Saul and Barnabas in Acts 13

Acts 13 is really the turning point where the focus shifts from the Acts of Peter to the Acts of Paul. The beginning of the passage has a beautiful little concentric structure which draws attention to Barnabas and Saul, and to the work of the Holy Spirit.

12:25-13:1 Barnabas and Saul come to the church in Antioch

13:2aα worshipping 

13:2aβ and fasting (νηστευόντων)

13:2b Holy Spirit sets Barnabas and Saul apart

13:3aα fasting (νηστεύσαντες)

13:3aβ and praying and laying hands

13:3b Barnabas and Saul are sent out from Antioch

Looking at this structure makes sense of a couple of things which have confused some commentators. For instance, Dunn, in his wonderfully succinct commentary, wonders if the actions of fasting and praying in 13:3 is evidence the church weren't committed to obeying the calling from the Holy Spirit in v2b. But we can see this is part of a concentric structure (dare I say chiasm?) where the central idea in v2b is bracketed out in the first instance by fasting, and then by parallel ideas of worshipping and praying.

This structure could be extended to include 13:4-5 and thus make sense of the otherwise odd mention of John with them as their helper. John-Mark from 12:25 is mentioned again for no real purpose in 13:5, but with the structure could be seen as the concluding setting matching the beginning. Barnabas, Saul and John come to Antioch; Barnabas, Saul and John are sent from Antioch. What has changed in between? The Holy Spirit has (re-)commissioned them and the church has given them their blessing.

I should perhaps clarify that the words "Barnabas and Saul" aren't in 13:3-5 (the pair aren't mentioned again by name until 13:7). But they are together in 12:25 and in 13:2, and, fascinatingly, bookend the list of names in 13:1, each of whom get a second designation:

Barnabas, Simeon (Niger), Lucius (Cyrene), Manaen (Herod) and Saul.

It's a fascinating little pericope, and raises the expectations of what the Holy Spirit's work is to which he has called Barnabas and Saul to complete. Thankfully we don't have to wait long at all: we will find out in the next few verses that they are to bind and to loose, bringing both judgement and salvation (13:6-12).