When they had fasted and prayed; a good preparation to enter into any business with, whereby they acknowledged that all success must come from God. Our blessed Saviour himself would not enter upon his ministry till he had fasted forty days, Matthew 4:2, compared with Matthew 4:17. Laid their hands on them; Barnabas and Saul being called to be apostles already, this laying on of their hands upon them signifies,
1. Their being set apart to this particular employment they were now to be sent about.
2. The approbation of the church to that heavenly call they had.
3. Their praying for God's blessing upon them, and success upon the work they went for.