Acts 13:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It was proclaimed on the occasion of a special fast appointed for this purpose (Acts 13:2). Then they learned that the time had come to consecrate and send Paul and Barnabas to the work for which they had been called by the Lord.

He had been called for this very purpose, to proclaim the name of Christ among the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21). At that time the Antiochian Church had already attained such spiritual perfection that it had its own prophets and teachers. In the Apostolic Church, prophets were God-inspired persons through whom God revealed to the Church the mysteries of His wisdom and will, unknown to ordinary human understanding. Knowledge of the future was one form of divine revelation granted to those who possessed this gift. Because of extraordinary revelations, the word of the prophets possessed special power to convince, edify, and console (1 Cor ch. 14). Teachers were people who, likewise through illumination from the Holy Spirit, possessed a special ability to explain already revealed truths to the consciousness of believers. The apostle Paul elsewhere calls these two gifts the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (compare 1 Cor 12:8; 28-29). Among them the writer of Acts names Barnabas first. He probably enjoyed special honor among Christians as the organizer of the Church of Antioch by commission of the apostles themselves (Acts 11:22). Saul is named last, because he entered into communion with the Church of Antioch and became one of its members after the others. Once, when all the members of the Antiochian Church were assembled at divine service and fasting, the Holy Spirit said. Through one or several prophets: "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." The calling of the apostle Paul to be apostle to the Gentiles was of course known to everyone in the Church of Antioch. Therefore all understood what the Holy Spirit was now calling Barnabas and Saul to do. All also understood the importance and greatness of the contest to which these apostles were being called. Therefore they did not simply send them on their way. Rather, after a special fast and prayer for Christ's preachers, and after laying hands on them, they dedicated them to a new and special ministry. Through the common fast and prayer, they called upon them the grace of the Holy Spirit, which helps human infirmities.

Yet the text does not show to which class they belonged, prophets or teachers. Nor does it show this concerning the others named here. Barnabas is placed first among these exceptional men, probably because of the great respect shown him in the primitive Church (see the note on Acts 11:22). He also had a special share in the ordering of the Antiochian Church. Saul is placed last, because he entered into communion with the Antiochian Church later, and his apostolic activity was only just beginning. Compare Chrysostom and Theophylact. Nothing is known from the New Testament books about the other three named here. Simeon, called Niger, or Black, was probably a Christian from among the proselytes, perhaps Roman ones, as may be inferred from his surname. Lucius, or Luke, of Cyrene, from Cyrene, see the note on Acts 2:10 and parallels, may be the one whom the apostle Paul mentions in Romans (Rom 16:21). Perhaps he was one of the first preachers of the Gospel to the Gentiles in Antioch. The writer of Acts speaks of them as Cypriots and Cyrenians (Acts 11:19). Manaen, or Menahem, was the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, that is, Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee during the Lord's earthly life. See the note on Mt 2:22 and parallels. "Foster-brother": the Greek word may mean either a milk-brother, so that Manaen's mother was nurse to Herod Antipas. Or it may mean a companion in upbringing in general. In that case Manaen was raised together with Herod Antipas, and therefore at the court of Herod I, called the Great. In any case, this circumstance in Manaen's life is remarkable. "See what each person's character means. Even upbringing does not determine everything. Look what an impious man Herod became, while his foster-brother Manaen was so changed that he was even counted worthy of the gift of prophecy" (Theophylact).

His memory is celebrated by the Church on January 4 and September 10. The report about Manaen is remarkable, since he was foster-brother of Herod Antipas, the murderer of John the Forerunner. Concerning his belonging to the Church, blessed Theophylact says: "See what each person's character means. Upbringing did not exert its influence. Look how impious Herod remained, while his foster-brother Manaen was so changed that he was counted worthy even of the prophetic gift." Simeon and Lucius also evidently had the gift of prophecy, that is, of speaking by a special inspiration of God and revealing the future (see 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11). Barnabas and Saul, it seems, are counted by the writer of Acts among the teachers, διδασκάλοις, of the Apostolic Church.