Day 1162: Building up disciples – Acts 14 vs 19 - 28

19-20 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21-23 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24-26 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27-28 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples. Acts 14:19-28 English Standard Version

Paul and Barnabas didn’t just tell people how they could be saved, they also spent time with them and strengthened their souls. (vs 21-22) What an important truth for the Church to follow. When someone turns to Christ they open their life to new dangers, and Satan will attack them, and try to frighten them so that they turn back to their old lifestyle. How then did Paul and Barnabas go about strengthening the souls of those who had believed in Christ? (vs 21-23)

Firstly, they encouraged them to 'continue in the faith'. Paul knew that their response to the gospel was the start of the journey, rather than it's finish. “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” (Colossians 1:21-23) Christians need to be encouraged to do this!

Secondly, they told them of the many difficulties they would encounter, saying that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” In other words, they warned believers that there were trials on the way. It wasn't a message of an 'easy faith'. Paul had himself been stoned in Lystra, and left for dead. But when he recovered, he immediately went back to the city, and then on to Derbe where again he preached the gospel. Again, this is an important truth to teach to young converts. And they can be strengthened by being shown that Christ was also persecuted, and that He promised eternal life to those who overcome.

Thirdly, they appointed elders in every church that had been formed. Not an easy task when the elders themselves may have been young converts. But they appointed men who obviously showed something of the stability and steadfastness the Church would need. They would take care of the new converts, encouraging any who were faltering. It was a call to shepherd the flock of God, and exercise oversight. They were to do this willingly, as unto the Lord. And they were not to do it for shameful gain, but eagerly. Not domineering over those in their charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3)

One more thing they did to strengthen the new converts, was to commit them with prayer and fasting to the Lord in whom they'd put their faith and trust. They knew that God was able to keep those who had believed in His Son. So Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, preaching in Perga on the way, and having fulfilled the work they'd been commended to God for. They told everyone there what God had accomplished through them, and rejoiced that a door of faith had been opened to the gentiles.