****acts 14:22

(Acts 14:21–25

Acts 14:21–25 (NRSV)

21 After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. 22 There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe. 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Acts 14:22 (NRSV)

22 There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.”

True Christianity Is Like a Larch Tree

Preaching Themes: Comfort, Conflict, Discouragement, Persecution, Suffering

Many years ago a larch was brought to England. The gentleman who brought it put it in his hothouse, but it did not develop in a healthy manner. It was a spindly thing, and therefore the gardener, feeling that he could not make anything of it, took it up and threw it out on the dunghill. There it grew into a splendid tree, for it had found a temperature suitable to its nature. The tree was meant to grow near the snow; it loves cold winds and rough weather, and they had been sweating it to death in a hothouse.

So it is with true Christianity. It seldom flourishes so well in the midst of ease and luxury as it does in great tribulation. Christians are often all the stronger and better because they happen to be cast where they have no Christian companions or kindly encouragements. As liberty usually favors the hardy mountaineers whose rugged hills have made them brave and hardy, so does abounding grace, as a rule, visit those who endure the great fight of affliction and through much tribulation inherit the kingdom.

As we’ve studied through chapter 13 and 14 of the Book of Acts we’ve learned about Paul and Barnabas’ 1st missionary journey.

They were commissioned from the church at Antioch and were sent out on mission.

On this missionary journey we’ve learned that they had

• times of triumph and times of trials;

• times of praise and times of persecution;

• times of evangelism and times of exhaustion;

• times of testimony and times of threatening;

• times of serving and times of stoning;

• times of duty and times of danger.

In Antioch Pisidia God moved mightily and the jealous Jews were stirred up against Paul and Barnabas and they expelled the missionaries from their region.

In an act of protest against the ungodliness Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet.

In Iconium they came preaching the gospel and a great multitude of both Jews and Greek believed on the Lord Jesus and was saved.

The unbelieving Jews in Iconium poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren.

They so convinced them against the missionaries that they plotted to stone them.

Paul and Barnabas became aware of their plot and they fled that city.

• ￫We were reminded in that study that there are times that we stand for the faith and there are times that we turn and flee.

• ￫There are times that we shake off the dust from our feet and there are times that we keep up the dust with our feet as we flee.

We learned that Paul and Barnabas left Iconium and came to Lystra and Derbe.

In Lystra we learned of the mobbing of Paul. He was stoned and left for dead.

Those who stoned Paul left Paul outside the city for dead.

They thought that they had killed him.

The new disciples gathered around their fallen comrade and the Bible says that Paul rose up and went back into the city.

On the next day Paul and Barnabas departed and came to Derbe.

We learn of the continued work of the missionaries.

In spite of the persecution; the heat in every place; in spite of the discouragement; Paul and Barnabas continued to serve Jesus.

Are we committed to the work of Jesus Christ no matter what? Are we truly continuing the work of the Lord? Are we on mission for Jesus?

Luke declared the fruit, the fearlessness, the faithfulness, and the focus of the missionaries in continuing to serve Jesus. Christians are to be on mission for the Lord no matter what the cost, what the opposition, no matter the reception, no matter what!

This passage gives us some details about the continued work of the missionaries.

I. Their preaching was received in Derbe (21a)

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples,”

Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas came to Derbe and preached the gospel.

In every place they had gone and preached there were people that believed, but there were also those who disbelieved.

In Antioch Pisdia people believed the gospel and yet there was a group that rose up in envy and jealous and stirred up opposition against the apostles.

In Iconium a great multitude believed and yet there was more opposition. The opposition intensified.

In Lystra the opposition came to a head as they did physical harm to Paul.

In spite of all the opposition Paul and Barnabas did not get discouraged. They continued to preach the gospel.

Preached the gospel: euaggelizo, yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo, to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel-declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

Luke tells us of their effectiveness in Derbe. Their preaching was received in Derbe.

No opposition in Derbe is mentioned. The people in Derbe believed the gospel.

Luke tells us that in Derbe they made many disciples.

Many disciples: (KJV: taught many) matheteuo, math-ayt-yoo’-o; intransitive to become a pupil; transitive to disciple, i.e. enroll as scholar-be disciple, instruct, teach.

It always encourages the preachers when people believe the gospel and are saved. It is always encouraging when you see fruit for your labor.

It’s always a good thing when the message is received.

Too often the message is rejected, pushed away, ridiculed, and mocked at in disbelief.

The missionaries continued to serve Jesus. They kept on preaching the word of God.

Their preaching was received in Derbe.

We also note:

II. The purpose of their return to the disciples (21b–25)

A. The places they returned to showed fearlessness (21b)

“they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch”

Luke tells us that after Paul and Barnabas finished their work in Derbe that they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

Their return to these cities shows the fearlessness of the servants of God.

These preachers were fearless in that they returned to the places that they had just been run out of, threatened, and stoned in.

◾ They didn’t comeback to these cities because they were tough, but because they were tender.

◾ They didn’t return because they were out of their minds. but they returned because they were on a mission.

◾ They didn’t return to stand against the corruption, but to strengthen the Christians.

◾ They didn’t come back to these cities because of the joy they experienced, but because of Jesus they exalted.

Thank God for fearless preachers who love the Lord and His church more than comfort and ease!

John MacArthur wrote, “When they had completed their work in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas revisited the three cities they had just come from. Such visits were fraught with danger … Paul and Barnabas knew, however, that it was far more dangerous to the gospel cause for those new flocks not to be strengthened.”

Herschel Ford wrote, “It would have been easy for them to avoid Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. They had been run out of the first two places, and Paul had been stoned almost to death in the last one. But they went right back over the same ground. They were not afraid, they had work to do in these places, and they knew that God would be with them.”

Paul and Barnabas had been threatened, plotted against, and Paul had been stoned in Lystra, but that didn’t stop the apostles or shut up the apostles.

They went right on preaching in Derbe.

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we can be fearless before men. When we have a proper fear of God we have nothing to fear from men.

The apostles return to Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra showed their fearlessness.

Illustration: In his book “The Power of the Holy Spirit,” David Howard tells about a fearless pastor he ministered with in Columbia named Lupercio Taba.

One Sunday Taba was preaching from his pulpit when a man appeared at a side window of the church, aimed a pistol at him, and ordered him to stop preaching.

The congregation, seeing the danger dove to the floor and hid under the pews.

Taba, however, went right on preaching the gospel. The man then fired four shots at him.

Two shots went past the preacher’s head, one on one side and the other on the other side, and lodged in the wall behind him. Two shots went past his body, one under one arm, one under the other, and also lodged in the wall.

The would-be assassin then dropped his gun and fled.

Taba, still unmoved, continued his sermon.

He went right on preaching! AMEN!

Thank God for fearless men of God!

• Paul and Barnabas back-tracked to the places they had previously been. That doesn’t mean they backed up or backed down!

We’ve learned that the places they returned to showed fearlessness. We also note:

B. The people they returned to showed faithfulness (22)

1. Who they returned to (22a)

“strengthening the souls of the disciples”

The apostles didn’t return for:

￫the rift-raft, but the redeemed

￫those who rejected the gospel, but those who had been ransomed by God.

￫Criticizers, but the Christians

￫The city, but the church.

Paul and Barnabas showed their faithfulness to their Lord and His church by returning to these cities that had for the most part refused them.

They came back for the sake of the new believers.

Don’t forget about brothers and sisters who are new in their faith. It takes faithfulness on our part to make disciples.

Paul and Barnabas cared about the condition of the young church! Do we care about the condition of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ?

The Bible tells us who they returned to. We also learn:

2. What they returned for (22–23)

a. They came back to strengthen and encourage the church (22)

i. Their exhortation to the church (22a)

“strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith”

Paul and Barnabas came back to these places and these people for a purpose.

They had a mission to accomplish. They had seen many people saved and now they returned to disciple the new believers.

Strengthening: (KJV: Confirming) episterizo, ep-ee-stay-rid’-zo; to support further, i.e. re-establish-confirm, strengthen.

This is a beautiful and descriptive word about the work of the apostles in the churches at Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch Pisidia.

This word tells us that the church was revived, excited, encouraged, equipped, and exhorted by presence and preaching of the apostles.

They were lifted up by the words and work of the apostles.

There souls grew stronger in the Lord, their faith was invigorated in the Lord, and they had a new determination to press on for the Lord.

These new believers knew that Paul and Barnabas cared for their souls.

Disciples need strengthening and exhorting. There are times when we are down, discouraged, and need to be uplifted.

The disciples in these cities were on the front lines of hell battling the devil and his wicked army.

Paul and Barnabas exhorted the church to “continue in the faith”

Continue: emmeno, em-men’-o; to stay in the same place, i.e. (figurative) to persevere-continue.

They were not to give up or give in or give out in serving Jesus.

The apostles had set the church an example to follow. They themselves had not given up when persecutions came.

They were living testimonies to the young church about what to do.

They were to go on with Jesus, persevere in Jesus, and to continue to be faithful to Jesus.

You and I can do no less for our Lord Jesus!

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Continuance is a proof of true faith in Jesus Christ.”

If you fall out and fall away you never truly had faith to begin with.

I often quote Adrian Rogers here who said, “A faith that falters before the finish was flawed at the first.”

The Lord Jesus called the missionaries to go and preach and when people were saved they were to seek to teach (disciple) them so that they in turn can grow and win others to Jesus Christ.

David Jeremiah makes a good point here. He wrote, “Paul was not seeking converts only, but disciples … And that should be our goal in the church today as well. We are not about baptizing new Christians as if they were notches on the handle of our Gospel gun, statistics to make us look good in the year-end accounting. Instead, we are about seeing lives transformed.”

Thus Paul and Barnabas exhorted the churches to continue on in the faith. They were not to compromise their convictions about the Lord Jesus.

Jude 3 says, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

We’ve learned about their exhortation to the church. We also note:

ii. Their explanation to the church (22b)

“and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Paul and Barnabas were realists.

They knew that suffering for Christ was part of the territory. They exhorted the church and strengthened the church to continue on in the faith.

They also explained to the church that it would not be an easy road.

John Phillips wrote, “How different from so much preaching today, which promises to those who trust Christ material prosperity, good health, and a sunny path through life, and which declares that lack of those things is evidence of lack of faith. Apostolic preaching took it for granted that tribulation and affliction would be the lot in life of those who love the Lord.”

“Many tribulations” lie on the road for Christians heading to heaven.

￫NOTE: Christians do not go through tribulations to get to heaven, but Christians go through tribulations because they are going to heaven.

We are not saved by our suffering! We are saved because Jesus Christ suffered, bled, and died for our sins!

We are saved because He rose again and He lived forevermore!

Paul was not teaching the new believers that they have to suffer in order to make it to heaven as some so errantly teach.

Paul was teaching the new believers that because they had been saved by the Lord Jesus they would in turn suffer because of their faith in Jesus.

Remember John 15:18–21 says, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also, 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

John G. Butler wrote, “Enter into the kingdom of God’ is not hindered by tribulation. It is only enhanced by tribulation.”

Tribulation: hlipsis, thlip’-sis; pressure (literal or figurative) afflicted (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Paul and Barnabas explain to the young church

◾ that they would face

◾ troubles and trials ahead.

◾ There would be persecutions and pains;

◾ set backs and set ups;

◾ hardships and heartaches;

◾ people would turn on them and torture them

Persecution of the church is nothing new! Believers need to have a strong grasp on the reality of suffering for our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke reminds us of the purpose of their return to the disciples. They came back to strengthen and encourage the church. We also note:

b. They came back to set-up elders in the church (23)

i. Their consecration of the leaders (23 a)

“So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting,”

After spending time in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch teaching the new believers the word of God they then proceeded to set up elders in each church.

They did this as they went along. Same method and same mission!

Appointed: (KJV: Ordained) cheirotoneo, khi-rot-on-eh’-o; (to stretch); to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand), i.e. (genitive) to select or appoint-choose, ordain. This word means “to elect by a show of hands.”

This word could have meant that Paul and Barnabas chose men out of the congregation to be elders and the church voted their approval of those men selected.

Elders: presbuteros, pres-boo’-ter-os; (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figurative member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter” elder (-est), old.

This word does not necessarily refer to physical age, but of spiritual maturity.

It speaks of spiritual leadership and is interchangeable with pastor, shepherd.

Before Paul and Barnabas continued on their journey they made sure that elders were set up in “every” church.

No congregation was left out! God does not want His flocks without under shepherds.

He does not want His people without godly spiritual leadership.

Paul understood the importance of setting up elders that would continue on with the work of Jesus Christ and reaching the people in those places with the gospel of Jesus Christ and growing God’s people in the faith.

Luke tells us how they set up these elders and the seriousness of appointing elders to leadership within the church.

They did this with prayer and fasting.

They prayed for the elders (leaders), they prayed over the elders.

They sought wisdom from the Lord Jesus as to who He would have serve in each local church. AMEN!

Church ought to seek the Lord diligently with prayer and fasting before calling on a new pastor!

Churches can get in a great mess and get out of the will of God if they do not call a God called heaven sent servant of God!

Paul and Barnabas knew that the matter was so serious that they fasted.

￫They did without the physical necessities to focus on the spiritual needs.

How often do we pray and fast about decisions that we have to make?

The Bible speaks of their consecration of the leaders. We also note:

ii. Their commendation to the Lord (23b)

“they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Commended: paratithemi, par-at-ith’-ay-mee; to place alongside, i.e. present (food, truth); by implication to deposit (as a trust or for protection) allege, commend, commit (the keeping of), put forth, set before.

Paul and Barnabas set the elders and the church before the Lord and presented them to the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas would not be there physically to care for the church, but the Lord would indeed be with His church. They committed the church to the keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ. He saved the church and He will secure the church.

He purchased the church and He will protect the church!

They were commended to the Lord in whom they had believed!

￫Paul didn’t commend them to a convention, but to Christ.

￫They were not committed to the trust of an apostle, but the Almighty!

￫They were not set before the Sanhedrin, but the Savior.

￫They were not watched over by a legalist, but the Lord!

Paul and Barnabas were faithful to the Lord Jesus and His mission. They were faithful to the people of God.

The Bible tells us that the places they returned to shown their fearlessness. The people they returned to shown their faithfulness and lastly we note:

C. The preaching they returned to shown their focus (24–25)

“And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.”

Paul and Barnabas didn’t get distracted in the work of the Lord Jesus.

They kept their focus on the task at hand.

They were focused on preaching the gospel and making disciples.

After they left Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch they came to Pamphylia.

Luke is giving a summary of their travels back.

He mentions their preaching in Perga.

In Perga is where they lost a member of their team.

Acts 13:13–14 says, “Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.”

John Mark left the missionary team and went back home. In Perga on their first trip through they did not preach, but when they came back through they preached the word.

Paul and Barnabas stayed focus on preaching the gospel.

Luke summarizes their travels back to their home church by telling us that they traveled down to Attalia.

Attalia was a sea-port town that they would eventually board a ship heading for home.

Paul and Barnabas were finishing up their 1st missionary journey. They had completed the work that the Lord Jesus had called them to do at this point.

They were fearless, faithful, and focused! Does that describe us in serving our Lord Jesus Christ?

Do we need to continue in the work of the Lord Jesus?

Some of you need to begin to work for the Lord!

Some of you need to be strengthened in your souls and exhorted to continue on in the faith!

Would you surrender to the Lord Jesus? Would you serve the Lord Jesus no matter where He leads you and no matter what He leads you to do?