PAUL AND BARNABAS ORDAINED AS MINISTERS

God communicated with the godly prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. "While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them'" (Acts 13:2).SRme 1.1381

Barnabas and Saul were chosen to serve God. They were ordained by fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands. Then Paul and Barnabas were sent to work among the Gentiles.SRme 1.1382

Both Paul and Barnabas had been working as ministers of Christ. God had richly blessed their efforts. But But up to this time Paul and Barnabas had not been set apart for the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. Now these men were authorized by the church not only to teach the truth, but to baptize and to organize churches. Paul and Barnabas were given special authority and power.SRme 1.1383

This was an important time for the Christian church. The separation between Jew and Gentile had been removed by the death of Christ. The Gentiles had the full rights of the gospel, the same as the Jews. Preaching the gospel to the Gentiles was now to be done with zeal and power. As a result the church was to be strengthened by many people accepting Christ.SRme 1.1384

Many believing Jews did not understand what the death of Christ had done for the Gentiles. The Jews were jealous of the apostles. The Jews said the apostles were teaching false doctrines. The believing Jews would question the apostles' rights to be ministers of the gospel because they welcomed Gentiles into the church.SRme 1.1385

God knew about the difficulties His servants would have. God wisely led the church to ordain the apostles as ministers. The apostles' authority was from God and was not to be threatened by anyone.SRme 1.1386

Later, the act of ordaining by laying on of hands was used in a wrong way. The ceremony was made too important. People thought that this laying on of hands immediately qualified a person for any and all ministerial work. Both Paul and Barnabas had received their appointment from God. The laying on of hands added no new grace or qualifications. But laying on of hands put the approval of the church on the work of Paul and Barnabas.SRme 1.1387