{When they had fasted} (
(8873)teusantes). Either finishing
the same fast in verse  2  or another one (Hackett), but clearly
a voluntary fast. {Laid their hands upon them} (epithentes tas
cheiras autois). Second aorist active participle of
epitith(886d)i. Not ordination to the ministry, but a solemn
consecration to the great missionary task to which the Holy
Spirit had called them. Whether the whole church took part in
this ceremony is not clear, though in  15:40  "the brethren" did
commend Paul and Silas. Perhaps some of them here acted for the
whole church, all of whom approved the enterprise. But Paul makes
it plain in  Php 4:15  that the church in Antioch did not make
financial contribution to the campaign, but only goodwill. But
that was more than the church at Jerusalem would have done as a
whole since Peter had been arraigned there for his activities in
Caesarea ( Ac 11:1-18 ). Clearly Barnabas and Saul had to finance
the tour themselves. It was Philippi that first gave money to
Paul's campaigns. There were still heathen enough in Antioch, but
the church approved the going of Barnabas and Saul, their very
best.