Continuing the Work
Acts 14:21–28
They returned . . . strengthening the souls of the disciples. Acts 14:21–22
In the very last section of chapter 14, we find Paul and Barnabas retracing their steps, going back through the cities where they had been persecuted and from which they had been ejected. They went to strengthen those left behind. They did a number of things.
1. They gave encouragement. It was a hostile, pagan community in which citizens of these cities were called to live for Jesus Christ, and they didn’t even know much about him. So the apostles went back to encourage them.
2. They taught the believers. Paul taught that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (v. 22). He taught other things as well.
3. They organized the church. Here for the first time in the book of Acts, we find the appointing of elders (v. 23), which we learn later was to become Paul’s natural pattern of church organization. I do not know how “elderly” these elders were, but I know they had not been Christians very long, since the gospel itself had not been known to them very long. Was that any way to establish a church? Most Presbyterians wouldn’t do it that way. We want to be slow, careful, dull, and (maybe) ineffective. But Paul had faith in what God was doing, and if there were to be churches in these cities, they obviously needed sound organization. So Paul appointed elders, more than one, and the churches thrived.
4. They prayed. The last thing Paul did (and possibly the first thing too) is that he prayed for them (v. 23). We should be praying too, praying for those to whom we witness and for the church.
When we get to the very end of this chapter, we find something marvelous. Verse 26 says, “From [Attalia] they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.” This was only one stage in Paul’s lifelong ministry, the end of the first missionary journey. There were going to be two more, but this was the first stage. It had been clearly defined, they were commissioned to do it, and they completed it. So they went home, reporting, “The task is done.”
That is a great thing to be able to say. How many Christians have started out in some work but have not finished it! Many have been given a task to do, but because of the hardships, divisions, persecutions, and such things, they have said, “I think I had better quit.” The victory is not to those who start. It is to those who finish.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.