to God by using it to glorify and honor Him? Why or why not?


Now let's see if we can lean anything from the names listed in Acts 13:1-3:


* Barnabas: He was known as "the son of exortation." He was a Levite from Cyprus. He sold a field and gave the proceeds to help poorer believers in Jerusalem. He was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and grace. (See Acts 11:24)


* Simeon: Is though to be the same Simeon who carried the cross of Jesus. (See Mark 15:21) He became a believer in Jesus Christ and his sons were well-known in the early church.  He later travelled to Antioch and helped get the church started there.  His wife and sons were with him.  In Antioch he received the nickname Simeon "the Niger",  which means “black” for being a dark-skinned Jew.  Writing to a Roman audience, Mark mentions Rufus and Alexander (Simeon's sons), because he and the Roman church knew them personally.  Paul, writing to the Romans, greets Rufus and his mom for the same reason.(Dave Kosobucki Pastor of Horizon Central ~ Indianapolis, IN) 


* Lucius if Cyrene: He probably was one of the "men of Cyrene" who heard the tongues and then Peter's Pentecostal sermon (Acts 2:10), and of the "men of Cyrene" who when "scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen" went to Antioch, "preaching the Lord Jesus" (Acts 11:19-20). A distinct name from Luke, = Lucas, = Lucanus. (See bible-history.com)


Manaen: He was raised with Herod the Tetrarch in the King's court. Or the Greek "Suntrofos" may mean "foster brother," Mahaen's mother was Herod's nurse. As Archelaus was brought up with Herod Antipas at Rome, and Mahaen is mentioned in this relation with Antipas alone, perhaps "foster brother" is the true sense; he may have been brought up with Antipas also. Herod the Great is said to have favored highly a person named Manaen an Essene, who in early life foretold Herod's royal greatness (Josephus, Ant. 15:10, sec. 5); possibly our Mahaen was son of that Manaen and adopted by Herod the Great, and made a companion to one of his sons. Mahaen probably personally knew and was a secret disciple of the Lord. How naturally Herod turned to his "servants" for information as to Christ (Matthew 14:1)! (See bible-history.com)


Saul: Later to be called Paul. We've learned that he was a former Pharisee taught by the Rabbi of Rabbis, Gemaelel, and persecutor of Christians until the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus.


While these men worshiped and prayed the Holy Spirit revealed to them to "Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them and send them off."  God was telling the Church leaders from Antioch to release them from their obligations to the church there because God had something else in mind. God had other work for them to do. It was right that they spent time in worship and prayer to understand the next steps to take for their church.


Romans 15:20-21 (NLT) My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.”


Paul's (also Saul) ambition was clear. He wanted to tell others about Jesus. God had ordained him and Barnabas to do so. And properly, the church leaders prayed over them before they sent them off. 


Why do you think that the church leaders needed to send them off with their blessings? Couldn't Barnabas and Saul just left on their own?


It is so important that the church we are involved in, if a truly Bible-believing church, pray over those God has chosen to send out as missionaries. How often do people just leave a church to do their own "missions" without the guidance and blessing of their church leaders? Just food for thought.


Isaiah 52:15 (NLT) And he will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about.


This verse found in Isaiah is a prophecy that Paul quoted in Romans 15:20-21. It is about Jesus and what happens when people who haven't heard anything about Him hear about Him. Its a true reason for telling others about Jesus.


Do you see yourself as a missionary? Well, I believe that we all are called to be missionaries. It may not be to the outer reaches of the world. It may be. Whatever and wherever you are called is where you should go. If it's in the work place or serving in Church, seek God's will for you life. Go to the leaders in your church and have them pray over you. That is one of the things they are called to do. Each of us have been called out like Barnabas and Saul. Are you ready to go?