and has been a widow [all these years], and is now eighty-four years old.) She has never left the Temple, but worships [God] by fasting [i.e., going without food and/or water for religious reasons] and praying night and day.
Acts 13:3 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Then, as these prophets and teachers fasted and prayed [for the two men], they placed their hands on them [signifying their appointment for this ministry] and sent them away. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away. American Standard Version (1901) Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Common English Bible After they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on these two and sent them off. Catholic Public Domain Version Then, fasting and praying and imposing their hands upon them, they sent them away. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Then they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away. |
and has been a widow [all these years], and is now eighty-four years old.) She has never left the Temple, but worships [God] by fasting [i.e., going without food and/or water for religious reasons] and praying night and day.
Then they prayed, “Lord, you know the inner thoughts of all men, so show us which one of these two men should be selected
As these men were ministering to the Lord [i.e., this probably means worshiping] and fasting, the Holy Spirit said [to one of them by way of inspiration]: “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me, [commissioning them] to do the work for which I have called them.”
So, as they were sent out by [the direction of] the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia [a seaport], and from there they sailed on to [the island of] Cyprus.
And when Paul and Barnabas had appointed elders [for the churches] in every congregation and had prayed and fasted [over these elders], they committed them to [the care of] the Lord, in whom they had come to trust.
And from there they sailed to Antioch [in Syria], from where they had [originally] been committed to God’s favor for [carrying out] the work which they had just completed.
But Paul chose Silas and, after being commended to the [care and] favor of the Lord by the brothers, he left,
[Then] they presented these men to the apostles, who prayed for them while placing their hands on them [to signify their appointment].
So, Ananias left and went to Judas’ house and placed his hands on Saul saying, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you as you were traveling on the road [to Damascus] sent me so you could receive your sight [back] and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
And how can people preach [anywhere] unless they are sent out? Even as it is written [Isa. 52:7], “How welcome is the coming of those who preach the good news [of salvation through Christ]?”
Do not neglect [using] the gift [i.e., of serving as an evangelist. See II Tim. 4:5], which was given to you in response to a prophetic message [or, prediction], along with the laying on of the elders’ hands [i.e., signifying your appointment].
Do not be in a hurry to lay hands on anyone [i.e., to appoint them to office. See 4:14], and do not participate in the sins of other people. [Note: If Timothy failed to carefully determine the qualifications of a prospective elder before appointing him, it would make him partially responsible for any wrongdoing by that elder]. Keep yourself pure [i.e., of involvement in anyone’s sins].
The reason I am reminding you [of these things] is so that you will rekindle the gift from God, which is in your life through the laying on my hands. [Note: This “gift” was probably his ordination to serve as an evangelist (See 4:1-5), and in addition, may have included a supernatural “spiritual gift” bestowed by the apostle Paul].
And the things that you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, you should pass on to trustworthy men who will be able to teach other people also.
These people testify about your love [for them] before the [assembled] church. You will be doing a good thing to send them on their journey in a way that is pleasing to God [i.e., by furnishing them with travel expenses for their ministry].
Therefore, we should show hospitality to such men, so that we can be fellow-workers [with them] in [the cause of] the truth.