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Acts 13:3

King James Version (KJV)

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Translations

Acts 13:3 - Amplified Bible

Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away.

Acts 13:3 - American Standard Version

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 13:3 - Bible in Basic English

Then, after prayer and going without food they put their hands on them, and sent them away.

Acts 13:3 - Darby Bible

Then, having fasted and prayed, and having laid [their] hands on them, they let [them] go.

Acts 13:3 - English Standard Version

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:3 - King James Version

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 13:3 - La Biblia de las Americas

Entonces, después de ayunar, orar y haber impuesto las manos sobre ellos, los enviaron.

Acts 13:3 - The Message

So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.

Acts 13:3 - New American Standard Bible

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 13:3 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Entonces, después de ayunar, orar y haber impuesto las manos sobre ellos, los enviaron.

Acts 13:3 - World English Bible

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 13:3 - Young's Living Translation

then having fasted, and having prayed, and having laid the hands on them, they sent [them] away.

Acts 13:3 - Additional Comments

Once they had prayed and the fast ended, they chartered Paul and Barnabas to go as missionaries. They did this by the laying on of hands, and then sending them on their way. The laying on of hands was how disciples were commissioned for special duty. The first 7 deacons (including Stephen) (Acts 6:5-6) were commissioned by the laying on of hands. The Samaritans received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:5,12,14-17). And later, the Holy Spirit was received in the same way again (Acts 19:6).
The laying on of hands is a means of identifying, or declaring we are partners with them. These Christians are indicating they are partners with them in getting out the Word of God.
Some think we should not have missionary work until we convert the U.S. If this principle were followed the Gospel would never have gotten outside Jerusalem.
Missionaries can be sent either by commissioning from others, or by going as led by the Holy Spirit (e.g. Philip, in Acts 8).
Some people feel we should not send out missionaries until our own country is saved. If this is how the early Christians felt, the Gospel would have never left Jerusalem, and we would not be saved today. There will always be those who do not believe - we must then go elsewhere, as the Holy Spirit directs us.
These missionary journeys shaped the history of the world. Here are some other examples:
- J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was an English missionary to China. Founded the China Inland Mission which at his death included 205 mission stations with over 800 missionaries, and 125,000 Chinese Christians.
- John Wycliffe (d. 1384) was an English preacher, writer and Bible translator who has been called "the morning star of the Reformation." He preached and wrote against various doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome, translated the Bible into English, and sent itinerant preachers (later called Lollards) throughout England to bring to the common people the Word of God and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
- Mary Slessor was the most important Scots African missionary. The benefits she brought local society were immeasurable, outlawing ritualised rape, infanticide and human sacrifice. She saved many women and children from enslavement and terrible death, and adopted many children in the process. She died in 1915, having done invaluable work to alleviate suffering and raise the local people from the mire of savagery.

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