Acts 13 is a pivotal chapter for the advancement of the church.
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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” (Acts 13:1-2).
This describes the Spirit’s choice for the first formal mission to the Gentiles. Besides Barnabas and Saul (Paul), the full-time or traveling missionaries of Acts include Silas, Mark, Timothy, Sopater, Gaius, Aristarchus, Demas, Secundus, Tychicus, Trophimus and by implication Luke the physician. Other leaders in Acts include Ananias, Agabus, the elders of Jerusalem and other cities, James the apostle, James the Lord’s brother, Barsabbas, Jason, Apollos, Crispus and Mnason.
We know that women like Priscilla are deeply involved in the mission. Euodia and Syntyche, says Paul, “have labored side by side with me in the Gospel” (Philippians 4:2-3). Some apostles are accompanied by their wives in their mission travels (1 Corinthians 9:5). There is no question about the importance of all these brave women. But, in the biblical record, their profile does not seem as high in public settings.