Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 13]
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13:1 {In the church that was there} (\kata t•n ousan ekkl•sian\).
Possibly distributed throughout the church (note "in the church"
11:26). Now a strong organization there. Luke here begins the
second part of Acts with Antioch as the centre of operations, no
longer Jerusalem. Paul is now the central figure instead of
Peter. Jerusalem had hesitated too long to carry out the command
of Jesus to take the gospel to the whole world. That glory will
now belong to Antioch. {Prophets and teachers} (\proph•tai kai
didaskaloi\). All prophets were teachers, but not all teachers
were prophets who were for-speakers of God, sometimes
fore-speakers like Agabus in 11:28. The double use of \te\ here
makes three prophets (Barnabas, Symeon, Lucius) and two teachers
(Manaen and Saul). Barnabas heads the list (11:22) and Saul
comes last. Symeon Niger may be the Simon of Cyrene who carried
the Saviour's cross. Lucius of Cyrene was probably one of the
original evangelists (11:20). The name is one of the forms of
Luke, but it is certainly not Luke the Physician. Manaen shows
how the gospel was reaching some of the higher classes (home of
Herod Antipas). {Foster-brother} (\suntrophos\). Old word for
nourished with or brought up with one _collactaneus_ (Vulgate).
These are clearly the outstanding men in the great Greek church
in Antioch.
13:2 {As they ministered to the Lord} (\leitourgount•n aut•n toi
kuri•i\). Genitive absolute of \leitourge•\, old verb, used of
the Attic orators who served the state at their own cost \le•s\
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 n•steuont•n\). 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} (\aphorisate d• moi\). First aorist
active imperative of \aphoriz•\, old verb to mark off boundaries
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC13.RWP.html (1 of 22) [28/08/2004 09:06:50 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Acts: Chapter 13)