Acts 13:1-11: a reflection

1Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus. 5When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their attendant. 6When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar Jesus, 7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him 10and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

As the church at Antioch worshiped and fasted, the Holy Spirit spoke, setting apart two of their number for a special work. Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, the Spirit said, for the work to which I have called them. And the church, after further fasting and prayer, laid hands on them and sent them out. Notice how the calling came and was recognized: as the church worshiped and sought God together. God's setting apart of these workers, and their sending, was discerned not in a rush of activity but as the church served the Lord, fasted, and prayed. God calls and sets apart his workers, and his calling is often discerned as his people seek him together in worship and prayer. The Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work; the church recognized it as they worshiped and prayed, and sent them out. God sets apart and sends his workers, his calling discerned as his people seek him. The sending of workers begins with God's calling, recognized in worship and prayer.

Notice how God's calling of these workers was made known and acted on: as the church worshiped, fasted, and prayed. The Spirit spoke his call to set apart Barnabas and Saul while the church was serving the Lord and fasting; and the church responded with further prayer and fasting before laying hands on them and sending them out. God's setting apart of workers for his work was not a human decision made in a hurry, but a divine calling discerned as God's people sought him together. This tells us something about how God calls and sends: he sets apart his workers, and his calling is often recognized as his people worship, fast, and pray, seeking him together. The work of God begins not with our own initiative alone but with God's calling, discerned in prayer and worship. And when God's calling is recognized, his people confirm it and send the called ones out. God sets apart whom he will for his work; and his people, seeking him, discern and confirm his calling. To seek God together in worship and prayer is often where his callings become clear. God's calling is discerned by a praying, worshiping people.

That is worth taking to heart, for God sets apart and sends his workers, and his calling is often discerned as his people seek him together in worship and prayer. We can approach the work of God as a matter of our own initiative and planning; but the church at Antioch discerned God's calling of Barnabas and Saul as they worshiped, fasted, and prayed, and sent them out at the Spirit's word. God sets apart his workers, and his calling is recognized as his people seek him together. Do not approach God's work as merely your own initiative; seek God together in worship and prayer, where his callings become clear, as the church at Antioch did. Seek God together with his people in worship and prayer, where his callings are often discerned, rather than approaching his work as merely your own initiative, as the church at Antioch, worshiping and fasting, heard the Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work and, after further prayer and fasting, sent them out; for God sets apart and sends his workers by his own calling, and that calling is often recognized and confirmed as his people seek him together, so that the work of God begins not with our own initiative alone but with his calling, discerned by a worshiping and praying people who then confirm it and send the called ones out.

Lord, as the church at Antioch worshiped and fasted, the Holy Spirit spoke, setting apart two of their number for a special work. Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, the Spirit said, for the work to which I have called them. And the church, after further fasting and prayer, laid hands on them and sent them out. Show me how the calling came and was recognized: as the church worshiped and sought you together. Your setting apart of these workers, and their sending, was discerned not in a rush of activity but as the church served you, fasted, and prayed. You call and set apart your workers, and your calling is often discerned as your people seek you together in worship and prayer. The Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work; the church recognized it as they worshiped and prayed. This tells me something about how you call and send: you set apart your workers, and your calling is often recognized as your people worship, fast, and pray, seeking you together. The work of you begins not with our own initiative alone but with your calling, discerned in prayer and worship. And when your calling is recognized, your people confirm it and send the called ones out. To seek you together in worship and prayer is often where your callings become clear. Take that to my heart, for you set apart and send your workers, and your calling is often discerned as your people seek you together. I can approach your work as a matter of my own initiative and planning; but the church at Antioch discerned your calling as they worshiped, fasted, and prayed. Keep me from approaching your work as merely my own initiative; help me seek you together with your people in worship and prayer, Lord, where your callings become clear, as the church at Antioch heard the Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul and sent them out.