Paul Sent By The Church

Hi! and  happy good weekend to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" this Saturday:

THE GOOD NEWS (11 June 2016)

“There were at Antioch – in the Church which was there – prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.  On one occasion while they were celebrating the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.'  So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” – Acts 13:1-3 

Paul And Barnabas

(This is the beginning of Paul's missions; for the time being he is  sent as Barnabas' assistant.

It is very difficult to know how the Church organized itself in the beginning.  It did not have the same kind of hierarchy with three orders that we have now: bishops, presbyters [or priests] and deacons: this started only at the end of the first century.  The Churches of Jerusalem and Antioch were certainly not directed as those in small towns.  Most of the time, the communities chose their elders among the most trusted men.  They had to be recognized or installed either by the apostles or some other superior authority and accepted by the neighboring communities.  Their ministry as leaders included baptism, the celebration of the Eucharist and the anointing of the sick.  This institution of the Elders [see 14:23 and 11:30] copied exactly the organization of the Jewish communities.

 However, wherever there were prophets accepted as such [this was the case in Antioch], they enjoyed greater authority, somewhat like the apostles [1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 2:20].

 Paul and Barnabas are not considered apostles yet, but they are prophets.  As for the teachers: they are those who have the ability to teach doctrine and morality based on Scripture, for the service of the community.

 Luke gives the details of the beginning of this mission.  It emerges from the initiative of the Holy Spirit, but responds to the life of fervor of the community of Antioch.  Note also that the community agrees to have two of its five leaders leave, and that Saul and Barnabas are ready to face the risks of this adventure.

 The laying on of hands invokes the grace of GOD upon these two missionaries.)

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