Acts 14:21-23

LYSTRA, 11. ICONIUM, 12. ANTIOCH. Acts 14:21 b - Acts 14:23.

Acts 14:21 b

they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,

Acts 14:22

confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:23

And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

Acts 14:21 b - Acts 14:23 It is just as important to confirm the saints as it is to convert the sinners. It must have been with this thought in mind that Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps to revisit these brethren.

By consulting the map you can notice that when Paul and Barnabas arrived in Derbe they were not a great distance from Paul's home town of Tarsus. What a temptation it must have been to tarry here in Derbe where no persecution hindered until such a time as the weather permitted travel through the mountain passes and then to journey homeward through Tarsus of Cilicia. But there was a higher call than that of self-preservation and security. It was the call of the need of the children they had begotten in the gospel. To these persons Paul and Barnabas had not imparted the word only but their very selves. How readily is the truth received when its application is seen in the lives of those who speak it. So it was that when Paul and Barnabas urged these brethren to remain faithful and to remember that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of Heaven, those to whom the words were spoken could see their literal fulfillment in the lives of those who spoke.
The thought of appointing for them elders in every city carries the idea of being chosen by vote. Lest we obtain from this thought the impression that there was here carried out a church election note this quotation from Cunningham Geikie:

Yet it would be a great mistake to imagine that because the election of officers rested with the congregations, their nominations for election was unrestrictedly left to them. Such an arrangement would at any time invite rivalries, disputes, and divisions While, in such assemblies as the earliest -churches-' there would, at least in the case of those gathered from the -Gentiles,-' be very little security for the right persons being selected. Where the voters were of such a class that Paul could describe them, to themselves, as -foolish,-' -weak,-' -base,-' -despised,-' -beneath notice,-' or, in other words, the very humblest.. and that not only in circumstances or position, but even in morals and necessarily in corresponding ignoranceit would have been contrary to every dictate of prudence to leave them without guidance. The fitting persons for office would, therefore, we may assume, be indicated by the apostles or by the rulers whom they had accepted and set apart. (Pages 291-292.)

487.

What is meant by points 10-11-12?

488.

What temptation must have presented itself to Paul when he arrived in Derbe?

489.

Why was the truth so readily received and followed by the disciples of these cities?

490.

What is the kingdom of heaven spoken of here?

491.

Explain the procedure of the appointing elders in these cities?