Acts 13:3

KJV

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G5119} when they had fasted {G3522} and {G2532} prayed {G4336}, and {G2532} laid {G2007} their hands {G5495} on {G2007} them {G846}, they sent them away {G630}.

Complete Jewish Bible

After fasting and praying, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Berean Standard Bible

And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

American Standard Version

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 13:3 captures a profoundly significant moment in the early church's history, detailing the Antiochian believers' corporate spiritual discipline and formal commissioning of Barnabas and Saul for their inaugural missionary journey. This verse highlights the church's deep commitment to seeking divine guidance through fasting and prayer, followed by the symbolic act of laying on hands, culminating in the official sending forth of these Spirit-called apostles to spread the gospel to the Gentile world. It underscores the essential interplay between divine initiative, communal discernment, and human obedience in the advancement of God's kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 13:3 immediately follows the Holy Spirit's explicit directive in [Acts 13:2](/acts/13-2 "Acts 13:2 - The Holy Spirit Calls Barnabas and Saul") to "separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." This divine summons was given during a time of worship and fasting among the prophets and teachers in the vibrant, multi-ethnic church at Antioch. The preceding verses establish Antioch as a significant center of Christian activity, second only to Jerusalem, distinguished by its strong leadership and outward-looking vision. The church's response in verse 3—fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands—is not a casual reaction but a deliberate, Spirit-led act of corporate affirmation and dedication, demonstrating their profound reverence for God's call and the gravity of the mission ahead. This act marks the formal transition from their roles as teachers within the Antioch church to apostles sent to the wider world, initiating a new phase in the expansion of the gospel.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of fasting and prayer was deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, often accompanying significant decisions, times of lament, or seeking divine intervention, as seen in [Ezra 8:21](/ezra/8-21 "Ezra 8:21 - Fasting for Divine Guidance") or [Daniel 9:3](/daniel/9-3 "Daniel 9:3 - Daniel's Prayer and Fasting"). Early Christians continued this discipline, recognizing its power in spiritual discernment and drawing closer to God. The laying on of hands was also a well-established practice, signifying blessing, dedication, healing, or the impartation of authority or the Holy Spirit. In this context, it was an act of formal commissioning, a public endorsement by the church's leadership, signifying their solidarity with Barnabas and Saul and dedicating them to the specific work to which the Spirit had called them. Geographically, Antioch was a major Roman city, a crossroads of trade and culture, making it an ideal strategic hub for launching missionary endeavors into the broader Roman Empire, particularly targeting Gentile populations.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes central to the book of Acts and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Initiative and Human Partnership**, where God's sovereign call ([Acts 13:2](/acts/13-2 "Acts 13:2 - The Holy Spirit Calls Barnabas and Saul")) is met with the church's obedient and prayerful response, demonstrating that mission is God's work in which humanity participates. Secondly, the emphasis on **Spiritual Discernment and Preparation** through fasting and prayer underscores the necessity of seeking God's will and wisdom before undertaking significant ministry, a principle exemplified by Jesus himself in [Luke 5:16](/luke/5-16 "Luke 5:16 - Jesus Often Withdrew to Pray"). Thirdly, the act of laying on hands illustrates **Corporate Affirmation and Commissioning**, signifying the church's vital role in recognizing, validating, and formally sending out those called to ministry, providing both spiritual and practical support for their work. Finally, the "sending away" marks the beginning of the **Global Expansion of the Gospel**, as the Antioch church, empowered by the Spirit, becomes a launching pad for taking the message of Christ beyond the immediate Jewish world, fulfilling the mandate of [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Great Commission and the Holy Spirit").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fasted (Greek, _nēsteúō'_):** Derived from "nēstis" (not eating), this verb signifies abstaining from food, specifically in a religious or spiritual context. It denotes a deliberate act of self-denial and humility, often undertaken to intensify prayer, express repentance, or seek heightened spiritual sensitivity and discernment from God. In Acts 13:3, it indicates the church's profound earnestness and dependence on divine guidance before a momentous undertaking.
* **prayed (Greek, _proseúchomai'_):** This compound verb, formed from "pros" (towards) and "eúchomai" (to wish, to pray), means to pray to God, to supplicate, or to worship. It emphasizes a direct and intentional communication with the divine, characterized by earnest petition and devotion. The combination with fasting highlights a concentrated period of seeking God's will and blessing for the missionary endeavor.
* **laid hands (Greek, _epitíthēmi'_ with _cheír'_):** "Epitíthēmi" means "to place upon" or "to impose," and "cheír" refers to the hand. Together, "laid hands" describes a physical gesture with significant symbolic meaning. In this context, it is a solemn act of identification, blessing, dedication, and formal commissioning. It signifies the church's corporate endorsement, prayerful support, and the setting apart of Barnabas and Saul for their specific apostolic mission, rather than necessarily imparting new spiritual gifts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they had fasted and prayed,"**: This initial clause reveals the spiritual discipline and preparation undertaken by the church in Antioch. The use of the aorist participle indicates an action completed prior to the main verb, emphasizing that a period of devoted spiritual seeking, marked by both self-denial (fasting) and earnest communication with God (prayer), preceded their subsequent actions. This highlights the foundational importance of spiritual discernment and dependence on God for significant ministry.
* **"and laid [their] hands on them,"**: This clause describes a physical act with profound symbolic meaning. The laying on of hands, a common biblical practice, here signifies a formal act of commissioning, blessing, and setting apart. It represents the church's corporate affirmation of the Holy Spirit's call on Barnabas and Saul, publicly endorsing their mission and dedicating them to the work. It is an act of solidarity, transferring the church's blessing and authority to those being sent.
* **"they sent [them] away."**: This final clause states the decisive action taken by the church. Having completed their spiritual preparation and formal commissioning, the church actively "sent away" Barnabas and Saul. This demonstrates the church's obedience to the Holy Spirit's directive and their active participation in God's mission. It marks the official launch of the first missionary journey, signifying the church's role as a sender of gospel messengers.

#### Literary Devices
Acts 13:3 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Synecdoche** is present in "laid hands," where the part (hands) represents the whole action of blessing, commissioning, and dedicating by the church. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism** in its structure, presenting a sequence of spiritual actions: fasting, praying, and laying on of hands, all leading to the ultimate act of sending. This sequential structure emphasizes the logical progression from spiritual preparation to formal commissioning and finally to active mission. Furthermore, there is an element of **Symbolism** in the act of laying on of hands, which visually represents the transfer of authority, blessing, and the church's full endorsement. The entire verse functions as a **Narrative Progression**, marking a pivotal turning point in the book of Acts, shifting the focus from the localized growth of the church to its outward expansion into the Gentile world.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 13:3 stands as a foundational text for understanding the church's role in global missions, emphasizing that genuine missionary endeavor stems from divine calling, is nurtured through corporate spiritual discipline, and launched by communal affirmation. It illustrates the symbiotic relationship between the Holy Spirit's initiative and the church's obedient response, demonstrating that the sending of missionaries is not merely a human organizational task but a sacred act rooted in prayer and spiritual discernment. This verse highlights the church's responsibility to identify, equip, and commission those whom God has called, providing them with the necessary spiritual and communal backing for their work. The practices of fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands are not mere rituals but expressions of profound dependence on God and corporate solidarity, setting a precedent for missional sending throughout church history.

* [Matthew 9:38](/matthew/9-38 "Matthew 9:38 - Pray for Laborers")
* [Romans 10:15](/romans/10-15 "Romans 10:15 - How Can They Preach Unless They Are Sent?")
* [1 Timothy 4:14](/1_timothy/4-14 "1 Timothy 4:14 - Do Not Neglect Your Gift")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 13:3 offers enduring principles for both individual believers and the corporate church today. It challenges us to consider the depth of our spiritual preparation before embarking on significant undertakings, whether personal or communal. The example of the Antioch church reminds us that true dependence on God for direction and empowerment is cultivated through disciplines like fasting and earnest prayer, not merely through human planning or enthusiasm. For the church, this verse underscores the vital responsibility of discerning and affirming those called to ministry, providing a formal, prayerful commissioning that signifies corporate support and dedication. It calls us to actively participate in God's global mission, not just as recipients of the gospel but as senders of those who will proclaim it. In an era where individualistic spirituality often prevails, Acts 13:3 powerfully reasserts the necessity of communal discernment, corporate action, and shared spiritual disciplines in fulfilling the Great Commission.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the practice of fasting and prayer inform our personal and corporate decision-making today, especially concerning significant life or ministry choices?**
* **In what ways can our local church better affirm and commission individuals whom God has called to specific ministries, whether locally or globally?**
* **What does "sending away" mean for our church in practical terms, and how can we more actively participate in God's global mission?**
* **How can we cultivate a deeper sense of corporate dependence on the Holy Spirit's guidance in our church community?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "laying hands on them" in this context?**

Answer: The act of "laying hands on them" in Acts 13:3 is a deeply significant symbolic gesture. It is primarily an act of formal commissioning, blessing, and setting apart Barnabas and Saul for their specific missionary task. It signifies the church's corporate identification with, and endorsement of, their divine call. While the laying on of hands can have various meanings in the New Testament (e.g., healing, imparting the Holy Spirit, or spiritual gifts), here it functions as a public recognition and dedication to ministry. It communicates the church's full support, prayerful sending, and the transfer of their blessing and authority to these Spirit-called apostles as they embark on their groundbreaking journey, as seen in other commissioning instances like [Numbers 27:18-23](/numbers/27-18-23 "Numbers 27:18-23 - Moses Lays Hands on Joshua").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 13:3, while detailing the church's commissioning of Barnabas and Saul, ultimately points to the ultimate Sender and Sent One: Jesus Christ. The entire missionary enterprise, launched from Antioch, is a continuation of Christ's own mission, for He is the one whom the Father "sent into the world" ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - God Sent His Son")). Jesus Himself was set apart by the Holy Spirit for His ministry ([Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus' Nazareth Sermon and Anointing")), and He frequently withdrew to fast and pray before significant moments, modeling the very spiritual disciplines seen in Acts 13:3 ([Matthew 4:1-2](/matthew/4-1-2 "Matthew 4:1-2 - Jesus' Temptation and Fasting") and [Luke 6:12](/luke/6-12 "Luke 6:12 - Jesus Prays Before Choosing Disciples")). The church's act of sending Barnabas and Saul is a participation in Christ's Great Commission ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")), extending His presence and message to the ends of the earth. Thus, the commissioning in Acts 13:3 is not merely an organizational act but an echo of the divine sending of the Son, empowering His followers by the same Spirit to continue His redemptive work in the world until He returns.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 6:6

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them.

Acts 13:2

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

1 Timothy 4:14

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

2 Timothy 2:2

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3 John 1:8

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Acts 14:26

And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

Romans 10:15

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!