“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3).

This was a new and different day for the Church. The good news about Jesus had been preached extensively in Jerusalem. Philip had taken the message to Samaria and Peter had preached to a Gentile, Cornelius. But those were incidental encounters. Now the Church was about to reach out to the Gentile world with an intentional purpose.

This initiative didn’t come from a Committee for the Evangelization of the Roman Empire. It came from the heart of God and was conveyed by a revelation from the Holy Spirit. It is always God’s heart to reach unbelievers who haven’t yet heard about Jesus. It’s why Jesus died. He loves sinners. God is still reaching out to them.

In reading Paul’s story in the Book of Acts it is clear that this mission involved danger. Paul was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, and left for dead while taking the message about Jesus to the Gentile world. Eventually, he was beheaded in Rome.

Yet, we aren’t to feel sorry for him. He accomplished his purpose. Seeds of the message about Jesus were planted by his ministry and have produced a global harvest. All of that was in the mind of God when the Holy Spirit interrupted a prayer meeting with His request: “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”