While they were ministeringto the Lordand fasting,the HolySpiritsaid,"Set apartfor Me Barnabasand Saulfor the workto whichI have calledthem."
He appointedsomeof the Levites[as] ministersbeforethe arkof the LORD,even to celebrateand to thankand praisethe LORDGodof Israel:
So I gavemy attentionto the LordGodto seek[Him by] prayerand supplications,with fasting,sackclothand ashes.
["But thiskinddoes not goout exceptby prayerand fasting.]"
"Wheneveryou fast,do not puton a gloomy faceas the hypocrites[do], for they neglecttheir appearancesothat they will be noticedby menwhen they are fasting.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full.
"Thereforebeseechthe Lordof the harvestto sendout workersinto His harvest."
Nowafterthisthe Lordappointedseventyothers,and sentthem in pairsaheadof Him to everycityand placewhereHe Himselfwas goingto come.
and then as a widowto the ageof eighty-four.She neverleftthe temple,servingnightand daywith fastingsand prayers.
While Peterwas reflectingon the vision,the Spiritsaidto him, "Behold,threemenare lookingfor you.
Corneliussaid,"Fourdaysagoto thishour,I was prayingin my houseduring the ninth hour;and behold,a manstoodbeforeme in shininggarments,
Then,when they had fastedand prayedand laidtheir handson them, they sent them away.
So,being sentout by the HolySpirit,they went downto Seleuciaand from therethey sailedto Cyprus.
From therethey sailedto Antioch,from whichthey had beencommendedto the graceof Godfor the workthat they had accomplished.
"Be on guardfor yourselvesand for allthe flock,amongwhichthe HolySpirithas madeyou overseers,to shepherdthe churchof GodwhichHe purchasedwith His ownblood.
"And He saidto me, 'Go!For I will sendyou farawayto the Gentiles.'"
Now Joseph,a Leviteof Cyprianbirth,who was also calledBarnabasby the apostles(whichtranslatedmeansSonof Encouragement),
"But we will devote ourselvesto prayerand to the ministryof the word."
Thenthe Spiritsaidto Philip,"Goup and jointhischariot."
But the Lordsaidto him, "Go,for he is a choseninstrumentof Mine,to bearMy namebeforethe Gentilesand kingsand the sonsof Israel;
Paul,a bond-servantof ChristJesus,called[as] an apostle,set apartfor the gospelof God,
Howwill they preachunlessthey are sent?Justas it is written,"HOWBEAUTIFULARE THE FEETOF THOSEWHO BRING GOOD NEWSOF GOOD THINGS!"
to be a ministerof ChristJesusto the Gentiles,ministering as a priestthe gospelof God,sothat [my] offeringof the Gentilesmay becomeacceptable,sanctifiedby the HolySpirit.
But oneand the sameSpiritworksallthese things,distributingto each oneindividuallyjustas He wills.
Stopdeprivingone another,exceptby agreementfor a time,sothat you may devote yourselvesto prayer,and cometogetheragainsothat Satanwill not temptyou becauseof your lack of self-control.
[I have been] in laborand hardship,throughmanysleepless nights,in hungerand thirst,oftenwithout food,in coldand exposure.
in beatings,in imprisonments,in tumults,in labors,in sleeplessness,in hunger,
But whenGod, who had set me apart[even] from my mother'swomband calledme throughHis grace,was pleased
of whichI was madea minister,accordingto the giftof God'sgracewhich was givento me accordingto the workingof His power.
At that timethe LORDsetapartthe tribeof Levito carrythe arkof the covenantof the LORD,to standbeforethe LORDto serveHim and to blessin His nameuntilthisday.
Sayto Archippus,"Take heedto the ministrywhichyou have receivedin the Lord,that you may fulfillit."
For thisI was appointeda preacherand an apostle(I am tellingthe truth,I am not lying)as a teacherof the Gentilesin faithand truth.
for whichI was appointeda preacherand an apostleand a teacher.
The things whichyou have heardfrom me in the presenceof manywitnesses,entrusttheseto faithfulmenwhowill be ableto teachothersalso.
OnlyLukeis with me. Pickup Markand bringhim with you, for he is usefulto me for service.
But you, be soberin all things,endure hardship,dothe workof an evangelist,fulfillyour ministry.
And noonetakesthe honorto himself,but [receives it] when he is calledby God,evenas Aaronwas.
Then Elkanahwentto his homeat Ramah.But the boyministeredto the LORDbeforeElithe priest.
