SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:2
Ministrando pues stos al Seor, y ayunando, dijo el Espíritu Santo: Apartadme a Bernab y a Saulo para la obra para la cual los he llamado.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 13:2
Verse 2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted] On Mondays and Thursdays it was usual with the more pious Jews to attend the public service in their synagogues, and to fast: the former is what we are to understand by ministering to the Lord. On the Sabbaths they attended the service in the synagogue, but did not fast. The Greek word, leitourgountwn, signifies performing the office of praying, supplicating, rendering thanks, &c.: hence the word leitourgia, liturgy, the work of prayer, &c., from lith, supplication, according to some; or rather from leitov, common, and ergon, work, the common or public work, in which all the people were engaged. The Holy Ghost said] A revelation of the Divine will was made to some person then present; probably to either Simeon, or Lucius, or Manaen, mentioned before.
Separate me Barnabas and Saul.] Consecrate, or set them apart, for the particular work whereunto I have called them. How this was done, we find in the next verse.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. As they ministered to the Lord , etc.] That is, the five prophets and teachers before mentioned; and whose ministry lay in preaching the Gospel, teaching the people the doctrines of it, and expounding prophecies, and also in prayer; to which latter the Syriac version restrains their ministry, rendering it, as they prayed to God; but the phrase seems to be more extensive: and fasted; which the Jews were much used to, and the believing ones had not yet left it off; their custom was to fast on Mondays and Thursdays: (See Gill on Luke 18:12). Whether it was on one of those days, that these men were ministering and fasting, is not certain; but this we may be sure of, it was not on the Jewish sabbath, for on that day they never fasted; very likely that this was a fast appointed and fixed among themselves, on some particular occasion; it may be on account of the famine, which was at this time, ( Acts 11:28). The Holy Ghost said ; either with an articulate voice, or by an internal impulse, upon the minds of three of the prophets: separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them ; the work which the Holy Ghost had appointed, and called them to before this, was to go and preach the Gospel among the Gentiles, distinct from the Jews, of which we read in the latter part of this chapter; and now he would have them be separated from their brethren, as Aaron and his sons were from theirs, and be sent forth from hence directly, upon that work: this shows the Spirit to be a person, since speaking and commanding in an authoritative way, and calling to a work, are ascribed unto him; and that he is a divine person, and truly God, and equal with God, since calling to a sacred office is attributed to him; and a separation to it is ordered for himself, for his service, honour, and glory; he does not say separate them to the Lord, or to God, but to me.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - What an assemblage was here! In these names we see that the Lord raise up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life and zeal for his glory induces men to give up flattering connexions an prospects to promote his cause. It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and take from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father. They are separated to take pains, and no to take state. A blessing upon Barnabas and Saul in their presen undertaking was sought for, and that they might be filled with the Holy Ghost in their work. Whatever means are used, or rules observed, the Holy Ghost alone can fit ministers for their important work, and cal them to it.
Greek Textus Receptus
λειτουργουντων 3008 5723 V-PAP-GPM δε 1161 CONJ αυτων 846 P-GPM τω 3588 T-DSM κυριω 2962 N-DSM και 2532 CONJ νηστευοντων 3522 5723 V-PAP-GPM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S το 3588 T-NSN πνευμα 4151 N-NSN το 3588 T-NSN αγιον 40 A-NSN αφορισατε 873 5657 V-AAM-2P δη 1211 PRT μοι 3427 P-1DS τον 3588 T-ASM τε 5037 PRT βαρναβαν 921 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM σαυλον 4569 N-ASM εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN εργον 2041 N-ASN ο 3739 R-ASN προσκεκλημαι 4341 5766 V-RNI-1S αυτους 846 P-APM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Ministered (leitourgountwn). See on the kindred noun ministration, Luke i. 23. This noun has passed through the following meanings: 1. A civil service, especially in the technical language of Athenian law. 2. A function or office of any kind, as of the bodily organs. 3. Sacerdotal ministration, both among the Jews and the heathen (see Heb. viii. 6; ix. 21). 4. The eucharistic services. 5. Set forms of divine worship (Lightfoot, "On Philippians," ii., 17). Here, of the performance of Christian worship. Our word liturgy is derived from it.Separate. The Greek adds dh, now, which is not rendered by A.V. or Rev. It gives precision and emphasis to the command, implying that it is for a special purpose, and to be obeyed at the time. Compare Luke ii. 15; Acts xv. 36; 1 Cor. vi. 20.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:2 {As they ministered to the Lord} (leitourgountwn autwn toi kuriwi). Genitive absolute of leitourgew, old verb, used of the Attic orators who served the state at their own cost lews or laos, people, and ergon, work or service). Common in the LXX of the priests who served in the tabernacle (#Ex 28:31,39) like leitourgia (#Lu 1:23) which see. So in #Heb 10:11. In #Ro 15:27 of aiding others in poverty. Here of worship (prayer, exhortation, fasting). The word liturgy grows out of this use. {And fasted} (kai nesteuontwn). Genitive absolute also. Christian Jews were keeping up the Jewish fast (#Lu 18:12). Note fasting also in the choice of elders for the Mission Churches (#Ac 14:23). Fasting was not obligatory on the Christians, but they were facing a great emergency in giving the gospel to the Gentile world. {Separate me} (aforisate de moi). First aorist active imperative of aforizw, old verb to mark off boundaries or horizon, used by Paul of his call (#Ro 1:1; Ga 1:15). The Greek has de, a shortened form of ede and like Latin _jam_ and German _doch_, now therefore. It ought to be preserved in the translation. Cf. #Lu 2:15; Ac 15:36; 1Co 6:20. Moi is the ethical dative. As in verse #1 Barnabas is named before Saul. Both had been called to ministry long ago, but now this call is to the special campaign among the Gentiles. Both had been active and useful in such work. {Whereunto} (ho). Here eis has to be repeated from eis to ergon just before, "for which" as Jesus sent the twelve and the seventy in pairs, so here. Paul nearly always had one or more companions.
