Paul's First Missionary Journey – The Journey Begins; Acts 13:1 – 3 Part 2

Church History: The Holy Spirit took advantage of the occasion when the teachers of the church at Antioch were assembled together in God's presence, and about his work, to give them particular instructions and directions concerning his will and their duty. The solemn charge given by the Holy Spirit, to set apart Saul and Barnabas by solemn imposition of hands, for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles: This was a great work, and not to be undertaken without a special call from God; therefore says the Holy Spirit, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul to the work whereunto I have called them:" Which words prove both the Deity and personality of the Holy Spirit: He who calls ministers to the office, and unto whose service they are separated, is both God and a distinct person in the Godhead; but this the Holy Spirit did: "Separate me Barnabas and Saul." Though the office of the ministry be an honorable office, yet withal it is laborious work. Separate them for the work whereunto I have called them. It is a work that requires attendance, and zealous application, both in season and out of season. Praying, preaching, administering sacraments; guiding and governing the flock by private admonition, and public censure: These are weighty works, found so now by those that perform them faithfully, and will be found so at the great day, by the slothful and negligent.5
Their ordination, pursuant to these orders: not to the ministry in general (Barnabas and Saul had both of them been ministers long before this), but to a particular service in the ministry, which had something peculiar in it, and which required a fresh commission, which commission God saw fit at this time to transmit by the hands of these prophets and teachers, for the giving of this direction to the church, that teachers should ordain teachers (for prophets we no longer expect), and that those who have the dispensing of the oracles of Christ committed to them should, for the benefit of posterity, commit the same to faithful men, who shall be able also to teach others, (2Titus 2:2). So here, Simeon, and Lucius, and Manaen, faithful teachers at this time in the church of Antioch, when they had fasted and prayed, laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul, and sent them away, according to the directions received