Acts 13:3

3. Laid their hands The imposition of hands is here used to “ordain” these men, not to an “order,” but to a mission. It did not make them deacon, elder, or bishop, but missionaries, either for this single expedition, or to the world at large, Jew or Gentile, as the Spirit pleased. The rule that limits the laying on of hands to special permanent orders is ecclesiastical rather than biblical. The two were not certainly at this time ordained as apostles, for no man was ever so ordained but by Christ himself. Christ’s acts ordained the twelve; his choice through the lot ordained Matthias, (Acts 1:23-25;) his call (Acts 22:21; Acts 26:17) ordained Paul, as the fulness of the Spirit authenticated him. (See note on Acts 13:9.)

Sent them away As in the following verse they are said to be sent by the Holy Ghost.