{As they ministered to the Lord} (leitourgount(936e) aut(936e) toi
kuri(9369)). Genitive absolute of leitourge(935c), old verb, used of
the Attic orators who served the state at their own cost le(9373)
or laos, people, and ergon, work or service). Common in the
LXX of the priests who served in the tabernacle ( Ex 28:31,39 )
like leitourgia ( Lu 1:23 ) which see. So in  Heb 10:11 . In
 Ro 15:27  of aiding others in poverty. Here of worship (prayer,
exhortation, fasting). The word liturgy grows out of this use.
{And fasted} (kai n(8873)teuont(936e)). Genitive absolute also.
Christian Jews were keeping up the Jewish fast ( Lu 18:12 ). Note
fasting also in the choice of elders for the Mission Churches
( Ac 14:23 ). Fasting was not obligatory on the Christians, but
they were facing a great emergency in giving the gospel to the
Gentile world. {Separate me} (aphorisate d(8820)moi). First aorist
active imperative of aphoriz(935c), old verb to mark off boundaries
or horizon, used by Paul of his call ( Ro 1:1  Ga 1:15 ). The
Greek has d(885c), a shortened form of (8864)(885c) and like Latin _jam_
and German _doch_, now therefore. It ought to be preserved in the
translation. Cf.  Lu 2:15  Ac 15:36  1Co 6:20 . Moi is the
ethical dative. As in verse  1  Barnabas is named before Saul.
Both had been called to ministry long ago, but now this call is
to the special campaign among the Gentiles. Both had been active
and useful in such work. {Whereunto} (ho). Here eis has to be
repeated from eis to ergon just before, "for which" as Jesus
sent the twelve and the seventy in pairs, so here. Paul nearly
always had one or more companions.