Acts14:21-28

Sermon 1 notes:

Acts 14:21–23 HCSB

21 After they had evangelized that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

acts 14:21-23

Evangelization () Preached the gospel" ().

The word translated by these three words is the Greek word that gives us our English word "evangelization" and other kindred words. It means "to bring or announce glad tidings" (Vine). "Glad tidings" is a great description of the Gospel. What glad tidings the Gospel is to the sin-burdened soul. Preaching the Gospel spoke of the great faithfulness of Paul and Barnabas, for everywhere they had preached the Gospel they had been oppressed, and they had just come from Lystra where Paul had been stoned. This would stop a lot of people from keeping on in the Lord's work. But Paul and Barnabas kept preaching the Gospel anyway.

Education () "Taught many" (). The word translated "taught many" is the word from which we get "discipled" and other kindred words. We need more than decisions, we need discipling. In the great commission is both evangelization ("preach the gospel"—) and discipling ("teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"—). Discipling is not very popular, however, because you cannot put the results in an adding machine and brag at the next preachers' meeting about numbers. But discipling is vital if evangelization is to continue and to be a genuine work.

Encouraging () strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.” This first missionary journey concluded with a follow-up ministry of the new churches in Asia Minor.

confirmation in the follow-up. "Confirming the souls of the disciples" (). The word "confirming" means to strengthen. The word is translated "strengthening" in . In the context of our text, "confirming" here means to strengthen in the faith.

strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God.”

Believers need to be made strong in the faith so that they are not "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" ().

"Exhorting them to continue in the faith" (). When the initial excitement of anything passes, the temptation to discontinue the pursuit is often very strong. After a revival meeting, people attend church with renewed vigor for awhile, then they begin to be lax in their attendance. When one takes a new office or teaching assignment in church, enthusiasm is generally very strong the first few weeks. But soon the enthusiasm wanes and the new officer or teacher ceases to be faithful and earnest in their task. This is where exhortation comes in. It is a charge to keep going, to not quit, but to renew one's dedication.

"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (). Paul and Barnabas did not white-wash the Christian experience by telling the new converts that once they were saved all their troubles would disappear. Rather, Paul and Barnabas were faithful to tell the new converts that they would experience some rough treatment for their faith.

Elders "They... ordained them elders in every church... prayed with fasting... commended them to the Lord" (). Paul and Barnabas helped organize the new converts into churches in the cities where they had ministered earlier. To do this they first ordained elders. To organize a church you first need leaders. Why did Paul and Barnabas not take care of this business when they first ministered in these places but waited until they returned? "It was not done when the apostles had first labored in these places, for time was necessary to show who was gifted and qualified for office of an elder" (Gaebelein). We must not be too quick in appointing men to his office. Paul warned, "Lay hands suddenly on no man" ().

The plural suggests that a group of gifted men is selected for each church and share equally in the task of leading the respective congregations. Paul’s model for this form of leadership comes from the synagogue pattern and from how he sees the network of house churches structured in Jerusalem LIFE APPLICATION

LIFE APPLICATION

FACING RESPONSIBILITIES

Paul and Barnabas returned to visit the believers in all the cities where they had recently been threatened and physically attacked. These men knew the dangers they faced, yet they believed that they had a responsibility to encourage the new believers. No matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable the task may seem, we must always support new believers who need our help and encouragement. Whenever we do evangelism, we should have a clear strategy for follow-through care for new believers.

Bruce B. Barton et al., Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1999), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "".

John G. Butler, Analytical Bible Expositor – Acts, (Clinton, Iowa: LBC Publications, 2009), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 163.

John G. Butler, Analytical Bible Expositor – Acts, (Clinton, Iowa: LBC Publications, 2009), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 163.

Clinton E. Arnold, ed., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary on the New Testament – John, Acts, (USA: Zondervan, 2002), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Revisiting and Strengthening the New Galatian Churches (14:21b-23)".

Sermon 2

Acts 14:24–28 HCSB

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they spoke the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.

acts 14:24-28

Intro:

Paul and Barnabas had faced stoning in Lystra (14:19), a violent mob of Gentiles and Jews in Iconium (14:5), and a jealous, manipulating coalition of influential Jews in Antioch of Pisidia (13:50). Yet they retraced their footsteps exactly, returning to each place they had been. Their preaching in Perga most likely included the same prayerful selection and commissioning of elders mentioned in 14:23, as well as the strengthening of the believers and encouragement to continue in the faith mentioned in 14:22. Paul and Barnabas were thorough, loving, and faithful church planters and pastors (see ; ). It seems that they had not preached in Perga on the outward leg of the journey. The record states only that John Mark had left them there (13:13). They may have left that region quickly and gone into higher ground because of sickness that had affected them. (This may have been the cause of John Mark's departure.) On the way back, however, they did minister in Perga.

This Ends the First Missionary Journey

Bruce B. Barton et al., Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1999), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "".

From Antioch in Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas went down the mountains back to Pamphylia on the coast. Stopping first in Perga, where they had landed, they went west to Attalia, the main port that sent goods from Asia to Syria and Egypt. There they found a ship and sailed out to the port of Antioch in Syria. This ended their first missionary journey.

LEADERSHIP

Part of the reason that Paul and Barnabas risked their lives to return to these cities was to organize the churches' leadership. They were not just following up on a loosely knit group; they were helping the believers get organized with spiritual leaders who could help them grow. Churches grow under Spirit-led leaders, both laypersons and pastors. Pray for your church leaders, and support them. And if God puts his finger on you, humbly accept the responsibility of a leadership role in your church.

I. A good record.

"They fulfilled" (). This is a great commendation of Paul and Barnabas. They completed the work for which they had been sent and did so in spite of the great persecution which they experienced. There are a lot of us who start good but finish poor but the great commendation goes to those who have "fulfilled" their assignment.

The amazing thing is that Paul and his associates did all of this without the modern means of transportation and communication that we possess today. Dr. Bob Pierce said at Youth For Christ, “Others have done so much with so little, while we have done so little with so much!” The wasted wealth of American believers alone, if invested in world evangelization, might lead to the salvation of millions of lost people.

II. A good report. "When they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" ().

II. A good report. " After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." ().

After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." ().

Paul and Barnabas gave a verbal report and it was a good one.

It honored God and reported open doors (to the Gentiles) and that souls had been saved ("faith unto the Gentiles").

They report “everything” (ὅσα) that had happened.

Where it happened:

It honored God and reported open doors (to the Gentiles) and that souls had been saved ("faith unto the Gentiles").

Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch (and perhaps in Perge)

What had happened:

The number of Jews and Gentiles that were converted

It honored God and reported open doors (to the Gentiles) and that souls had been saved ("faith unto the Gentiles").

the number of Jews and Gentiles that were converted

The names and the story of individuals who were converted

It honored God and reported open doors (to the Gentiles) and that souls had been saved ("faith unto the Gentiles").

Names of the elders that they had appointed

Acts: Expanded Digital Edition Explanation of the Text

names of the individuals who organized the opposition

names of the elders that they had appointed

Names of the individuals who organized the opposition

The miracles that happened in Paphos and in Lystra

Quick Getaways

Paul’s Stoning

Significant numbers

It honored God and reported open doors (to the Gentiles) and that souls had been saved ("faith unto the Gentiles").

Luke’s phraseology once again introduces his next chapter, chapter 15, for he addresses the very point of the Jerusalem Council debate: under what conditions should this door of faith to the Gentiles be opened.

This text does not take in all the report, just the highlights. But Paul and Barnabas "rehearsed all that God had done."

This text does not take in all the report, just the highlights. But Paul and Barnabas "reported all that God had done."

But we know they :

...majored on establishing and organizing local churches...

Jesus had the local church in mind when He gave what we call “The Great Commission” (). After we make disciples (“teach”), we must baptize them (the responsibility primarily of a local church) and then teach them the Word of God. Just winning people to Christ is but fulfilling one-third of the Commission! It takes the local assembly of believers to help us fulfill all of what Jesus commanded us to do.

majored on establishing and organizing local churches

... they grounded the believers in the Word of God...

This is the only source of strength and stability when persecution comes, as it was certain to come. Paul did not preach a popular “success Gospel” that painted a picture of an easy Christian life.

Jesus had the local church in mind when He gave what we call “The Great Commission” (). After we make disciples (“teach”), we must baptize them (the responsibility primarily of a local church) and then teach them the Word of God. Merely winning people to Christ is but fulfilling one-third of the Commission! It takes the local assembly of believers to help us fulfill all of what Jesus commanded us to do.

grounded the believers in the Word of God. This is the only source of strength and stability when persecution comes, as it inevitably does come. Paul did not preach a popular “success Gospel” that painted a picture of an easy Christian life.

III. A good rest. " And they spent a considerable time with the disciples. “ ().

And they spent a considerable time with the disciples. “ ().

The two missionaries needed some rest after their ordeals in their ministry. Missionary work is not easy, so a good rest is vital to recharge the batteries when the missionaries get home. We will learn in the next chapter that Paul and Barnabas did not spend all their time of rest in rocking chairs, however, but continued to serve the Lord when they had opportunity to serve.

John G. Butler, Analytical Bible Expositor – Acts, (Clinton, Iowa: LBC Publications, 2009), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 164.

Bruce B. Barton et al., Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1999), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "".

John G. Butler, Analytical Bible Expositor – Acts, (Clinton, Iowa: LBC Publications, 2009), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 163.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.

John G. Butler, Analytical Bible Expositor – Acts, (Clinton, Iowa: LBC Publications, 2009), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 163.

Schnabel, Eckhard J. Acts. Expanded Digital Edition. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.