Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
When they had fasted (nhsteusantev). Either finishing the same fast in verse Acts 13:2 or another one (Hackett), but clearly a voluntary fast.
Laid their hands upon them (epiqentev tav xeirav autoiv). Second aorist active participle of epitiqhmi. Not ordination to the ministry, but a solemn consecration to the great missionary task to which the Holy Spirit had called them. Whether the whole church took part in this ceremony is not clear, though in Acts 15:40 "the brethren" did commend Paul and Silas. Perhaps some of them here acted for the whole church, all of whom approved the enterprise. But Paul makes it plain in Philippians 4:15 that the church in Antioch did not make financial contribution to the campaign, but only goodwill. But that was more than the church at Jerusalem would have done as a whole since Peter had been arraigned there for his activities in Caesarea (Acts 11:1-18). Clearly Barnabas and Saul had to finance the tour themselves. It was Philippi that first gave money to Paul's campaigns. There were still heathen enough in Antioch, but the church approved the going of Barnabas and Saul, their very best.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 13:3:
Acts 8:17
Acts 14:23
Acts 15:30
Philippians 4:15
1 Timothy 4:14
1 Timothy 5:22
Hebrews 6:2
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