Returned

Today, we are finishing Paul’s first missionary journey. There is a link in “the sites” section that will help you track his journey. Each day, I will share with you a thought about one word that really stands out to me.


Acts 14
21 After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25 They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. 26 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. 27 Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. 28 And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.


Returned. This main focus of this passage is focused on the physical return of Paul and Barnabas. First, they returned to the churches (Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia) they had started. Second, they returned to the church (Antioch of Syria) that had sent them out. A journey that most commentators believe lasted nearly two years. This whole concept of returning brings to mind two questions: Is there someone or somewhere you need to be sent to share the Good News (so that you can then return)? Is there someone or somewhere you need to return to so that you can strengthen and encourage them to continue in their journey?