|
|
Fasting also occurs in the New Testament. Anna at the Temple "served God with fastings and prayers night and day" <Luke 2:37>. John the Baptist led his disciples to fast <Mark 2:18>. Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation <Matt. 4:2>. Using a marriage-feast comparison, however, Jesus insisted that fasting was not suitable for His disciples as long as He, the Bridegroom, was with them <Matt. 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35>.
Cornelius was fasting at the time of his vision <Acts 10:30>. The church in Antioch fasted <Acts 13:2> and sent Paul and Barnabas off on the first missionary journey with fasting and prayer <Acts 13:3>. Paul and Barnabas prayed with fasting at the appointment of elders in the churches <Acts 14:23>. Paul suggested that husbands and wives might abstain from sexual intercourse to give themselves to fasting and prayer <1 Cor. 7:5>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)