a Grace Notes course The Acts of the Apostles an expositional study by Warren Doud Lesson 214: Acts 13:1-12 Grace Notes 1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757 Email: [email protected] ACTS, Lesson 214, Acts 13:1-12 Contents Acts 13:1-12 ................................................................................................................. 3 Acts 13:1 .......................................................................................................................... 3 Acts 13:2 .......................................................................................................................... 4 Acts 13:3 .......................................................................................................................... 5 Acts 13:4 .......................................................................................................................... 6 Acts 13:5 .......................................................................................................................... 7 Acts 13:6 .......................................................................................................................... 8 Acts 13:7 .......................................................................................................................... 9 Acts 13:8 .........................................................................................................................10 Acts 13:9 .........................................................................................................................10 Acts 13:0 .........................................................................................................................11 Acts 13:11 .......................................................................................................................11 Acts 13:12 .......................................................................................................................12 Sergius Paulus ............................................................................................................ 14 The Acts of the Apostles Page 3 ACTS 214, Acts 13:1-12 a Grace Notes study Baker: “From the Greek we are unable to discern Acts 13:1-12 whether the words prophets and teachers signify Acts 13:1 two separate offices, or if a person can be both prophet and teacher. Paul, for example, speaks of 13:1 Now there were in the church at “pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11); in his view, a Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as person fills one office that has a dual function. Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Further, in the same passage, he places the Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, prophets in a separate category, which is listed which had been brought up with Herod the after than of apostleship…Luke described both tetrarch, and Saul. Barnabas and Paul as teachers in the Antioch This chapter starts the second part of the Acts of church (Acts 11:26), but here he [leaves the the Apostles; and chapters 13 and 14 provide the distinctions] unresolved.” 2 history of the Apostles’ first missionary journey. Barnabas Up to now, Luke has given an account of Christianity in general, with many different Barnabas is well known to us by now. You can personalities (evangelists, teachers, converts) refresh your memory about this stalwart of the being discussed. From now on the narrative is faith by reference to: devoted almost exclusively to the missionary Topic: Barnabas efforts of the apostle Paul. The church is seen here in a new and important Simeon Niger aspect as an active, dynamic missionary church. The consensus of Bible scholars seems to be that Previously, the Gospel had been given out, it the name “Niger” was given to this man because seems, by informal, unorganized efforts, and of his complexion or origin in North Africa, through casual occurrences. The persecution at although it seems that “Niger” was a common Jerusalem, and in Judea, had caused a considerable enough surname in the Roman world. The Greek dispersion of Christians, along with the diffusion word does mean “black”, so Simeon might have of their opinions. But now the church at Antioch is been one of the evangelists who came to Antioch the center of operations, taking the lead, planning from Cyrenia (Acts 11:20) and executing organized efforts to extend the 1 Lucius of Cyrene gospel to the rest of the world. Lucius was definitely from Cyrenia, although this certain prophets and teachers is all we know about him. All the prophets were teachers, but not all teachers Manaen, which had been brought up with were necessarily prophets who made predictions Herod the tetrarch about the future. We can’t tell from this verse just which of these five named men which were The phrase “had been brought up with” comes prophets or teachers. from the Greek suntrovfo~, meaning “raised in the same family; brought up with”. We know that prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem (Acts 11:27), after Barnabas and Saul Herod the tetrarch was the son of Herod the Great had been teaching there for a while; and by this who ruled the provinces of Galilee and Perea; he time there were many evangelists, teachers, also was responsible for the beheading of John the prophets, and apostles, who were associated with Baptist. At the time the missionaries were being the extended Antioch church. set out from Antioch, Herod was in exile in Lyons. 1 2 Gloag, Acts 13:1 Baker, Acts 13:1 The Acts of the Apostles Page 4 ACTS 214, Acts 13:1-12 a Grace Notes study The historical record is speculative as to the The word was commonly used in the Septuagint relationship of Manaen with this Herod. Some for the service performed by the priests who think that Manaen’s mother was Herod’s nurse, served in the Tabernacle. when he was a baby, and that the two boys grew Here, Luke uses the word for the first time in up together, at least in their young childhood. reference to the Christian practice of worship, with Since this Greek word is also used for “foster emphasis on ministering “to the Lord”. brother”, this is plausible. The Jews had special days set apart for fasting and Josephus mentions a Manaen, belonging to the prayer, but we are now familiar with the Essene sect, who, when Herod the Great was a Christian’s practice of getting together daily for child, predicted that he would be King of the Jews, exhortation, fellowship, and prayer, beginning in and that Herod, when he became king, favored the the days immediately following the day of Essenes on this account. Therefore, it has been Pentecost. conjectured that this Manaen must have been a considerable person in Herod’s court, and that his Acts 2:46,47, And they, continuing daily with son, the younger Manaen, would have been one accord in the temple, and breaking bread 3 from house to house, did eat their meat with brought up with Herod. gladness and singleness of heart, Saul Praising God, and having favor with all the …shortly to begin his mission to the Gentiles and people. And the Lord added to the church to receive the name Paul. daily such as should be saved. The Christian community at Antioch was engaged Acts 13:2 in one united act of prayer, meditation, fasting, 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and and exhortation, probably accompanied by fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto and fasted I have called them. The Jews fasted regularly, usually on two days per As they ministered to the Lord week, and the Christians may have found this The word for ministered here is leitourgevw, quite appropriate to accompany their own worship. from which we get the English word “liturgy”. When Paul and Barnabas chose the elders for the This word had a number of meanings in a variety local churches, we see that they fasted also. of circumstances: 4 Acts 14:23, And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed • A civil service, especially in the technical with fasting, they commended them to the language of Athenian law. Lord, on whom they believed. • A function of any kind, even as of bodily Fasting was not mandatory for Christians, but it organs. was part of their habit at this time. • Priestly ministrations, both among Jews and among the heathen. the Holy Spirit said • The Eucharistic services “How this revelation was made, whether by the mouth of some of the prophets who were present • Set forms of divine worship or by the impulse of a simultaneous and general inspiration, whether the route to be taken by Barnabas and Saul was at this time precisely 3 indicated, and whether they had previously Josephus, Antiquities, 15.10 received a conscious personal call, of which this 4 Vincent, Acts 13:2 was the public ratification, it is useless to inquire. The Acts of the Apostles Page 5 ACTS 214, Acts 13:1-12 a Grace Notes study A definite work was pointed out as now about to Acts 14:21-24 be begun under the counsel of God, two definite And when they had preached the gospel to that agents in this work were publicly singled out, and city, and had taught many, they returned again we soon see them sent forth to their arduous to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, undertaking, with the sanction of the church at Confirming the souls of the disciples, and Antioch.” 5 exhorting them to continue in the faith, and The most likely means the Holy Spirit used was to that we must through much tribulation enter communicate this revelation through one of those into the kingdom of God. with the prophetic gift, such as Agabus, who was