Prophets, Teachers, and the Laying On Of Hands

[Mr. M]

Acts 13:1-3

1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas,

Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up

with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Saul, who was converted by the Lord on the road to Damascus, would eventually be known as Paul.

He gives this testimony concerning his ministry.

2 Timothy 1:11 Thereunto I am appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

"I am appointed"

[G5087] tithemi=the be set in place, established for a purpose.

The Lord's Appointment through the intermediary Ananias.

Acts 9:

15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name

before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.

"to bear My name" is to not only preach in the name of Jesus Christ, but to manifest

the character and attributes of the Son of God, by the glorified son of man.

His sufferings are well documented.

Further testimony of this event before King Agrippa.

Acts 26:

15 So I said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose,

to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen

and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles,

to whom I now send you,

18 to open their eyes, to turn from darkness to light, and the power of Satan to God,

that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance

among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.

Witness; [G3144] martys, from which we obtain the word martyr

Revelation 17:6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints

and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

Minister; [G5257] hyperetes=servant

Luke 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning

were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word.

The only scriptural way to minister the Word of God AND manifest His Name,

is as a servant.

Luke 22:27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?

Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Barnabas; son of a prophet, or prophecy

Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas,

(which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite.

While nabas is literally a prophet, is now being interpreted by the Jewish apostles

at Jerusalem to be the "son of consolation, or encouragement". This confirms the word

presented by Paul as to the nature of a New Testament prophet.

1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

The Church has a desperate need for saints who will sanctify themselves and fulfill the role of one

who exhorts, comforts and edifies the Body. False prophets are those pre-occupied with offering

their own interpretations of scripture in a vain attempt to make predictions, often striking fear

and obsessive concern for "end of days" and creating significant confusion among

those who desire to be faithful. The proper attitude of a saint towards the words of prophecy

are clearly laid out by the Lord.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things (in their hearts) which are written in it; for the time is near.

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Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,

Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

By prayer and fasting, and waiting on the Lord, the Saints in Fellowship humbled themselves,

and received the directions of the Holy Spirit. Those who say that there is no longer an Anointing

for Teachers and Prophets have simply never met with their close-knit circle, fasted and prayed,

and waited on the Lord. Notice how the Holy Spirit chooses and pairs a teacher with a man of exhortation.

This is wisdom. When men of God choose to go out together by twos, following the example of Christ,

who not only sent out the twelve, but at one point sent out 70, yet still by twos, they discipline

themselves to obey the Spirit, who must direct the appointments for ministering.

Having been sent out in this fashion, Barnabas and Paul are now officially apostles.

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Acts 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them,

they sent them away.

Note that the Spirit testifies that BEFORE laying hands on the ministers, the leaders had spent time

in prayer and fasting, and are now able to impart an Anointing from the Spirit for their ordained mission.

Though they both had already been born again and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit,

there remains a more abundant Grace for those who are not merely called, but also chosen.

These are the Elect.

This is what Paul is making reference to here:

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

Only the Elect can receive this Word, for many are called, but few are chosen.

1 John 2:27 But the Anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need

that anyone teach you; but as the same Anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true,

and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.