Acts 13:1-5 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger… This chapter is very interesting, as finding for us the real starting-point of Saul's grand missionary labors; as recording the change of his name to Paul (ver. 9); as altering the order hitherto observed in mentioning it, from "Barnabas and Saul" to "Paul and Barnabas" (vers. 2, 8; comp. with vers. 13, 43); and lastly, as forming the commencement of a long sketch of history almost exclusively occupied with his acts and career alone. For reasons which doubt- less came of the Holy Spirit, of his purpose, his motions, and his sanctifying guidance, Paul now takes the foreground and henceforth is kept in it. His early character and career had been marked, his "call" had been marked, his waiting and trial since had been marked, and now marked for ever on the page of Scripture and upon the genius of Christ's Church was the stamp of his work and devotion. The preamble alike of the chapter and of this long sketch of history is filled in with the very brief recital of the ordination of Barnabas and Saul to missionary labor. Let us observe what is distinctly recorded as the condition of things at this juncture, and what thereupon the course of things. I. THE CHURCH APPEARS AS THE UNIT ECCLESIASTICAL. This is worth observing, if only for the honor thereby done the Church. But yet more for the suggestions that arise from it, as indicating that it is the point of departure condescendingly recognized by Heaven itself, by Christ and the Spirit - of duty, of work, of character, of privilege to men. Wherever the Church, it is the living center, where dwells the Spirit, around which warmest and most intelligent affection, devotion, and enthusiasm should gather, even beyond those owned to by David and the most pious of the Jews toward Jerusalem and Zion (Psalm 137:4-6). No metropolitan center of officialism, it purports to be and is ordained to be a living fountain head. This is the "rest of the Lord" (Psalm 132:8, 14). This is where his people find rest. This the spot from which the heralds of everlasting truth set out, and of which they say again and again, "All my springs are in thee" (Psalm 87:7). II. EMPHATIC MENTION IS MADE OF FIVE MEN IN THE CHURCH. They are prophets and teachers. 1. Though every Christian man should be a spring of good to others and a true minister in the Church, the New Testament, far from dishonoring the idea of orders among those who compose it, here evidently enough countenances it. 2. The personnel of these five excites interest. Barnabas, who stands first, we know, and Saul, who stands last. Lucius is an African, and is mentioned again (Romans 16:21). The epithet attached to Symeon marks something interesting, though we cannot say certainly what. While a volume of interest underlies what is added to the name of Manaen! It is a signal ease, indeed, of "one being taken and the other left." 3. The holy engagements of these five men is emphasized. They are warming the fire; they are keeping warm the Church; they are prevailing in prayer with God; they are subduing the body and keeping it under subjection. How often might five men save and bless a Church, and call down richest blessing on it! III. EMPHATIC HONOUR IS SET ON THESE FIVE MEN. 1. The Spirit "speaketh expressly" to them, in the midst of their prayer and fastings and devotion (Acts 10:3, 4, 10, 19, 30). It is possible that this occasion may have found the Church gathered together also, but it cannot be affirmed that it was so. Any way, there were more than "two or three gathered together in the Name" of Christ. 2. The Spirit speaks another "call" to them. The forces of the Church are growing. Two of the five are "called" to go far away to the Gentiles. The other three are "called" to "separate" the two designated for" the work." "Doubting nothing" and "without gainsaying," they do this. Still does the Spirit keep the choosing and the designating, and should be honored and glorified for doing so. And still does the Spirit delegate the outer and visible carrying out of his will to the ministers of the Church. Note: (1) What a happy "separating" this compared with the many of which the Church, and, alas! the world, has heard, through all the succeeding centuries! (2) The method of "separating" Barnabas and Saul. It is (a) after fasting; (b) by prayer; and (c) with the accompanying sign of laying on of hands. (3) The probable object and advantages of this service. If there seem any ceremony about it, it is not vain ceremony. It is full of meaning, and may be full of use and advantage. (a) An object, high, holy, not self-serving, is very distinctly placed before those thus ordained. (b) They are reminded that the eyes of witnesses are upon them. (c) They are reminded that he who calls them to be "separated" will hear their call to him when perils abound, when flesh is weary, when the heart is sore and weary, when enemies press in, and when all things seem against them. (d) They are taught that in this "one thing" they now do, their Master and their Judge, the one Being to whom they are responsible, is above, the great invisible but ever sympathizing One. How blessed and how useful have the memories of self-consecration often been in the subsequent periods of life! The heart has dwelt with them and been refreshed and enriched by them. And what added impression, stimulus, and sustained energy have often come to us in the memory of those, if only of earth, who once heard our vows and witnessed our consecration! But these have most possessed the heart and ruled it and governed it entirely, when to the rest has been added the unswerving conviction that the Spirit called, and that it was his call and nothing less than his, that we once heard and never could forget. - B. Parallel Verses KJV: Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. |
    |