Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
As they ministered to the Lord (leitourgountwn autwn toi kuriw). Genitive absolute of leitourgew, old verb, used of the Attic orators who served the state at their own cost lewv or laov, people, and ergon, work or service). Common in the LXX of the priests who served in the tabernacle (Exodus 28:31, Exodus 28:39) like leitourgia (Luke 1:23) which see. So in Hebrews 10:11. In Romans 15:27 of aiding others in poverty. Here of worship (prayer, exhortation, fasting). The word liturgy grows out of this use.
And fasted (kai nhsteuontwn). Genitive absolute also. Christian Jews were keeping up the Jewish fast (Luke 18:12). Note fasting also in the choice of elders for the Mission Churches (Acts 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 dh moi). First aorist active imperative of aforizw, old verb to mark off boundaries or horizon, used by Paul of his call (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:15). The Greek has dh, a shortened form of hdh and like Latin jam and German doch, now therefore. It ought to be preserved in the translation. Cf. Luke 2:15; Acts 15:36; I Corinthians 6:20. Moi is the ethical dative. As in verse Acts 13:1 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 (o). Here eiv has to be repeated from eiv 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.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 13:2:
Acts 13:3
Acts 13:9
Acts 15:36
Acts 19:9
Romans 1:1
Philippians 4:15
1 Timothy 4:14
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